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Honestly, you aren't all that interested in mythological conjecture that most likely isn't true at all. You're not here to ponder about theological implications, you want information that you can actually use to your advantage.
Time for a more practical look at Garou cosmology.
The physical world and the spiritual world are separated by a barrier known as the Gauntlet, which was supposedly created by the Weaver. The strength of this membrane varies and each of the Triat influences it in a different way.
Whenever the Weaver is the dominant force, the Gauntlet grows stronger and crossing the barrier between worlds become far more difficult. Wherever human civilisation is well-established, the Weaver is supreme.
Whenever the Wyld is the dominant force, the abundance of spiritual energy in the Umbra starts to leak through the Gauntlet, which makes crossing the barrier easier. In wild places and especially caerns, the Wyld is supreme.
Whenever the Wyrm is the dominant force, the Gauntlet is eroded to the point where the two worlds start to bleed into each other, which makes crossing the barrier easier. Wherever death and destruction is plentiful, the Wyrm is supreme.
Crossing the Gauntlet is something that all Garou are capable of, through a technique known as stepping sideways. In order to do so, a werewolf meditate on a reflective surface such as a clear pool of water or a mirror and channel their gnosis into it - a word that is used to describe one's will or spiritual energy.
>After meditating on a reflective surface, you may choose to step sideways and enter the Umbra, or return from it.
>If you step sideways in a location where humanity has a significant presence, you will have to spend 3 Will.
>If you step sideways in the wilderness, a war zone or the site of a recent disaster, you will have to spend 2 Will.
>If you step sideways at a caern, a pit, or any other location infused with spiritual energy or corruption, you will have to spend 1 Will.
As for what the Umbra is actually like, it is a reflection of the material world. Anything spiritually significant that exists (or existed) in the physical realm also exists in the spirit world, though it is usually exaggerated in some fashion. Spiritual significance typically comes with age, but it can also come with the impact that a place has on Gaia. For example, a power plant that churns out record amounts of pollution will surely be represented in the Umbra, even if it's barely a year old.
