The Tree of Life: Yggdrasil and The Garden of Eden

The concept of the tree of life appears in different mythologies, religious books and such,
culture and fiction which often relates to immortality. They have different origins and symbolism
regarding the tree of life. 
           Two of those trees of life are Yggdrasil and the Garden of Eden’s Tree of Life. They have
different origin and purpose, and symbolism. Yggdrasil is a tree that is significant to the Norse
Cosmology, which is the study of the cosmos as recognized by the North Germanic people,
which includes Norse mythology, while in the Garden of Eden, it is the most sacred place, the
Holy of Holies, where God’s presence is so intense, described in the Bible. In ancient Norse
mythology and cosmology, Yggdrasil is a huge tree which flourished and grew in Ginnungagap,
which connects the 9 realms (Asgard, Alfheim, Jotunheim, Midgard (Earth), Muspelheim,
Nidavellir, Niflheim, Svartalheim & Vanaheim). The gods go to Yggdrasil every day to gather
their things and it is also their traditional governing assemblies. The branches of Yggdrasil tree
are stretch far into heavens, and it has three roots that expand into other places; one to the well in
the heavens, one a spring and the other is to the well of Mimisbrunnr. The tree of life in the
Garden of Eden (where God and humans live together), represents God’s own life and creative
power that is made available to others. God’s first command is that humans eat from all of the
trees in the garden, including the tree of life. On the way towards this tree is the tree of
knowledge of good and evil, a false tree of life, which Adam and Eve ate, which led them to be
exiled from the Eden. Yggdrasil which is also called the World Tree because it consists all 9
worlds and embodies the series or course of birth, growth, death, and rebirth. It restores and
sustains the bitterness and aggressiveness of life. On the other hand, the tree of life in the Bible
represents eternal life. Those who seek forgiveness and repents are given access to the tree of life
(eternal life), but those who remain in disobedience will be forsaken. 
           In conclusion, despite having different meanings, their similarities surround “life”.
Yggdrasil mends and nourishes the bitterness of life at the center of both immortal and mortal
worlds, while in the Garden of Eden it gives eternal life, just like Jesus, the seed of God’s life,
for us to gain eternal life with Him, we need passing through death.