Yggdrasil and The Pagan Year

The Pagan Year

1) Spring Equinox (Ostara) – It is the energy of Order from Asgard. It is the energy that invokes new life and new beginnings by synchronizing man’s intelligence and reason with divine intervention.

2) Beltane – It is the energy of Togetherness from Vanaheim. It is the energy that joins man to woman and, consequently, tribe to tribe through peace and abundance.

3) Midsummer (Litha) – It is the energy of Action from Muspelheim. It is the energy the spurns man to sudden or unplanned action—sometimes due to anger or irrational behavior.

4) Lammas – It is the energy of Darkness from Swartalfheim. It is the energy that cause’s man to toil and labor in the Earth (dirt/soil) for the fruits that sustain his physical existence—just as the Swartalfar are greedily attached to the treasures of inner Earth.

5) Autumn Equinox (Mabon) – It is the energy of Chaos from Jotunheim. It is the energy that shifts the ending of one era to the beginning of another through transition and transformation (dark night of the soul).

6) Samhain – It is the energy of Separateness from Hel. It is the energy that marks the separation of man from woman, tribe from tribe, through death and conflict.

7) Midwinter (Yule) – It is the energy of Constraint from Nifelheim. It is the energy that cause’s man to restrain or delay his actions—usually due to fear or anticipation of an outcome.

8) Candlemas (Imbolc) – It is the energy of Light from Lightalfheim. It is the energy that cause’s man to look to the gods and the heavens, not the Earth, for his sustenance and survival—with a self-initiation or pledge to renew one’s spirit.

Polar Opposites

1) Spring Equinox is the seasonal polar opposite of Autumn Equinox as the energy of Asgard (Aesir/Order) is in constant equilibrium with the opposing energy of Jotunheim (Giants/Chaos).

2) Beltane is the seasonal polar opposite of Samhain as the energy of Vanaheim (Vanir/Togetherness) is in constant equilibrium with the opposing energy of Hel (Dead/Separateness).

3) Midsummer is the seasonal polar opposite of Midwinter as the energy of Muspelheim (Fire/Action) is in constant equilibrium with the opposing energy of Nifelheim (Frost/Constraint).

4) Lammas is the seasonal polar opposite to Candlemas as the energy of Swartalfheim (Dark Elves/Darkness) is in constant equilibrium with the opposing energy of Lightalfheim (Light Elves/Light).

Summary

Each realm of Yggdrasil is more significant to the Earth during its corresponding season. It promotes a kind of macro-mindset to the humans who experience it. However, all the 8 realms are interacting with the Earth to a greater or lesser degree at any given time. There is no additional energy assertion when 1 realm intersects with another realm in the exact same location. Due to the Earth’s rotation and its dynamic (seasonal) positioning within the 8 realms, these intersections are always temporary and seemingly unpredictable. The existence of Ley Lines and ancient Pagan ruins are representative of intuitive, shamanic attempts to depict the physical interaction between Midgard and the other 8 realms. When the shaman claims that travel between the realms always involves a trip to or from Midgard, it is nothing more than stating the obvious—a fact of physicality.

The precise, constant, predictable rotation of the Earth is a physical dynamic caused by the energies and forces exerted in equilibrium by the opposing 8 realms surrounding Midgard. With the loss of Midgard, all realms would perish. With the loss of one of the 8 realms, the opposite polar realm would also be lost which would throw the Universe into immediate disorder. For this reason, when Surt dispatches the destructive fires of Muspelheim against the Earth, the Ragnarok will surely commence.