Wyrd

The mythological exploration of the runes begins at the base of the Yggdrasil, which is a holy ash tree in the center of the cosmos in Norse lore. Three Norns known as Urd, Verdandi, and Skuld tend to the tree and to the well of wisdom that nurtures it, which is known as the Well of Urd. The Norns represent the past, present, and future, and they are said to weave the tapestry of fate and ultimately shape the destiny of all humans and gods.

Odin, who is the central figure in Norse mythology, discovers the runic magic that the Norns possess and wishes to gain their mystical knowledge. He travels to the well of wisdom and goes to great lengths to discover the magic of the runes. He pierces himself with a sword and hangs upside down from the tree Yggdrasil to gaze at the well below until the runes appear to him. He spends nine days and nights without food or water and eventually lifts the runes from the well of wisdom. In doing so, he unveils the mystery of the runes.

The Web of Wyrd, also as known Skuld’s Net, is a bind rune, which means that it a symbol that uses two or more runes together to create new meaning. The Web of Wyrd is believed to contain all of the rune symbols and therefore all of the possibilities of fate. Although the runes have an expansive history, they originate at the tree of Yggdrasil and in the hands of the Norns – women who are wild, wise, and very weird.