Topic: Yggdrasil

Ancient civilizations utilized sky gates located near the constellations of Sagittarius, Scorpius, Gemini, and Orion to facilitate the soul's journey into the afterlife. These portals became accessible when aligned with the local horizon during the summer and winter solstices, a concept documented in the work Hamlet's Mill. This cosmology typically involves three distinct realms—the upper world, middle world, and underworld—connected by a central axis like the Norse tree Yggdrasil.

McIntosh argues that shamanism was the original religion of the Nordic peoples, sharing traits with Inuit and Sami cultures. He cites Odin’s ordeal on the world tree, Yggdrasil, as a classic shamanic initiation to discover the runes. Odin’s totem animals, including ravens, wolves, and an eight-legged horse, further reinforce these shamanic foundations.