I have become increasingly fascinated by how ancient beliefs, rituals, and stories continue to shape our modern perception of the world. When I began this work for the Bardin-Niskala Duo, I sought to connect the music to the indigenous traditions of my native Venezuela—specifically the Yanomami of the Amazon rainforest and the Ye’Kwana of the Caura and Orinoco River regions.

In researching these shamanic cultures, I discovered a striking commonality: a cosmological design centered around a unifying structure. This central image is often a World Tree that connects heaven, earth, and the underworld—a concept mirrored in the Yanomami and Ye’Kwana traditions as well as the Norse Yggdrasill. In comparative mythology, this is known as the Axis Mundi, or the "navel of the world."

As a Venezuelan who has lived most of his life abroad, my sense of identity can often feel fractured or unanchored. Discovering this universal symbol provided a profound sense of connection that transcends national boundaries. To me, the World Tree represents a powerful image for humanity; at our core, we all crave a connection to our ancestors and to something larger than ourselves.

The music is structured as a shamanic ritual, mirroring the Axis Mundi as a site of sacred ceremony. It begins with low, guttural whispers, gradually finding a melodic impulse through vocally-inflected lines in the cello. As the ritual gathers momentum, the melodies transform into primal pulsations and drum-like accents. The work culminates in a "whirlwind"—a brutal, ecstatic dance that captures the raw, awe-inspiring power of the human spirit.