In the beginning, before the world of men and gods existed, the spring Hvergelmir, deep in the frozen wastes of Niflheim, gave rise to eleven rivers known as the Elivagar. Over a long period of time, water of the Elivagar ran across Niflheim and poured into the northern part of Ginnungagap. The water froze, forming vast sheets of ice in the void. Hot air from Muspell melted some of the ice, creating a zone of meltwater amid the ice and snow. Here life began, and the first living thing was a frost giant. (See: Ymir.)
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Lonely by Emmanuel Malin

![recurrent thoughts of the all father and his ravens - huginn and muninn.
idle daydreams and speculation, but with frequency (unintentionally) viewing images seemingly everywhere of the birds at odin’s shoulders or ablaze in the sky like strange dark stars…
the birds (Huginn from Old Norse: “thought” and Muninn from Old Norse: “memory” or “mind”) fly all across the earth, observing what is passing in each realm, hearing what is said and seeing all things, and return to asgard at dinner time to report to the all father what they have seen.
O’er Mithgarth Hugin and Munin both Each day set forth to fly; For Hugin I fear lest he come not home, But for Munin my care is more.
[in this carving, odin’s arms/hands are replaced with the upper bodies of the birds]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4wycr0SS81r3ncdgo1_500.jpg)

