FOSTERING HARMONY AMONG HUMANS, NATURE AND ORGANIZATIONS
MUNDEKULLA FESTIVAL, AUGUST 9 - 13, 2023
MUNDEKULLA FESTIVAL, AUGUST 9 - 13, 2023
THIS YEAR'S THEME: PASSING ON THE STICK
WELCOME TO THE MUNDEKULLA FESTIVAL!
Welcome to a unique 25th Anniversary where we offer most of the best of the last 25 years! There will be both retrospects and peeks into the future as well as an official handing over on the theme "Passing on the stick". This year's theme offers the opportunity to reflect on what we want to let go of in our lives in order to bring in something new. Below you can read about all the artists and workshop leaders who brighten up the festival. The festival team with Peter, Anna, JEM and Emma is intact and they are sharing various features!
Meet the workshop leaders (Subject to change)
Find the full festival oversight here (minor changes might still occur)
PETER ELMBERG
CONCERTS, LECTURE, MORNING GATHERINGS
The festival begins with Peter and guest artists summing up the festival's 25-year history. Peter also performs a concert with African Vibration (see below) and leads the morning gatherings with the appreciated Mundekulla dances and bears overall responsibility for the festival.
He offers a lecture on the theme of mindfulness with his partner Anna Rasmussen, with elements of "Mindfulness Songs" that he wrote at the Plum Village Mindfulness Practice Center in 2014. Together they run "Music and Mindfulness” which organizes the festival.
Peter is a trained behavioral scientist and started Mundekulla together with Anne Solveig in 1998. Peter has written over 1000 songs and two musicals and arranged many events since Mundekulla's beginnings. Listen to Peter's music at Spotify
ANNA RASMUSSEN
YIN YOGA, CONCERT
Anna trained in 2007 as a virya yoga teacher and later also in children's yoga and yin yoga. She is deeply inspired by the Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh and in recent years has visited Plum Village, a Buddhist center in the south of France and studied meditation and mindfulness.
Together with her partner Peter Elmberg, she shares how meditation and mindfulness training have given a richer everyday life, which is woven together with songs that Peter wrote during a visit to Plum Village. Anna also offers yin yoga and relaxation and is part of the festival team. She feels great gratitude for the many different elements of yoga and meditation, such as the physical training, the breath and the recovery. Anna lives in Blekinge with her family and offers courses in yoga and meditation and organizes events with various teachers and musicians.
JEM FREDHAMN
LECTURES, WORKSHOPS, MINDFULNESS WALKING, MEDITATION, QI GONG
Jem left a legal career to live as a monk for 18 years (2003-2020) with Zen master and peace activist Thich Nhat Hahn as his teacher. He has taught thousands of people who sought development and guidance in their lives. Since 2020, he has lived in Sweden where he continues to work as a Dharma teacher and has recently trained as a qigong teacher.
During the festival, the lecture Dharma's treasure chest – how the Buddha's teaching makes our life beautiful and real, as well as the Qigong workshop – a way to flow in life, as well as morning and walking meditation, are offered. Together with his love Emma, the workshop "Passing on the stick" is offered. What are we done with in our lives and how can we let go and move on into a new age? Jem is also part of the team that organizes the festival. In recent years he has had several retreats at Mundekulla and a new one awaits on October 26-29. Read more here
EMMA DINMALI FREDHAMN
EFT TAPPING, TRE, WORKSHOP ”PASSING ON THE STICK”
Emma Dinmali Holmlund attended Osho therapist training in Pune, India in 2002 and Family Constellations training in 2003. She is trained in EFT tapping (Emotional Freedom Techniques) which she offers at the festival. By tapping meridian points, you calm the nervous system and it becomes possible to process and see memories, thoughts and feelings from a new perspective.
She will also teach TRE (Tension & Trauma Release Exercises) where you get to do some physical exercises that activate the body's own mechanism to release stress from the body and nervous system. You can continue to do TRE at home to get more calm, more energy and greater tolerance in everyday life. Together with her love Jem, Emma will also have a workshop where we explore the festival's theme "Passing on the stick". Emma is also part of the team that organizes the festival. Read more here
MICKE GUNNARSSON
WHERE ARE WE GOING?
Stress, algorithms, mental illness, diagnoses, pandemics, AI and media hysteria is something we have to deal with in a time where the confusion is perhaps greater than ever. Micke shares thoughts and guides a meditation and opens up for a conversation.
After a daily active life on social media for 20 years with over 100,000 followers, Micke decided to create a safe platform (community) where we can deal with our unhealed wounds, codependencies and other traumas to be aware in our roles as parents, colleagues and love partners.
Micke Gunnarsson is a lecturer, author and inspirer who is passionate about strengthening people's inner leadership and relationships. In 2018, he received the award "Guldeken" in the category "Human sustainability" and has been named the year's lecturer "Top 100" three years in a row and is current with his new book "Conscious Parenting".
JENNIFER FERGUSON (SA)
CONCERT
Jennifer was born and raised in South Africa and works currently as a music director at Stiftsgården in Rättvik, an internationally-profiled course and conference centre. She works with courses, choirs and youth groups, using music and movement as a medium for personal and collective transformation and growth. She has her roots as a political activist during apartheid seeking to give voice to the voiceless and serve Life's longing to express itself by what she calls sacred activism. Jennifer has three children and Johanna, born with Down Syndrome remains Jennifer’s master-teacher.
Kestis Gabriel Nyberg a multi talented musician will join her concert and and offer a multi-faceted experience with space for both dance and chill after the concert. Her latest album The Forgotten Song was recorded with pianist Rickard Åström. Her other albums include ‘Hand around the Heart’, ‘Untimely’ and ‘Suite Sweden.’
Jennifer also offers a sacred singing workshop where you will have the opportunity to familiarize yourself with the songs from the evening concert.
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Photo: ©SuzyBernstein
JOACHIM KOHLS
CONCERT
Joakim Kohls came to Mundekulla in the early 2000s and fell in love with the place, the people and the atmosphere. Since then he has participated in several festivals, and also trained as a priest and psychotherapist. He has a long-standing commitment to the environment and questions about how we humans can take care of the earth, our fellow creatures, each other and ourselves. Joakim's interest in life-related and existential issues is expressed in his music, which moves within the singer-songwriter genre.
During his life's journey, which began in the Free Church in Västerås, and took the road via Ängsbacka in Värmland and Mundekulla in Småland, to today working as a priest in Stockholm, music has always been a companion, a source of inspiration and a deeply personal way of expression. His lyrics, which are in Swedish, deal with questions about our place in life, love at its most beautiful and most difficult, and worry and hope for the future. They are, in short, songs about life.
JONAS KLINGBERG
DANCE AND SINGING WORKSHOP
Jonas Klingberg is a trained behavioral scientist/health scientist with a focus on wellness and public health and a certified teacher in the movement methods 5Rhytms. During the last 25 years he has been practising massage, dance and movement, yoga, breath work, shamanism and vipassana meditation and has also held classes, courses, retreats and trainings around Sweden and abroad.
The driving force and intention is to create a safe and supportive space in the exploration and reminder of our bodily intelligence, as a basic compass and resource in everyday life, and through this build self-esteem and confidence in life and oneself as a person.
During the festival, Jonas holds a dance workshop on the theme Saturday Soul - 5Rhythms movement practice with elements of live music with Johan Bysell.
AFRICAN VIBRATION
MUSIC AND CULTURE MEETING BETWEEN SWEDEN AND WEST AFRICA!
During the years 2007–2010, Peter Elmberg visited Senegal in West Africa to record and write music with the indigenous population resulting in the song "Uprising". Peter created strong ties to Papis Bodian and a fruitful collaboration emerged and it created the band "African Vibration".
At this year's festival, they do a concert on the theme "Call of the wild" together with the house band, where Papis begins by performing some of his own songs. Even though Senegal is one of the world's poorest countries and Sweden one of the richest, there is no mistaking the fact that we need each other and that the Western world has something to learn from African culture and the infectious energy and joy that is expressed in the music! Also participating are Tomas Rasmussen and Afana from Ghana.
DIANE PATTERSON (USA)
CONCERT AND SINGING WORKSHOP
​Singer and songwriter Diane Patterson builds bridges with her music around the world. She offers rock songs with a powerful voice, combined with fine guitar and ukulele playing with revolutionary lyrics. Since 1989, Diane has offered concerts that have taken her around festival stages, folk music stages and house concerts thanks to the support and dedication of her fans worldwide. She is based in Northern California and her musical background is singer-songwriter, blues and world music. Since the beginning of the 2000s, she has been a recurring artist at Mundekullafestivalen and the fanbase is increasing every year. She also offers a singing workshop with a "water praising ceremony". By her side at the concert is her friend Hanzano Lidbrink on bass, who has been a constant companion at her concerts around Sweden since they met at Mundekulla in 2011.
JOHAN BYSELL
CONCERT AND WORKSHOP
Johan Bysell is a sensitive musician who touches deeply with his live music. Based on a fine-tuned dialogue with his audience, Johan creates improvised soundscapes through his acoustic and electronic tones. Johan plays several instruments – from the Indian string instrument esraj to various stringed instruments, drums and wind instruments. Johan participates, among other things, in the dance workshop Saturday soul with Jonas Klingberg.
He also has a degree in psychology and communication science and many years of experience in change work based on a systemic and relational approach. He is co-author of the book "Perspectives that make a difference - Meaning-making conversations in practice".
BJÖRN KARLSSON
BREATHING EXERCISE WITH THE WIM HOF METHOD
Dutchman Wim Hof has proven what the human body is capable of by climbing Mount Everest in shorts. His method contributes to strengthening health and the immune system through, among other things, breathing and cold (ice bath).
The breathing exercise is led by Björn Karlsson, who started practicing the Wim Hof method in connection with a burnout when he regained his energy, reduced stress and his asthma disappeared. This workshop is suitable for everyone, but requires a basic level of fitness. Participants during pregnancy, with epilepsy or serious cardiovascular problems who are on medication are not recommended to participate in the breathing exercise but are welcome to listen. Björn also offers a course at Mundekulla in autumn 2023.
JAN ERIC STRÖM
CONCERTS, MORNING GATHERINGS
Jan Eric is a multi-musician who has graced many festivals at Mundekulla with his own works as well as in the house band. He treats the acoustic guitar and electric bass as few and it is impossible to remain unmoved when Jan Eric takes the tone. He participates in the morning gatherings with Peter Elmberg and Lars-Magnus as well as Talasi's Heartdance, African Vibration and the opening concert and Sunday Celebration etc. He also offers a singing session (Bhajans) with some of his most appreciated songs consisting of life lessons and trivia!
Jan Eric has collaborated and toured with many other musicians both in Sweden, Europe and India, including Kevin James whose album "Only One" he also appears on. Since his education at the music academy, Jan Eric has been a guitar teacher and also worked in theater, but nowadays he devotes himself mostly to his three "Ms", namely "Music, Painting (Måleri) and Meditation." He has released his own album "Reflexion" as well as "Here" with Sara Scheen Otnes and "12 peace prayers" with Peter and Lars-Magnus. Listen here
EVA-LOTTA RUNFORS
YOGA AND LECTURE
For many years Eva-Lotta worked as an IT consultant, but since 2004 she works as a yoga & mindfulness teacher as well as a leadership & life coach with a focus on self-leadership. She has immersed herself especially in meditation and yoga in several different spiritual traditions, but above all, on her own, explored how to live and embody this, in relationships, at work and in various challenges in life.
The lecture workshop 'Live true' is about daring to indulge in life with its challenges and joys and to heal the relationship with oneself and one's parents, in illness and near death based on life stories, poems and meditation.
The yoga session on the theme 'embracing body & soul' offers soft hatha yoga, qigong, meditation and shaking exercises. An opportunity to experience your body in deep presence, and its energy for increased peace of mind.
DJ KESTIS GABRIEL
SWEDISH FOLK MUSIC MEETS MODERN SOUTH AFRICAN DANCE MUSIC
Kestis Gabriel is a pianist, producer and DJ. Born in South Africa but raised both in Johannesburg's inner city and in the sparsely populated areas of Västerdalara in Sweden. He paints colorfully over the gray area between improvisation and composition in a powerful fusion of a unique cultural heritage. Glowing rhythms are cooled in beautiful soundscapes. Swedish folk music meets modern South African dance music and makes the soul want to dance.
In addition to his own dance concert, multi-musician Kestis Gabriel also accompanies Jennifer Ferguson.
THOMAS WIEHE
PUPPET THEATER WITH MUSIC
We all have a child within us who has the ability to see the magic in existence. Welcome to the "Gastock gör entre" puppet theater for children 3–9 years old (parents welcome). The animals in the forest usually sing or play their own little song after they drink their morning water. The princess usually does that too. This displeases the dragon because music makes him kind. And he doesn't want that. Therefore he kidnaps the princess. Our hero Gastock is aided by the fairies in the fight against the dragon, who, however, can only be defeated by playing the most beautiful of all instruments... but which one?
Thomas Wiehe has been an artist since 1975. He has a diverse musical past with 18 released albums and twelve musical performances. Over the years, he has participated in several radio and TV programs and composed and performed music in several theater performances for young people, including "Vilse i Pannkakan" with Staffan Westerberg. Read more here.
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Listen to Thomas Wiehe's anniversary song "Mundekulla - 25 years" here
MATS BILLMARK
TAPING ANTIDEPRESSANT MEDICATIONS
Today, 1.2 million Swedes take antidepressant medications daily, many of them at increasingly young ages. The prescription of antidepressant medications is three times as great among teenagers in Sweden compared to Denmark and Norway. For many who want to reduce or discontinue their medication, it is difficult to get support and it can be extremely frustrating, physically and psychologically challenging.
Mats Billmark, who suffered from anxiety for large parts of his life, talks about his experiences and shares tips and advice for a more humane tapering and approach to antidepressant medications.
Mats is an author and, together with his wife Susan, has written the book "Lär dig leva" which was Sweden's best-selling book in 2015 and which was subsequently published in 26 countries around the world.
SUSAN BILLMARK
CREATIVE WORKSHOP
(FOR EVERYONE OVER 13)
Without any requirements, we create our own personal pep book that you can carry with you to remind you of what you need. We cut, paste and paint – you choose. In the middle of a burnout in 2001, Susan discovered creation as an important healing health factor and she creates in any material that feels interesting at the moment, preferably with reuse of materials that no one else wants and she loves mixing unexpected materials.
For 20 years, she has inspired people to create through course activities and she also sold her products in the harbor of Byxelkrok in northern Öland for 16 years. Nowadays she has a studio and courses in Kalmar. Together with her husband Mats Billmark, Susan has written three books in the "Learn to live" series and a children's book where she also created the illustrations. Susan is passionate about making people discover the calming and healing power of creation.
LARS-MAGNUS ÖSTERBERG
MORNING MEETING, PIANO CONCERT, COMP. MUSICIAN
Lars-Magnus Österberg is a pianist and keyboard player from Gothenburg and one of the festival's recurring musicians. He is part of the house band where he is a musician for various artists during the festival such as the morning gatherings, Talasis Heartdance, "Sunday Celebration" and at the opening concert with Peter Elmberg. He offers piano improvisation during one of the lunches and is in charge of the Open Stage.
Lars-Magnus has worked in the music department at residential college for 25 years and he now has a position as a musician in Högsbo parish, Gothenburg and also freelances in the region. His CD "Piano Songs" has been appreciated by many over the years and is also available on Spotify with some of his other productions. Listen here
KLAS PARKNÄS
MORNING MEDITATIONS
Klas regularly holds "devotions" on RadioP1, which is very much appreciated. It usually becomes more like a meditation as Klas himself is not particularly religious. He describes it as a "requesting spirit" from the heart. A quiet moment in the morning about welcoming through love and love healing. We pray to receive the day instead of making it up. About finding instead of searching. We start with music and a lighted candle.
Klas is an artist, who has made himself known for his art, but also his ability to inspire. The journey has gone from theater via opera to painting. In his studio "Stillagatan" in Gothenburg, he has for 25 years investigated, not the art but the source of the art. Klas paints, makes films, morning devotions, lectures and is also the author of art and the poetry book "Tillvaratet".
![Klas Parknäs[21011].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/326252_7ef962871d9b4d258fe2d1aa9faa9b63~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_245,h_245,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/326252_7ef962871d9b4d258fe2d1aa9faa9b63~mv2.jpg)
SANDRA GEITZ
EMBODIMENT WORKSHOP
Sandra moved to Mundekulla in January 2021 and is project manager for several educational projects and also runs Mundekulla's European volunteer project.
In addition to this, she works with Zen Coaching, in the form of individual sessions, workshops and mediation sessions as well as liberating dance and movement.
During the festival, she will offer a workshop in Embodiment "Talking Bodies", which begins with a small lecture about the concept of embodiment and how it can support us to be more in touch with our body and our minds, as well as several exercises to try, based on how our body speaks to us. It is also possible to book sessions with Sandra on site. Read more here
MAGNUS BENGTSSON
CIRCUS SCHOOL (FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE)
Magnus Bengtsson is one of the Festival's great heroes and great inspirers, who offers Circus School for children, young people ... and adults!
While all adults indulge in general wisdom and developing activities, Magnus offers something called play, acrobatics, standing on hands, juggling and other fun, that most adults have completely lost along the way.
In addition, there will be a final show on Sunday for all ages (young and old...) This is definitely one of the highlights of the festival, at least if the kids get to choose!
ANNY AND LINDA URSJÖ
CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES AND PLAY FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS
Almost 10 years ago, Anny and Linda moved to Långasjö, thanks to Mundekulla. They have both attended a number of festivals and also Circle Way Camp. Anny is interested in art and begins her second year on the aesthetic programat Jenny Nyström high school in Kalmar. Linda works within the Church of Sweden as a deacon and has previously worked with children's activities for several years.
Everyone is welcome at Anny's workshop "Play for children and adults – the children have the power" where the children "teach the adults to find the child within them". No previous knowledge required. Linda has two sessions with the children "Create with clay" and "Crafts & games.”
ANN-HELEN FRANKSSON RUNDQVIST
ART, CREATIVITY AND CREATION
Welcome to a workshop for children and young people as well as adults. Have fun with color, shape, play and litter. Build, construct, imagine, tape and transform together and we'll see what happens!!!
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I grew up in Mundekulla's neighboring village (Bredalycke) and have been sneaking around the forests as a child. For me, Mundekulla is a fantastic place. Today I live in Bergkvara and work at the Kalmar Art Museum as a creative, art educator for educators, children, preschools and schools. I am also self-employed and run "Dansa andas mera nu" and have a small studio by the sea. My motto is let go of control, dare chaos, breathe, play and find the way back to ourselves. Hooray so lovely to be able to create together!
STEPHANIE VERSTIFT
WORKSHOP
Stephanie has always been fascinated with arts and creative expression from all around the world. During her education in cultural anthropology and Liberal Arts & Sciences, Stephanie studied different art traditions, symbols and worldviews; and how they have enriched and given meaning to our lives through history. She's inspired by nature and the Five Elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine, as a beautiful way of connecting to the natural cycles within and around us.
With her background in co-creation, culture, facilitation and change, as well as her deep love for art and expression, Stephanie loves to tap into collective wisdom and genius through artistic expression. Inspired by Hilma af Klint's The Ten Largest, she will host a collective painting workshop at the festival where we will play with colour, abstract form and natural shapes. Together we will paint a collective painting on large paper canvasses (3.28×2.40) on the floor. A beautiful exercise for all the senses in co-creation, holding loosely, giving space, embracing surprise and flow.
ELIN NORDENBERG
TOUR OF MUNDEKULLA'S CULTIVATIONS
Elin is in charge of for the cultivations at Mundekulla. She has a perennial interest in forest horticulture (read edible perennials) and a passion for sustainable food supply. Elin works with permaculture and various regenerative methods to expand and put Mundekulla on the map as a place for sustainable agriculture. Join her on a tour of the garden, smell the flowers and let yourself be inspired by our plans.
In 2023, the cultivations have been developed with a larger greenhouse. Elin runs the gardens together with 8 volunteers who are at Mundekulla for 7 months. Mundekulla's plantations have grown over the past 5 years on the initiative of Clinton Pereira who carefully built up a circular bed with the help of biochar, wood chips, branches, compost, insect hotels, which now produces vegetables of various kinds for Mundekulla's kitchen.
MARTIN AND GALINA STUDER
FOREST WALK AND TREE PLANTING
At this year's festival, the new owners of Mundekulla, Martin and Galina Studer, will plant a tree as a symbol of the future, based on the festival's theme "Passing on the stick". Martin and Galina will also offer a tour of the forest one morning with parts of the Mundekulla team as they talk about their visions for the center and the forest from a long-term perspective.
Over the years, about 20 fruit trees (A tree for peace) have been planted in the area that surrounds Mundekulla Retreat Center in connection with events taking place. Last year, all the children at the festival planted a tree on the theme "It takes a child to raise a village". Mundekulla non-profit association runs a project called "Adopt a tree" where you can donate a deciduous tree to the Mundekulla forest, which aims to contribute to increased diversity. Read more here
ALFONSO CALABRIA
MUNDEKULLA'S GREEN KITCHEN
One of the main characters at the festival and in Mundekulla in general nowadays is undeniably Alfonso Calabria who "rocks the kitchen" with beautiful flavors, smiles, patience and keeps a cool head in the most hectic moments.
Alfonso has a great passion for beautiful ingredients, seasonal cooking and wonderful tasters from around the world, and the food in Mundekulla is praised by many participants. Together with Mundekulla's 8 ESC volunteers, a nice and safe environment is created in the dining room, with special food for the children.
Mundekulla's cookbook is available in Swedish, Dutch and English and was named the world's best cookbook 2021 according to the French organization Gourmand cookbook awards. Read more here.
DEBORAH SOLOMON
HOW DO WE CREATE PEACE?
Deborah Solomon works at the Swedish Peace and Arbitration Association as an expert on killer robots and nuclear weapons. Svenska Freds has a more than 100-year history of working for peace, disarmament and diplomacy around the world with successful results. They were among others and took the initiative for unarmed service as an alternative to military service.
Welcome to listen to a lecture about peacemaking and opportunities but also the challenges we face.
SUNDAY SUMMIT
INSPIRING THOUGHTS, SILENCE AND MUSIC
With Sunday Summit, we want to offer a calm, beautiful and uplifting Sunday time for the soul in a wonderful community. A moment with inspiring thoughts, song, music, silence but also joy and community. A moment beyond religions where the heart is at the center.
There is a longing in many people to come together in a community to give time and focus to stillness and inner growing. Sundays have long been the day when many fulfill that longing with a visit to church.
In Mundekulla, we want to welcome people to meet where the love in the heart is the focus "Love is my religion". Deep down, we all have a longing for inner peace and love. On the occasion of this year's 25th anniversary, the celebration is called "Sunday Summit Celebration". Read more here
