Tririgiā (The Three Worlds)

The cosmos is structured around Tririgiā, the Three Worlds, each representing a distinct realm of existence and interconnected in the great cycle of life, death, and rebirth. These realms—Dubnos, Bitus, and Albios—serve as the foundation of all creation and are inhabited by various beings, including deities, spirits, and ancestors.

Dubnos (The Underworld)

Dubnos is the realm beneath Bitus, the primordial womb of Litauiâ (the Earth). It is home to the Andernadoi—chthonic beings such as the Dêuoi (gods) and some Rogentiâ (ancestors). This realm represents the mystery of death and the eventual return to the earth. In Dubnos, life and death merge, as the soul journeys back to its origin, completing the cycle of existence. It is a place of transformation, where the body is returned to the earth and reborn through the forces of nature. Dubnos is also the source of renewal, as from its depths, life will rise again. This is the realm of death leading to life affected by the cosmic principal Giamos.

Bitus (The Middle World)

Bitus is the world in which we live, the land of humans and other sentient beings. It is the domain of the Litauiatîs (land spirits), where the energies of both Dubnos and Albios converge. The influence of these realms manifests in the form of Order and Chaos, Life and Death, and the eternal cycle of the seasons. As the place where life unfolds, Bitus is the stage for the dance between the opposing forces of existence. Here, we experience the balance between the upper and lower worlds, and it is within Bitus that the soul experiences rebirth and renewal through its connection to the earth and sky. This is the realm of rebirth. Affected by both of the cosmic principal Samos and Giamos.

Albios (The Upperworld)

Albios is the highest of the realms, the domain of the Ueranadoi—celestial beings, including the Dêuoi and the Spirits of Nemos (the Sky). It is a place of order, protection, and divine presence, where the soul transitions from life to death. In Albios, the forces of light, purity, and clarity hold sway, representing the cosmic order that governs the universe. It is here that the soul ascends after its time in Bitus, rising towards the heavens and becoming part of the celestial harmony. This is the realm of life leading to death, as the journey through Albios brings the soul back to its cosmic source. Affected by the cosmic principal of Samos.

Together, Dubnos, Bitus, and Albios form the sacred cosmic structure of Tririgiā. They reflect the interconnectedness of all life, the ongoing cycles of existence, and the pathways through which the soul travels as it moves through life, death, and beyond.

Source and Inspiration

The number three is a prevalent motif across many Indo-European cultures, often representing a tripartite cosmological structure. John Shaw’s work, On Indo-European Cosmic Structure, provides an insightful framework for understanding these patterns. The concept of three realms can be paralleled with similar structures found in other Indo-European traditions, such as the Norse Yggdrasil (with its nine realms), the Celtic Otherworld, and the three realms in Hindu cosmology.

Delamarre, Xavier (2003). Dictionary of the Gallic Language: A Linguistic Approach to Continental Old Celtic (2nd Ed.). Paris: Editions Errance.