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The Steed of Odin is an interesting nickname for Yggdrasill, a world tree from Norse Mythology. Sometimes the tree is called the Steed of Odin, or Odin's Mount in reference to the nine days he spent hanging upside down from its branches to gain wisdom from the dead (Crossley-Holland xxii-xxiii).

The term Vikings refers to Norwegians, Swedes and Danes from the age 780 to 1070 BCE as they explored and conquered to the east, west and south. They spread their influence in many places including Constantinople, Baghdad, Iceland, North America, Greenland, Scotland, Ireland, England, France, Italy, Russia and perhaps China (xiv-xvi). Because Vikings were such prolific explorers they may have carried their mythology to other countries. It is also possible that they originally borrowed the mythology from these places for themselves.

YGGDRASILL is an ash at the center of nine worlds. Its branches spread over them all reaching to heaven. Its three roots plunge down to wells holding wisdom, fate and the beginnings of rivers. The Norse world tree is also known as a Guardian Tree. It nourishes life of many forms, a few of which are parasitic. To balance this sacrifice it is nourished in return by three dew sprinkling sisters, the Norns, or the keepers of destiny. Most importantly the world tree is a link between life and death, as well as mankind and the gods.

THE TREE OF LIFE is a symbolic tree from the Kabbalah. It symbolizes the beginning of everything, as well as life and death. It is a path to divinity and a subject upon which to meditate. Through it a student would hope to find a final united state of being. There are ten spheres on this tree and twenty two possible paths in which they connect. This tree is a religious diagram.

ASVATTHA is a fig tree referenced in the Bhagvad Gita from India. It is an upside down tree so to speak, with roots above and branches below. This means that the Gods are among the roots and the people are among the branches. Branches of fig are used in sacrificial fires and religious people enjoy sitting in the shade such a tree provides.

THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL from Genesis is the tree Adam and Eve ate from, resulting in their ban from the garden of Eden. It is also interesting to note that there was another magical tree in the garden, the tree of life. Upon eating the forbidden fruit of knowledge they were exiled to prevent them from eating from the tree of life as well.

THE GULOI TREE is a sacred plum tree from Aboriginal Australian mythology. It is another tree of knowledge. This tree is not forbidden to be consumed but is instead encouraged. The Guloi represents passing knowledge and culture from parents to child and so forth through the generations.

A PEACH TREE OF IMMORTALITY is from Chinese Mythology. It is said that a peach only grows on this tree every three thousand years, but if one were to eat from it they would experience immortality. In the mythos there are eight immortals, one of which is Han Xiangzi a gifted flute player who ate a peach from the tree while experimenting amongst its branches.

Perhaps these sacred trees were influenced by the Norse Yggdrasill, perhaps not. However, the sacred tree remains a common religious theme as well as a path to improvement, immortality and spirituality.

References:
Krossl ey-Holland, Kevin. The Norse Myths. Pantheon Books, New York; 1980.
http://www.byzant.com/Mys tical/Kabbalah/TreeOfLife.aspx
http://www.sanathanadharma.com /symbol/asvattha.htm
http://www .jewishworldreview.com/1004/fo hrman3.php3?printer_friendly
ht tp://qi-journal.com/philosophy .asp?-Token.FindPage=2&-Token. SearchID=Immortals

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