6.12.0 Fate, Freewill, and The Judgment At Nornberg*
*This is a pun, there is no Nornberg in Teutonic/Norse Mythology as far as I know.

This is a good place to discuss just what the Teutonic/Norse meant by the Norns determining one's fate.

6.12.1 It would be closer to say that the Norse Norns provided each individual with a box lunch, a copy of their horoscope, and a hearty pat on the back before sending the new soul off into the upper world rather than establishing their lives. Fate was never hard and fast, at least at first, and very living person had the free will and opportunity to make their own choices as they went along. If this hadn't been the way of things there would have been no purpose to being judged after death, it would have been already decided at birth.

6.12.2 What was determined by Urdr and her sisters at the newborns birth was what sort of life the individual would face, and what types of risks and crisis they would encounter. After that it was up to them to rise to the occasion or fail. As evidence for this interpretation, this is a quote from “The First Song Of Helgi Hundingsbani” a genuine old mythic poem about the hero Halfdan. The poem describes Halfdan's ("Helgi Hundingsbani's") birth and life and is often quoted as a primary source about the functions of the Norns:

*It was night,
norns came,
they (1) who did shape
the fate of the nobleman;
they proclaimed him
best among the Budlungs (2),
and most famed
among princes.

[(1) the high Norns would personally handle the fate of important newborns]
[(2) Helgi/Halfdan's clan]

*With might the strands
of fate they twisted,
when Borgar (3) settled
in Bralund;
they arranged
the golden thread (4),
'neath the moon's hall.
and fastened it directly

[(3) Helgi/Halfdan's father. They'd begun to weave this destiny as soon as Halfdan's father had established himself in the right location, implying this may be part of a generations long plan by the Norns.]
[(4) the cord representing Helgi/Halfdan's destined life]

*In the east and west
they hid the ends (5),
there between
Neri's kinswoman (6)
northward sent
one thread and bade it
hold forever. (7)

[(5) the bulk of these cords of fate are securely anchored to the east and west, defining the lands he WILL rule.]
[(6) Urdr the chief Norn, Mimir's close kin]
[(7) one thread, indicating Helgi's future of ruling over the lands in this direction is less certain.]

*One cause there was
of alarm to the Ylfing (8)
and also for her (9)
who bore the loved one;
hungry cawed
one raven to another
in the high tree:
"Hear what I know!"

[(8) Helgi/Halfdan's father Borgar was of the Ylfing]
[(9) Helgi/Halfdan's mother]

*In a coat of mail
stands Sigmund's son, (10)
one day old,
now the day is come;
his eyes are sharp
like those of the Hildings,
he is a friend of wolves:
We shall thrive!" (11)

[(10) his father (Borgar) is also called Sigmund]
[(11) The child is fated to be a great warrior from early on in his life. Wolves and Ravens were said to feed on the corpses of those slain in battle. So a warrior king who will fight many bloody battles is good news to these scavengers.]

6.12.3 The interpretation of this is fairly established. Since he is to be a great leader entrusted with an important task, the great Norns themselves show up at Helgi/Halfdan's birth. Spinning and casting the threads that are to represent his life, Mimir/Neri's close kin declared it is to be his destiny to become the ruler of the southern lands of the Norse/Teutons and then to reconquer and permanently secure the northernmost regions from the powers of frost (either humans or Rimthurse or both). That this would not be an easy task and will involve many bloody battles is indicated, and the Norns are NOT SURE what the outcome will be. [Neri's kinswoman northward sent ONE thread and bade it (prayed or hoped it would) hold forever]. In order to help Halfdan in this mission the norns, by fastening the woof of his power in the east and west, have indicated that once his authority is established in those regions his rule will be undisputed and he can concentrate on his major mission to the North.

6.12.4 The most pertinent element in this poem is that while the norns can establish the path a persons life will follow, they can't promise success in achieving the goals they've set. From this perspective, the roles of the three sisters in determining one's fate become much clearer:

Urdr, whether she's selecting threads or writing runes, is basically just providing individuals with what sort of skills, career potential, and therefore the type of problems and events they will face in life (warrior, artisan, farmer, servant, noble, seer, skald, etc.).The individual must still make choices as to what they will do with them.

Verdandi, when she takes the threads and weaves them into a cord or cloth, or reads the runes written by Urdr, is essential deciding when the individual while have to deal with something, whether it's choosing a direction, making a decision, facing some danger, having a life altering event (both good and bad), or anything else that might make a difference in that persons life. And then, as an aspect of this weaving symbolism, deciding how the results will effect the person's pattern of life.

Skuld, by being the one who cuts the thread or burns the runes, has always been assumed to be the one who decides when someone's mortal life is over. But a close examination of the nature of the elements the Teutonic/Norse felt made up a human being seems to indicate that one's time of death could be a more random thing. (see next section). While an individuals time could be cut short through the direct intervention of the Norns or gods (such as Odin's recruitment drives) it was mostly a case of one's available primitive will-to-live running out due to age, illness, or wounding in battle. It was Skuld's job to be AWARE of when these things were to happen and then dispatch the appropriate death disir to do the job and/or bring the dead person's litur, óður, and önd in for judgment.

That could be why she was often included as a Valkyrie, she was the one who actually gave the orders at Odin's request..

6.12.5 So while it was true that everyone, including the gods, had to deal with the cards that the fates dealt them, exactly how they would gamble with them was up to the individual. The Norns never micromanaged a person's life, just set things up for them and then (usually) let the chips fall as they would. Thus a person's choices were their own, not predestined, so the god's review of their actions was based on the individual's decisions and not the Norn's and therefore a legitimate subject for judgment.