rúmmi

Rúmmi is a concept in Icelandic folklore and mythology, often translated as "room" or "space." It refers to the spiritual and physical emptiness or potential that exists before creation or within the void. In some interpretations, rúmmi is the primordial state from which all existence emerges, a kind of cosmic womb or a boundless expanse. It is not an empty void in the sense of nothingness, but rather a space filled with unmanifested possibilities.

The concept of rúmmi is sometimes associated with the creation myth where the world is formed from the body of the giant Ymir. The space between the heavens and the earth could be considered a form of rúmmi, a vastness that allows for the separation and ordering of the cosmos. It can also relate to the concept of inner space, the mental or spiritual capacity of an individual.

While not a heavily personified deity or a concrete entity, rúmmi plays a significant role in understanding the Icelandic worldview regarding origins and existence. It emphasizes the importance of space and potential as fundamental elements in the unfolding of reality. The idea suggests that creation is not an act of filling an absolute void, but rather a process of shaping and defining what already exists in a state of potential within rúmmi.