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If we choose to depend on the manuscripts, instead <strong>of</strong> the patriarchal scholars,<br />
with their <strong>and</strong>ocentric bias, we can have a br<strong>and</strong> new version - or ancient rather - <strong>of</strong> the<br />
story <strong>of</strong> the first humans, Askur <strong>and</strong> Embla. <strong>The</strong> ones, the three, who destine lives, they<br />
are also the ones who give örlög to the first humans. <strong>The</strong> Æsir may create life force, give<br />
breath <strong>and</strong> blood <strong>and</strong> feelings, but the nornir give örlög to those before being örlöglaus<br />
(without fate).<br />
Óðinn <strong>and</strong> his brothers are giant lads, since their mother was <strong>of</strong> the giant race.<br />
Alone they can play <strong>and</strong> build tools, even golden tools, but they cannot create life. That is<br />
only possible after the arrival <strong>of</strong> the mighty women from the mountains <strong>of</strong> Jötunheimar.<br />
<strong>The</strong> three giant nornir are the ones who water the Great Tree <strong>of</strong> Life. It so happens that<br />
the tree <strong>and</strong> the man have the same name, Askur, <strong>and</strong> the life <strong>of</strong> both may depend on their<br />
nurturance.<br />
Ask veit ek st<strong>and</strong>a<br />
heitir Yggdrasill<br />
hár baðmur, ausinn<br />
hvíta auri<br />
þaðan koma döggvar<br />
þærs í dala falla<br />
stendr æ yfir grænn<br />
Urðarbrunni<br />
Þaðan komu meyjar<br />
margs vit<strong>and</strong>i<br />
þrjár úr þeim sæ<br />
er und þolli stendr<br />
Urð hétu eina<br />
aðra Verð<strong>and</strong>i<br />
-skáru á skíði –<br />
Skuld hina þriðju.<br />
I know the ash<br />
named Yggdrasill<br />
wondrous tree watered<br />
in white flowing earth;<br />
thence falls the dew<br />
in dawning valleys<br />
grows ever green<br />
guarding Urðarbrunnur.<br />
<strong>The</strong>nce came maidens<br />
much knowing,<br />
three from the sea<br />
surrounding the tree;<br />
One they named Urður<br />
another Verð<strong>and</strong>i<br />
- scored in wood -<br />
Skuld the third.<br />
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