THE NORNS
“The Norns - Urd, Verdandi, and Skuld under the World-tree Yggdrasil” by Ludwig Burger (1882)
In Norse mythology, the Norns (pronounced like “norms” with an “n” instead of the “m”; Old Norse Nornir) are female beings who create and control fate. This makes them the most terribly powerful entities in the cosmos – more so than even the gods, since the gods are subject to fate just like any and all other beings.
According to one description of the Norns in the Old Norse poem Fáfnismál, there are a great many of them, and no one knows the exact number. Some of them come from the gods, others from the elves, and still others from the dwarves.[1] The poem Völuspá, however, has another, grander account of them that has (perhaps deservedly) become the standard image that people today associate with the Norns.
In Norse mythology, the Norns are the powerful, primary goddesses of fate who dwell by the Well of Urðr at the base of the world tree, Yggdrasil. They don't just predict the future; they weave, carve, or twist the very fabric of destiny for gods and humans alike.
The Three Sisters
While there are many minor norns, the three primary beings are:
Urðr (Urd): Represents "The Past" or "What Has Been." Her name is the root of the English word weird (as in the "Weird Sisters" of Macbeth), which originally meant fate.
Verðandi (Verdandi): Represents "The Present" or "What Is Becoming." Her name comes from the Old Norse verb meaning "to happen."
Skuld: Represents "The Future" or "What Shall Be." Her name is also associated with "debt" or "obligation," suggesting that the future is a consequence of past actions.
Their Duties
The Norns perform two vital tasks to keep the universe functioning:
Weaving Destiny: They are often depicted spinning the threads of life or carving runes into the wood of Yggdrasil to determine the laws of the cosmos.
Healing the World Tree: Every day, they take water from the sacred well and mix it with the surrounding white clay to pour over the roots of Yggdrasil. This prevents the tree from rotting or withering despite the various creatures that gnaw at it.
Note: Unlike the Greek Fates (Moirai), who are often seen as subservient to Zeus, the Norns’ decrees are absolute. Even the high god Odin is subject to the fate they decree; he can consult them, but he cannot overrule them.