The Tree has always been a powerful symbol in spiritual imagery around the globe, reflecting the grandeur and mystery of nature, both rooted in the earth and touching the heavens. As we know, the Tree has become an integral part of winter iconography, particularly as seen with the Christmas tree.

It was while living in California that Karoline,

The Tree has always been a powerful symbol in spiritual imagery around the globe, reflecting the grandeur and mystery of nature, both rooted in the earth and touching the heavens. As we know, the Tree has become an integral part of winter iconography, particularly as seen with the Christmas tree.

It was while living in California that Karoline, with some distance from her native Denmark, was drawn into a deeper reflection on Nordic mythology. Winter’s going and coming of the sun was one central theme. Most poignantly, the World Tree of the North, Yggdrasil, appears to be intertwined* with the decorated trees of the Christian tradition. Our exploration of these mysteries soon gave birth to songs, and eventually grew into this Winter and the Sacred Tree concert.

Not only a manifestation of Scandinavian roots and a love ode to the Nordic light feast, these songs also reflect a personal exploration through various traditions, a journey that we are sure resonates with many people. It has been very enriching to write and offer these songs to European as well as American audiences.

The original compositions integrate several ancient sources that have helped vessel and expand our reflections - How deep do our own roots go? How far can we dare to expand our connectedness to all things and to each other?

From the beginning, we imagined the concert as a communal celebration - an opportunity for people to come together. We decided we would request that the audience not applaud between songs, but rather, stay in quiet reflection - that is, until the final song, when everyone sings along.

The recording itself took place on March 9, 2019, in Damon Castillo’s Laurel Lane Studio in San Luis Obispo, California. Two concerts, two takes, with a live audience. It was essential that community was there to help us capture the presence, the concentration and the magic of the moment. We are deeply grateful to those in the room for the energy they all added to the recording.

We invite you the listener to join us in the room, and on our journey into joyful celebration of the winter season - and into the arising and thriving of community everywhere…

Mark and Karoline, November 2022

• 1. Ronald Murphy, S.J. Tree of Salvation: Yggdrasil and the Cross in the North. Oxford University Press. 2013.