Mongolian Shamanism
Mongolian shamanism has its origins in the Stone Age, possibly in a matriarchal system. There are three major spirits: Queen Earth, King Heaven, and Prince Water. Heaven and earth were originally a single entity. Their separation created fire and the universe. Heaven became a masculine force, Earth a feminine force (referred to as Heaven-Father and Earth-Mother respectively).
The world is divided into three levels: Upper, Middle, and Bottom (or Under). The upper world is holy, the bottom world evil. Both are in a struggle to protect the middle world. All three worlds are inhabited by humans. They are not separate worlds arranged vertically but are all on the same plane. There are also intermediate worlds between the middle and bottom (a Dark world where spirits of the dead reside) and the Upper and middle (sansara – also a Dark World).
Some key beliefs:
Blue Heaven. The Heaven Lord gives water to the earthly Lords in the form of rain snow, nurtures the earth and watches over it. Human activity is conducted by the blessing of Blue Heaven and every person is cared for and protected by it.
Land and Water. Shamans respect and worship land and water, believing they have their own spirits. All events related to land and water are concerned with balancing man and nature. Disasters, disease, and conflict are acts of the water and land, so it is necessary to offer prayers and rituals to pacify these spirits.
Ongon. A late shaman spirit is called an Ongon. All Ongons for worshipping water and land were established on mountaintops or by rivers, as spirits are considered to live there.
Buumal. These are amulets found in places lightning has struck believed to have been sent down from heaven by the Heaven Lord.
Mastery of fire. This is when possessed shamans can perform feats such as licking red hot iron or sitting directly on top of a fire.
Concepts of good and bad are not viewed in the same way. Shamans consider good and bad natural and social phenomena, actions and deeds, and affirmative and negative trends. They are concerned with balancing opposing forces. Directions are “good” (West and South) or “bad” (East and North). The northeast is considered a bad direction. Negative forces are generally considered to be black, dark or shadowy; positive forces to be white or light.
Shamans are divided into black and white: black shamans epitomize courage and discipline; white shamans focus on humanity. Black shamans in general are associated with the East, white shamans with the West. They work with specific spirits. Black and white shamans draw their power from the directions and spirits that they work with. Black invocations were intended to overcome evil deeds and negative consequences, in struggles against evil, protecting and saving people from harm, acting as agents of vengeance, etc. Instead of pitting force against force and bad against bad, the white shamans have a set of beliefs and customs related to white deeds, habits and thoughts. White shamans always act virtuously. Black shamans are often involved in malicious activities. Black shamans often perform their actions with their eyes open, white shamans with their eyes closed. However, there is a view that all things have an antithesis. Killing animals is balanced by husbandry, war by friendship, cursing by blessing and life by death. Each side of this balance is given equal importance.
Soul and spirit have different meanings in Mongolian shamanism. Every kind of living creature and natural thing has its own soul and guardian spirit. A living tree has its own soul, but the forest as a whole and other natural resources have their own special spirit. The main difference is that a soul belongs to a single entity such as a person, plant or animal, or land and water. Spirits protect an area or a whole group of entities. Shamans consider that people and animals have three kinds of souls. Two of them are mortal, the other immortal. These three souls are known as life, mind, and future birth. Black shamanism rejects the idea of rebirth, believing that humans and animals are born, have a period in the Sunny World, and when they die the soul remains forever in darkness. White shamans believe that good souls are reborn. Bad souls spend time in their body and then go to the Dark World to be judged.
Shaman costumes are important. Shaman clothing consists of headwear, gown, and boots (an assembly of the spirits of animals and shamans). Images and objects like bells and mirrors represent spirits. A gown can have holes (entry doors for Ongons). Clothing also contains representations of snakes made from twisted cloth (sometimes real snakes), and tobacco pouches so that possessing Ongons can smoke. The shaman headdress (orgoi) is often decorated with feathers or images of birds like Eagles, Owls or Falcons. Cloth called a samalga hangs over the face to stir the Ongon, act as a protective shield, and deepen trance. Prayer manjigs are used to ask for protection. Specific knots on these are used for different purposes. Shamans believe their clothing protects them from harm.
Other tools that are used include drums, drumsticks, mouth organs, and walking sticks. These have several functions. They act as transport for the shaman and Ongons, offer protection against attack from enemies, are a means of making music to please the Ongons and Heavens, and are used as a means of communication to transmit and receive replies during rituals like fortune telling. Drums and sticks are often referred to as “horses.” A shaman mirror (or toli) is a bronze or brass disk (or copper) hung from gowns for protection from evil. Shamans believe each piece of paraphernalia has its own guardian spirit or Ongon.
There are two types of sacrificial altar: Ovoos and Aobaoes. Ovoos are sacrificial altars in the shape of a mound traditionally used for worship. Every ovoo is thought of as the representation of an Ongon. There are ovoos dedicated to Heavenly spirits, Mountain spirits, other spirits of nature, and spirits of human lineages and agglomerations. Aobaoes are used for worship of ancestral gods and can be private shrines of an extended family, or kin (people with the same surname), or common to villages (dedicated to the god of a village). Sacrifices to the aobaoes are made offering slaughtered animals, joss sticks, and libations. Mountains are a main place of worship and offerings. A special Ovoo is set up on the top of mountains.
Shaman trees are usually stunted large or cedar, often with branches bunched or twisted together. The location of the stunted section of the tree determines whether it is a tree of the lower, middle, or upperworld. The shaman tree of the lower while distance it at the most savage or dangerous. It is forbidden to climb shaman trees, break off branches or twigs, steal offerings, tread on their roots, sleep under them, or whistle near them. Birch trees are considered trees or heaven, as they are never struck by lightning, and sacred trees. Mongolian shamans make the handles of weapons, tools, and important possessions from birch. Important documents are written on birchbark. Dried birchbark is the tinder of choice.
Some taboos and omens to be aware of if you visit Mongolia:
Water should not be polluted with milk, blood, excrement, dirt, hair, wool, or other rubbish.
Making a fire near the source of a river is forbidden because fire and water are opposed.
Sleeping or setting up a ger at the confluence of two rivers is forbidden. Erecting a ger along a water path can lead to death/disease.
The soil is regarded as an animal skin, earth, stones, and plant roots its veins, arteries, and muscles. It is forbidden to touch it, drive a stake or erect a post unless there is a need to do so, such as to tether animals. Wounds caused to the earth are healed by filling in the holes and restoring disturbed soil or grass.
The snake should be respected for its good and bad qualities. Do not kill a snake. A snake crossing your path signifies luck and wealth.
The number 5 is auspicious, the number seven is important, the number 9 is a symbol of powerfulness and prosperity.
The header Photo is by Bolatbek Gabiden on Unsplash link