The Tree of Kai is a symbolic design that draws from ancient Norse belief and centers on Yggdrasil, the great world tree. This tree stands at the center of all realms and holds the structure of the cosmos together. In this design, Yggdrasil is seen as the axis mundi, the world axis that connects heaven, earth, and the underworld.
At the top of the tree sits a bird. This bird is called Veðrfölnir. Its name means weather pale or wind bleached. It is said to rest between the eyes of an unnamed eagle perched at the very crown of the tree. Veðrfölnir plays a role in stirring the air. Through its movement and calls, it brings changes in the weather, the coming of winds, and the shifting of seasons.
The Tree of Kai design presents this structure in visual form. The roots stretch downward, reaching into deep places. The trunk rises straight and strong, holding the balance between realms. The branches reach upward, expanding into the sky, and there the bird rests, a symbol of knowledge, motion, and unseen forces.
This tree is more than a symbol of life. It is a link between the physical and the spiritual. The bird at the top reminds us that even the highest part of the world is alive and in motion. It also shows the Norse sense of connection between nature and the divine. Weather is not just a pattern but a presence, shaped by living beings.
In the Tree of Kai, every part has meaning. The design invites the viewer to see the world as the old Norse people did: as something alive, layered, and full of unseen threads between sky, earth, and spirit.
Green embroderies of the Old-Nhorse logo on heart and "Tree of Kai" design on back, sleeves and hood.||Black print on green fabric in the hood of "The Flower of Life Seamless" pattern. The Flower of Life Seamless design is Inspired by the Book of Kells (Ireland, 8th/9th century).
Original designs by Kai Uwe Faust.
