Nomadic Kids

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Based on nomadic culture, Mongolians have their library only in their “Tseej erdem” through generations. But this is not just a form of mental recognition. Erdem itself means “Knowledge through intelligence”. Nomads educate their children with practical daily life-based activities that one day will allow them to acquire Erdem about a different aspect of life. This knowledge should stay in their “Tseej”, meaning that it’s in their intelligence.

First of all, it’s because of their lifestyle. Nomads move 2-4 times a year, and its reason lies with a deep philosophy corresponding to their environmental intelligence. They don’t stay in one place to use all the grass and destroy the land. Instead, they move place to place and this way the environment stays sustainable and wild eternally. Additionally their animals nourish with a new and fresh pasture when they change the place.

Nature is the supreme of everything. All knowledge comes through the understanding of nature and its phenomena. Authentic nomads call and see their god as the sky. Bluish and deep space correspond to their innermost beauty. That’s why we can see praises, songs, poems, artworks, and legends about the sky in all ages throughout their history. Children first learn this philosophy of sky and nature from their parents. It’s very natural that kids start to have close contact with their domestic animals. Once kids realise the connection between nature and animals, they start to learn their role for this connection. Parents teach to their kids about all this through their songs, poems, tales and games.

Life is harder than the city-based civilizations there. But they grow strong. They grow in a totally different way in many senses. More intuitive, free-minded, often they are called as wild, but wild in a sense of free-minded, they know what is the limit and not to harm others and nature. Nomadic kids are aware of their environment around, and the relationship between animals and all the livings.

 

A Few Thoughts About Universal Responsibility.

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Universal responsibility is the best foundation both for our personal happiness and for world peace, the equitable use of our natural resources and, through a concern for future generations, the proper care for the environment. Many of the world’s problems and conflicts arise because states and individuals have lost sight of the basic humanity that binds us all together as a human family. As politicians are running states, it tends to be forgotten that despite the diversity of race, religion, culture, language, ideology and so forth, people are equal in their basic desire for peace and happiness. As human beings, we all know that we need to have better relations and better understandings. Although world communities, researchers and many thinkers know about it, it’s rarely our practice.

Today, human civilization has entered the new millennium with many aliments such as economic crises, political distrust and social confusion, environmental problems, psychological depressions, nuclear disasters, and so on… Those problems and disasters have been created by human beings and cannot be ignored. If we consider our future generations and our world community survival, we should find a way to solve these problems and disasters.

Dr. Samael Aun Weor, a thinker of social sciences and anthropology, once said that there are a number of events and negative external problems, but the reason for those negative problems lies internally. It explains that disasters, crises, and problems are showing themselves externally, but the reasons and foundations are internal. So, our internal states today should require human beings to think twice. International communities and states do a lot for the world community, but we are missing the internal sense or understanding of universalism by responsibility.

I, therefore, suggest that states need more awareness of human responsibility toward a universal optimism of the world.

We, everybody, can have enough sense to protect nature with its components and sustain responsibility toward our future creatures and generations. It’s natural, as given our ancestors provided us a place to live today. The conclusion is the world community needs to look for the greater motivation to modern problem solving and for future generations.

So, any human action, whether the result is positive or negative, largely depends on motivation. If the motivation is sincere then every human action can be positive – including political initiatives. If our motivation is not adequate or pure, even religion becomes smeared for example. It’s a motivation and attitude for optimism, with its sense of acting for the world community as a family. The sincere motivation for the benefit of others and a greater sense of responsibility is the approach of the Dalai Lama for the world community and nation-states.

The most secure foundation for a new world order is not simply broader political and economic alliances, but each individual’s genuine practice of love and compassion. These qualities are the ultimate source of human happiness, and our need for them lies at the very core of our being. The practice of compassion is not idealistic, but the most effective way to pursue the best interests of others as well as our own. The more we become interdependent the more it is in our own interest to ensure the well-being of others.

Morally, as beings of higher intelligence, we must care for this world. The other inhabitants of the planet, insects and so on, do not have the means to save or protect this world. Our other responsibility is to undo the serious environmental degradation that is the result of incorrect human behavior. We have recklessly polluted the world with chemicals and nuclear waste, selfishly consuming many of its resources. Humanity must take the initiative to repair and protect the world.

And more over, we are all human and we all want a better and peaceful world. So the proper motivation is that care for the other’s interest is urgent. The world leaders and nation-states should encourage innovative dialogue on the ways in which members of the public can strengthen the peace process through people-to-people and leaders to leaders. They should encourage proper motivation which is based on the greater sense of universal responsibility. It’s not only about a religious approach; it’s the urgent need to deal with current problems that can erase the entire human existence.

We in world politics only talk and know about rights. Now it’s an urgent time to consider the “Human Responsibility”, “Nations Responsibility” and “World as a Global Responsibility”.

It’s the only way to save humanity, nations and global survival.

Authentic Mongolia

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The origin of Mongolia is the Altaic people. Known to some as the Central Asian nomads, their history is vast and rich in terms of everything. In time they have been mixed and submerged into Kazakhstan, Kirghizstan, Mongolia, Russia and China. And many Mongol origins are still living in India, Iran, and so on to this day. But their common character is their wisdom and love of the emanation that they believe in. Mongolia is a centre of Altaic people today.

Altaic people inhale by the open round space and exhale by creating this space into their own individual world. Physically, we can notice it with their yurts. A yurt is a round structure and represents many meaningful characteristics in each part. The main characteristic of a Yurt is that it is like a universe in a small space.

The top part of the yurt is the unity. The sun or the light which is in absolute. The most adorable wisdom of everything. From this part, two columns are going down, which represents the two polarities, divine feminine and masculine spirits. Then the walls round represent the virtues for adorable wisdom. If the walls are well built and strong enough, the yurt is going to the best servant to that adorable light. In turn, if the yurt is a good servant of this adorable light, then everything is circulating under the law of the universe and the meaning of life and death is fulfilled on earth bravely. I really love the sacred wisdom of Altaic people, because I grew up with their legends and sacred faith. All the messages and representations of yurt are also in each human being, like a person, each yurt has individuality too.

Altaic people adore the space. They perceive the space is a smaller form of the universe. The universe is a smaller version of the absolute, the adorable wisdom, or light. The one who palpates in each heart. This adorable light expands and creates the universe, space and then humans. A human, for example, is a nomad is a small version of the universe, like their yurt.

Mongolian handicrafts yurt

Adoring this light naturally opens the eye of every nomad into mystery. The long perches for yurt represents the mysteries around everywhere and in everything. The mystery of mountains, rivers and trees, for example, created shamanism. The mystery of wild animals created the totems. Mongolians adopted Buddhism easily and happily because they realised that the mystery of living with their adorable wisdom was taught in a new way. How to reach that adorable absolute rigorously wasn’t the main importance, contrary, it enriches the method or way to reach that absolute. That’s why Mongolians welcomed Buddhism with respect and honour as legends tell.

Maybe I am one of the last generations, who have faith in this authentic Altaic wisdom. It’s hard to keep it in today’s ultra-capitalistic world. But thanks for reading my blog on mongolianhandicrafts.com.

I believe still, everybody has a right to know about the authentic Mongolian wisdom. Difficulties in life can be created by the misunderstanding or the errors of “know-how” to create ourselves, or the yurt. Now, dear reader, the conclusion is for you to decide.

Story of Mongolian Handicrafts

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After a shocking dream, I felt the breath of mother earth and started to really believe in “Divine mother” or anything called “Mother spirit”, and “Mother Earth”.

I recalled my grandparents’ visions about nature. Humble and inspired greetings to milky stars and misty mountains, breathing the fresh morning air with the earths caring spirit, touching the great silence of winter nights, and riding the winds on horseback. These values start to call me back strongly towards what I have experienced in my childhood in the Altai mountains.

Everything there is tied to mother earth. As time passes and with the changing world, we have followed. There is nothing bad about following the changing worlds but we need to keep these deep values that we have learnt and experienced with our nomadic grandparents. I know that is what our mother earth hopes from me… That is why I started Mongolian Handicrafts.

Not only in my mental world, but also in my emotions and intuitions, I started to develop a great respect for natural things like fabrics, foods, lifestyles, etc. On the other hand, I started to refuse synthetic, nylon, and anything that comes out of petrol.

There is nothing “alive” in synthetic wool, and it develops a mass production which destroys many local handicrafts. Fashion designers should care about more natural fabrics than their designs. We can wear more fashionable synthetic clothes, but can we realize how we are “unconscious” about what’s going on with our mother earth. I think it’s much more than that…

Wool is sustainable and renewable. Naturally, yaks, camels, sheep, goats and other domestic animals are growing their hair and depending on where they live, they develop different types of wool. Some are itchy, but some are soft like silk. Specially cashmere and pure yak down. Any wool becomes softer and less itchy by their usage. Because wool is an alive substance. It feels the wearer and creates an affinity towards mother earth.

I realize that most wool products are mixed with other nylon, cotton or synthetic. Mixing with cotton is fine, but I other unnatural fabrics should not be mixed with natural fabrics, especially with wool.

In the end, I would suggest people, to re-experience their wool world and respect its mystic characters while using it.

The Story of the Yaks Wool

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Nomads call them the “Mountain King”. Even domestic yaks are quite wild, but they have an unshakeable humble attitude towards their masters.

Yak herders live in altitude during every season, because their lung naturally looks for the freshest air and mountain waters. Yaks are really a mountainous creature. They become active, stronger, and well-nourished when staying in the highest peaks. As nomads do not milk their yaks during the winter, herders man usually take their yaks to even higher areas in order to help them grow and make them feel happy.

While doing that, herdsmen also enjoy the infinite freedom just to follow their yaks’ road in the high altitude. They stay one to three months in this way, moving through the mountains and come back to their home full of joy.

Due to the geographic location and severe climate conditions, the Mongolian Yak Down is known to be the finest, longest and softest compare to the ones in China, Nepal and other parts of the world. Far from the Oceans, high in altitude and chilled by coldest Siberian winds from the north, Mongolia is extremely dry and cold in winter. Due to these harsh conditions, domestic Yak develops the most resistant and warmest down hair, under their wool. From all domestic animals, Yak down is the premium. Pure yak down is one of the “Mongolian Noble Fibres”.

 

Mongolian handicrafts fair trade Yaks Wool

Mongolian handicrafts choose Yak wool as our speciality because yak is the eco-friendliest of all domestic animal. Their pasture land is untouched and rich in many natural substances. Even the yak’s milk is the most delicious. Yak cheese and yoghurt have much more calcium and richer in many substances compare to any other domestic animals.

Yak always graze the top of the grass, meaning that they always leave the grass to re-grow. Yak is the most conscious animal for Nomads concerning their environment.

Yak down is soft like cashmere while maintaining the strongest elasticity. Cashmere is sublime, warm and luxurious, but lacks lanolin to provide elasticity. That is why cashmere clothing is impractically delicate.

The most sublime Merino wool is sheared, meaning that the animal is shaved rather than gently combed. That is why Merino wool is not soft like pure yak down and cashmere. Even though Merino wool is durable and stretchy, it is not as warm as yaks down.

The secrets of having the most premium wool are combing, de-hairing and finishing. Mongolian nomads gently comb their yak, camel, goats and sheep with full of compassion and unexplainable praising. Once this process is finished the wool is delivered to the de-hairing facility in Ulaanbaatar, there the raw wool is sorted by color, washed and de-haired. We don’t use any chemicals and dye. These natural colors radiate and keep the most mystic language.

A number of independent tests have shown yak wool is between 10 – 40% warmer by weight than equivalent merino wool. Yaks live at extremely high altitude in Mongolia, Tibet Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.

“Wearing pure wool is like having an “alive entity” on us, therefore treat it with respect and thanks its ether radiation.”

Organic Sheep Wool Handicrafts

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The magical geometry in each natural fibre proves that all of this is the conscious work of mother earth. One of these beautiful creations is wool. Nomads observe their raw wool with great respect as it is a  divine gift from their “sky” (mother earth). Even Mongolian traditional script speaks of raw sheep wool. They realise the sacred and artistic shape in it. That’s how the art of Mongolian calligraphy and traditional scripts were born. Mongolian nomads praise their wool in their songs and poems. They sing and dance around their raw wool and praise their raw wool before processing it into clothes or other products.

We consider it as an entity using the word “Ilch”. In Mongolian  “Ilch” means the ether, an ultra-dimensional energy is present. In order to keep this “ether” or “ilch”, we don’t colour the wool or use any chemicals for processing. We use hairs that animals shed naturally once or twice a year. In the spring, nomads comb their domestic animals. This means the animals are ready for the hot summer with a lightweight coat. Combed wool is selected for clothes and handicrafts. Sheep wool is the most important animal fibre used in textiles, clothes, yurts and handicrafts in Mongolia since their origin.

 

Mongolian handicrafts fair trade Pure organic sheeps wool

 

Mongolian handicrafts  treats wool cloths and handicrafts as traditionally and with the greatest respect as the nomads do. I want Mongolians to keep their traditional wool processing and their organic custom.

One of the biggest economic powers, neighbouring China, impacts harshly on our pure and organic wool traditions. For many years I have been working with Mongolian local cooperatives and every year it breaks my heart to see the quality of handicrafts decline. This is because Chinese synthetic or nylon handicrafts are becoming so popular. Mongolian traditional handicrafts are mixed with synthetic wool in order to compete with the market. Some people in Mongolia are not even conscious of it and I try and educate them about their traditions and about using pure, organic wool for clothes and crafts even if it is more expensive than those synthetic or nylon ones. I am also trying to be more active on spreading the message of “Buy less and convert ourselves back to the natural fibres” to everyone.

Organic, pure wool is environmentally preferable (as compared to petroleum-based nylon or polypropylene) as a material for carpets, clothes, slippers and all type of handicrafts as well, particularly when combined with a natural binding and the use of formaldehyde-free glues. I only work with the finest wool for our slippers, wool clothes and handicrafts. Even without much knowledge, our customers will notice the virgin quality of our organic and pure sheep wool products. Using wool products supports local farmers and nomads throughout the world. Wool is a sustainable resource.

 

Mongolian handicrafts fair trade Pure organic sheeps wool

 

Characteristics of our pure, organic sheep wool and felted sheep wool are:

  • Resilience, elastic, durable, breathable and warm.
  • Naturally regulates temperature. Mongolians can use their wool in winter under -40 C and in summer when its + 20 once. Pure, organic sheep wool regulates temperature well.
  • They have the ability to easily absorb moisture and also to release moisture thereby always maintaining a perfect balance.
  • It’s hypoallergenic as dust mites don’t like wool. Dust mites are the major cause of allergy and asthma suffering. They prefer hot humid environments that are more common in synthetic products.
  • When wool is organic, fine and pure, it does not itch.
  • Pure wool is fire resistant. When subjected to flames, pure wool will just smoulders and extinguishes itself.
  • In general, all types of pure wool are capable of absorbing up to a third of their dry weight in moisture. Besides keeping the skin dry, this quality also naturally inhibits mildew.
  • Compared to cashmere, sheep wool products last longer, and by usage it becomes softer.
  • Pure wool also has natural anti-microbial properties because bacteria tend to be attracted to smooth positively charged surfaces like those of synthetic fibres rather than the scaly surface of wool. Most synthetic fibres actually increase body odour because they create a breeding ground for bacteria. Sweat itself has no odour, but over time bacteria develop and create unpleasant odours. Pure sheep wool reduces the opportunity for odours to develop because it quickly absorbs sweat and evaporates it into the air. Unlike synthetic fabrics, wool does not retain odours and will freshen just from airing out.

 

Mongolian handicrafts fair trade Pure organic sheeps wool