Description of the Norns
The Norse beliefs are much alike the Greek and Roman in the aspect of having three goddesses come together as one to determine one's fate or destiny. In Norse mythology the bringers of fate and destiny were known as the Norns. The Norns would stand under an old ash tree called Yggdrasil and determine a being's fate by weaving it into a tapestry. Their names were Urd, meaning “What Once Was”, Verdandi, which means “What Is Coming into Being” and Skuld, “What Shall Be”. Many people believe that they stand for the past, present, and future, based on time, but they are wrong. Unlike the Greek beliefs in mythology, The Norns and other gods or goddesses are able to change and alter fate if they want to, it isn't as "set in stone".
It was believed that the Norns decided the destinies of gods, giants, and dwarfs, and were responsible for the fates of every individual human being. The original Norn was Urd, having a fountain named after him, but eventually the two other sisters came and helped her. The Norns were originally thought as spinners, but not like the Greek Moirae where each life span was a thread of string. In Norse mythology nothing is permanent, even the great ash tree once withered and died. This reinforces the belief that destiny could be altered.
It was believed that the Norns decided the destinies of gods, giants, and dwarfs, and were responsible for the fates of every individual human being. The original Norn was Urd, having a fountain named after him, but eventually the two other sisters came and helped her. The Norns were originally thought as spinners, but not like the Greek Moirae where each life span was a thread of string. In Norse mythology nothing is permanent, even the great ash tree once withered and died. This reinforces the belief that destiny could be altered.