Munin (Icelandic) [from muna to mind, call to mind, remember]

In Norse mythology, one of Odin's two ravens which fly daily over the battlefield earth (Vigridsslatten) and report back to Allfather Odin. The other is Hugin (mind). Both are needed for the consciousness to learn and retain what has been learned in order to build further on it. The same idea is conveyed in Greek mythology, where Mnemosyne (memory) is the mother of all the Muses (arts and sciences).

(See also: Munin, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Orlog (Icelandic) [from or, ur primal + log law]

In Norse mythology, the primal law of all existence, corresponding to karma, the beginningless and endless succession of causes and effects constantly modifying each being's fate or destiny as a result of its own actions.

The agents of Orlog are the three norns that represent the past (Urd, origin), present (Verdandi, becoming), and future (Skuld, debt). It is the inescapable result of all that has gone before and is presently creating the future, whether of universal gods or human beings.

(See also: Orlog, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Mjolnir (Icelandic) [from mjoll meal, flour from mala, mola to grind, crush, mill]

Also Miolnir. The hammer of Thor, the Thunderer in Norse mythology, a gift to the god from the dwarfs Brock (mineral kingdom) and Sindri (vegetation), sons of Ivaldi, the lunar life cycle.

It is at once the instrument of creation and destruction, being the emblem of marriage on one hand and the weapon whereby the giants (cycles of material life) are destroyed. It is the magic mill which creates all things -- gold, salt, happiness, peace, etc. -- as well as grinding up all substance and recycling it for future use in worlds to come. Blavatsky likens the hammer of Thor to the fire weapon agneyastra of the Hindu Puranas and Mahabharata (TG 215).

(See also: Mjolnir, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Orgalmer, Orgelmir (Swedish, Icelandic) [from or primal + galmer loud one]

In Norse mythology, the first loud sound or keynote which, like the fundamental of an overtone series, echoing through the spaces of infinitude, originates the multiplying vibrations of a cosmic organism.

The frostgiant Ymer -- utter immobility and nothingness -- becomes Orgalmer when it is slain at the beginning of a universal life cycle by the creative deities Odin, Vile, and Vi (or Ve), who then use the giant body (latent matter) to create the worlds.

Odin as Ofner (opener) is the galvanizing energy that organizes the frost giant (latent matter) into a cosmos. As Svafner (closer) Odin is paired with Bergelmir at the end of a cosmic lifetime.

(See also: Orgalmer, Orgelmir, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Ragnarok (Icelandic) [from ragna plural of regin ruler + rok sentence, judgment, reason, ground, origin]

In Norse mythology, the time when the ruling powers (gods) return to their ground, are reabsorbed in their divine origin. The judgment is their evaluation of the life that has just been completed. Ragnarok has commonly been called the twilight of the gods, probably because of confusion with rokkr (twilight). It has also been interpreted as they age of fire and smoke, because in Swedish rok means smoke. However, in Icelandic it has a more sacred meaning referring to wonders and signs, and the departure of the gods to their home ground, the source of their being.

On the cosmic scale Ragnarok brings to a close a universal cycle of activity. When a world dies the god Heimdal, guardian of the rainbow bridge between the realms of the gods and Midgard, domain of humanity, blows the Gjallarhorn, summoning the gods of life to the final battle against the forces of destruction. Lesser judgments take place when single world systems reach their term, as recorded in the "Lay of Odin's Corpse" (Odins Korpgalder), which deals with a death of one planet, and relates the deities' efforts to elicit from the planetary soul an accounting of its past cycle of activity.

The end of the world is vividly portrayed in the foremost poem of the Elder Edda, Voluspa, which depicts horrors presaging the departure of the gods from this sphere of life. However, this is by no means the end for it is followed by a new creation, when a reborn earth is seen arising in serene beauty and contentment.

Ragnarok has sometimes been personified as a world-destroying monster which is held in check until its proper time. Its approach is heralded by an overwhelming preponderance of evil which presages the end of the gods' reign. This is another way of depicting the withdrawal of the beneficent powers to their supernal realms, leaving matter in a condition of entropy.

Ragnarok is succeeded by the Fimbulvetr or Fimbulvinter -- the long winter of nonbeing, when nothing exists (in the relevant portion of space) for their are no energies (gods) to organize matter. At the appropriate time Heimdal will once more summon the beneficent powers with his Gjallarhorn for a new tour of duty.

(See also: Ragnarok, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Audumla (Scandianvian Norse). The symbol of nature in the Norse mythology; the cow who licks the salt rock, whence the divine Buri is born, before man’s creation.

(See also: Audumla, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Wala (Scandianvian Norse). A prophetess in the songs of the Edda (Norse mythology). Through the incantations of Odin she was raised from her grave, and made to prophesy the death of Baldur.

(See also: Wala, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Helheim (Scandianvian Norse), The Kingdom of the Dead in the Norse mythology. In the Edda, Helheim surrounds the Northern Mistworld, called Nifelheim.

(See also: Helheim, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Odur (Scandianvian Norse). The human husband of the goddess Freya, a scion of divine ancestry in the Northern mythology.

(See also: Odur, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Gna (Icelandic) One of the handmaidens of Frigga, consort of Allfather Odin in Norse mythology. She carries messages throughout the nine worlds on behalf of her mistress.

(See also: Gna, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Bestla In Norse mythology, the daughter of the frost giants, wife of Buri and mother of Odin, Vile, and Ve. {TG, SD 1:427}

(See also: Bestla, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Asmegir (Icelandic) (from ass god + mega might, to be able)

In Norse mythology, a god-maker -- a human soul on its way to becoming divine in the course of evolution.

(See also: Asmegir, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Gna (Icelandic) One of the handmaidens of Frigga, consort of Allfather Odin in Norse mythology. She carries messages throughout the nine worlds on behalf of her mistress.

(See also:  , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Gnipa (Icelandic, Scandinavian) Peak; in Norse mythology, the gnipa-hollow is the cave that gives entrance to the underworld or world of the dead governed by Hel, Loki's daughter. The hound of Hel, Garm, howls in the hollow before Ragnarok.

(See also: Gnipa, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Gullinbursti (Icelandic) (from gullin golden + bursti bristles, mane)

In Norse mythology, a golden boar which draws the chariot of Frey, god of the terrestrial world. He received it as a gift from the two dwarfs Brock (mineral kingdom) and Sindri (vegetable kingdom), sons of Ivalde, the moon.

(See also: Gullinbursti, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Andvari (Icelandic) (from and spirit + vari watcher, guardian)

In Norse mythology, a dwarf, owner of the treasure around which center the complex events related in the Nibelungen cycle. This gold has a twofold meaning and a markedly twofold effect on the various protagonists who covet it.

See also FAFNIR

(See also: Andvari, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Arvakr (Icelandic) Early awake; in Norse mythology, one of two horses that draw the sun across the sky in the Elder Edda (Grimnismal). He is said to have the runes of Odin in his ear, while his companion Alsvinnr (or Alsvidr) has them inscribed on his hoof.

(See also: Arvakr, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Fimbulvetr (Icelandic) (from fimbul mighty + vetr winter)

In Norse mythology, the immensely long period of nonlife intervening between cycles of universal existence, equivalent to the Sanskrit pralaya. In the Edda it is interchangeable with the frost giant Ymer or Ymir, who is "slain" by the gods at each new creation.

(See also: Fimbulvetr, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Gullinbursti (Icelandic) (from gullin golden + bursti bristles, mane)

In Norse mythology, a golden boar which draws the chariot of Frey, god of the terrestrial world. He received it as a gift from the two dwarfs Brock (mineral kingdom) and Sindri (vegetable kingdom), sons of Ivalde, the moon.

(See also: Guides, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Giol, Gjol (Icelandic) (from gjoll din)

In Norse mythology, one of the rivers of elivagar (icicle waves) which flow from Hvergelmir, the source of absolute matter, the abyss. It is bridged by the gold-covered Gjallarbru (noisy bridge) which leads to the realm of Hel, queen of the dead.

(See also: Giol, Gjol, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)