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Stacked worlds on an axis
Multiple worlds are joined by a living vertical structure — tree, world tree, cosmic axis. Humans inhabit one world among others. Prior or coming catastrophes remake the set.
The similarity is a vertical structure joining stacked worlds. Leave Yggdrasil and Ragnarök in Norse, the world tree and previous creations in Maya.
Same rhyme, different parts
Time
Norse
A world-ending (Ragnarök) followed by a renewed world — catastrophe with a sequel, not endless identical cycles.
Maya
Previous creations and transformations. Cyclic ideas vary; successive worlds are the record.
Human slot
Norse
Inhabitant of one world among others. No single moral telos isolated here.
Maya
A participant in cosmic obligations.
Break
Norse
Ragnarök. Opposition is real in the poetry without being equal-good-versus-equal-evil principles.
Maya
Failed or previous creations. Not isolated here as a single dualism.
Agents
Norse
Gods, jötnar, elves, and others. Knowing via poetry, oral tradition, visionary material.
Maya
Gods and supernatural beings. Knowing: narrative, ritual, astronomy, divination together.
Primordial process → multiple worlds on Yggdrasil → many kinds of beings → humans in one world → several deaths → Ragnarök and a renewed world.
- 01
Primordial processes
The cosmos is organized from them, not from a sole creator in this record.
- 02
Yggdrasil / world axis
The joining structure. Multiple worlds hang on it.
- 03
Æsir, Vanir, jötnar, elves
Other persons inhabit the set of worlds.
- 04
Human in one world
Midgard is a slot among many, not the only floor.
- 05
Several destinations
Death is not one door. Rebirth motifs are disputed and variable.
- Time
- A world-ending (Ragnarök) followed by a renewed world — catastrophe with a sequel, not endless identical cycles.
- Agents
- Gods, jötnar, elves, and others. Knowing via poetry, oral tradition, visionary material.
- Human slot
- Inhabitant of one world among others. No single moral telos isolated here.
- Break
- Ragnarök. Opposition is real in the poetry without being equal-good-versus-equal-evil principles.
Successive creations. Layered heavens and underworlds around a world tree. Humans owe the cosmos. Astronomy sits with ritual as a way of knowing.
- 01
Successive ordering
Creation involves attempts. Previous worlds are part of the architecture.
- 02
World tree / cosmic axis
The joining structure of layered heavens and underworlds.
- 03
Gods and supernatural beings
A populated, obligated cosmos.
- 04
Human under obligation
Not a spectator. Participation is the slot.
- 05
Underworld and celestial journeys
Death has paths. Cyclic ideas of rebirth vary.
- Time
- Previous creations and transformations. Cyclic ideas vary; successive worlds are the record.
- Agents
- Gods and supernatural beings. Knowing: narrative, ritual, astronomy, divination together.
- Human slot
- A participant in cosmic obligations.
- Break
- Failed or previous creations. Not isolated here as a single dualism.