Velva remembers "nine worlds, and nine roots, and the Tree of Limit has not sprouted yet." The nine worlds of Scandinavian paganism are: Asgard, Ljösalfheim, Midgard, Niflheim, Muspellheim, Vanaheim, Jotunheim, Svartalfheim and Helheim ("The Prophecy of the Velva").
Midgard is "Middle", so it is logical to assume that he is in the middle of Ginungagap. To the north of it lies the cold, foggy Niflheim, and to the south - the hot fire world of Muspellheim. To the east lies Jotunheim, the world of giant Jotuns, and to the west lies Vanaheim, the world of the Vanir. These worlds are located in the horizontal plane. In addition, a vertical axis passes through Midgard - the trunk of the Ash, on which the worlds are located above and below Midgard. Above is Alfheim, the world of the bright Alves, and above it is Asgard itself, the city of the Aesir. Below Midgard lies Svartalfheim, the world of dark alves or dwarf zwergs, and below it is Hel, the world of the dead, the abode of death.
According to this scheme, the worlds are divided (with the exception of Midgard) into dual pairs: Asgard and Hel, Alvheim and Svartalfheim, Niflheim and Muspellheim, Vanaheim and Jotunheim.
If we consider the horizontal plane (Midgard - Niflheim - Muspellheim - Jotunheim - Vanaheim), then it is slightly inclined, that is, Niflheim is below Muspellheim. Thorsson explains this by the fact that the stem of the word "north" in Germanic languages comes from the root meaning "under, below".
The vertical axis corresponds to the division between consciousness and the unconscious, between light and darkness, and the horizontal axis defines the boundaries between the contracting forces of Ice and the expanding forces of Fire. The horizontal projection is physical energy and forces, while the vertical is the mental image of consciousness and being. Midgard, being at the intersection of both, is their harmony, the world of all possibilities.
Asgard is above everything, Odin rules there. The rune Gebo corresponds to it, and Heimdall is the Guardian. Vanaheim and Alfheim are ruled by Frey, But Dellig is the Guardian of Alfheim. Alvheim corresponds to Sovil, and Vanaheim to Inguz. These are the three heavenly worlds.
Midgard is the focus of all roads - it is guarded by Thor, and the rune Yer corresponds to it. This is the only world influenced by time, which is one of the attributes of the rune Yer. On one side of it is Muspellheim (the Guardian of this world is the fire giant Surt), and on the other is Niflheim, whose ruler is the serpent Nidhogg. Muspell Aswinn assigns Dagaz, and Niflu - Nautiz.
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The three lower worlds remain. This is Svartalfheim, the world of dwarfs-zwergs, their ruler Aswynn considers Modsognira, and the rune is Eyvaz (F. Aswynn explains this by an intuitive assumption).
The next underworld is Jotunheim, where the giant Trum rules. The rune of Isa corresponds to this world, since this is the world of frost giants, who personify the forces of chaos.
And the last of the worlds - the lowest - is Helheim, the kingdom of Loki's dark daughter Hel. The dead are the keepers of transcendental wisdom, it is no coincidence that Odin summoned the Völva to prophesy for him, from here. This world corresponds to Hagalaz.