Yggdrasil is said to have three roots. One is named Origin, the second Becoming. These two fashion the third, named Debt. They represent the inescapable law of cause and effect. Though they have usually been roughly translated as Past, Present, and Future, the dynamic concept in the Edda is more complete and philosophically exact.
Mimer represents material existence and supplies the wisdom gained from experience of life.
Mimer, the matter-counterpart, at the same time receives partial access to divine vision. The lays make it very clear that the purpose of existence is for the consciousness-aspect of all beings to gain wisdom through life, while inspiring the substantial side of itself to growth in inward awareness and spirituality. At the human level, self-consciousness and will are aroused, making it possible for man to progress willingly and purposefully toward his divine potential, aided by the gods who have passed that way before him, rather than to drift by slow degrees and many detours along the road of inevitable evolution. Now is sung the High One's song in the High One's hall. Useful to sons of men, useless to sons of giants.