Æsir — The principal tribe of Norse gods, including Odin, Thor, Frigg, Tyr, and Baldur. They dwell in Ásgarðr.
Álfar (Elves) — Supernatural beings closely associated with nature and fertility. Light Elves (Ljósálfar) dwell in Álfheimr.
Ásgarðr — The realm of the Æsir gods, connected to Miðgarðr by the rainbow bridge Bifröst.
Bifröst — The rainbow bridge connecting Miðgarðr (the human world) to Ásgarðr (the gods' realm). Guarded by Heimdall.
Blót — A sacrificial ritual or offering to the gods, ancestors, or land spirits. The central act of Norse worship.
Dísir — Protective female ancestral spirits, honored particularly at the Dísablót.
Draugr — The restless dead; spirits that have not found peace.
Edda — The two primary literary sources for Norse mythology: the Prose Edda (by Snorri Sturluson, c. 1220) and the Poetic Edda (a collection of Old Norse poems).
Fólkvangr — Freyja's realm, where she receives half of the battle-slain.
Frith — Peace and goodwill within a community. A fundamental Norse social value.
Galdr — Vocal magic; chanting or singing spells, often associated with runes.
Ginnungagap — The primordial void that existed before creation, between Niflheim and Múspellsheim.
Hávamál — "The Sayings of the High One" — a poem attributed to Odin in the Poetic Edda, containing practical and spiritual wisdom.
Hörgr — An outdoor altar, traditionally a stone cairn or heap used for offerings.
Jötnar (singular: Jötunn) — Giants; primordial beings of chaos and elemental power, often in conflict with the gods.
Miðgarðr — Middle Earth, the human world.
Mjölnir — Thor's hammer, the most famous weapon in Norse mythology. Used to hallow, protect, and destroy.
Nornir (Norns) — The three great fate-spinners—Urðr (What Was), Verðandi (What Is), and Skuld (What Shall Be)—who carve the fates of gods and mortals into Yggdrasil.
Ragnarök — The twilight of the gods; the prophesied end of the current world, followed by renewal.
Runes — The letters of the Old Norse alphabet (Futhark), believed to carry magical and spiritual power. Discovered by Odin through his self-sacrifice on Yggdrasil.
Seiðr — A form of Norse magic involving trance, divination, and fate-shaping. Taught by Freyja.
Skald — A Norse poet. Poetry was considered a sacred and powerful art.
Stalli — An indoor altar or sacred platform.
Sumbel — A formal drinking ritual in which participants make toasts, boasts, and oaths.
Valhöll (Valhalla) — Odin's hall in Ásgarðr, where warriors chosen by the Valkyries feast and prepare for Ragnarök.
Valkyrie — "Chooser of the Slain" — female spirits who select the battle-worthy dead to bring to Valhöll or Fólkvangr.
Vanir — The second tribe of Norse gods, associated with fertility, wealth, and nature. Includes Freyja, Freyr, and Njord.
Vé — A sacred enclosure or sanctuary.
Wyrd — Fate; the interconnected web of cause and effect that shapes all things. Related to the Norns' work.
Yggdrasil — The World Tree, the great ash that connects and sustains the Nine Worlds.