The Seeress Tells the World’s Story

What does the seeress remember from long ago?

“The Seeress’s Prophecy” begins with a seeress asking her listeners to be quiet and listen closely. She addresses the “children of Heimdall,” both highborn and lowborn. At Odin’s request, she tells the ancient stories she remembers.

She remembers the giants who raised her long ago. She also remembers 9 worlds. She speaks, too, of a tree beneath the earth.

In the beginning, there was no sand or sea, no earth or sky. No grass grew; there was only a great open space. Then the earth was raised. The sun shone from the south, and green grass grew on the ground.

At first, the sun and stars did not know their places. The moon did not know its own power. So the gods gathered to discuss what to do. They gave names to night, morning, midday, evening, and other parts of the day. These names would help them count the years.

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