The Sacred İye of Motherhood and Protection in Turkic Culture Introduction Among the Turkic peoples, Umay Ana concept is a divine mother figure has played a crucial role in mythology and spiritual beliefs. One of the most important deities in Tengrism, the ancient Tengri religion of the Turks, is Umay Ana—a scared iye of fertility, motherhood, and protection. She is revered […]
KAM (Shaman)
The Shamanic Tradition in Tengrism Introduction In the spiritual belief system of Tengrism, the Kam (shaman) plays a crucial role as an intermediary between the human and spirit worlds. Tengrism, the ancient faith of the Turkic peoples, is deeply rooted in animism, ancestor worship, and the veneration of natural elements. The Kam is responsible for healing, divination, rituals, and […]
Erlik Han in Tengrism
The Lord of the Underworld In Tengrism, the ancient spiritual belief system of the Turkic and peoples, Erlik Han is a central figure associated with the underworld, darkness, and death. He is both feared and respected, as he governs the realm of the dead while also serving as a necessary counterbalance to Tengri, the supreme deity. Erlik […]
Tengrism
The Ancient Faith of the Turks Tengrism is the ancient spiritual and religious belief system of the Turkic peoples, deeply rooted in shaman(ism) (Kam), animism, and a monotheistic reverence for Tengri, the Sky God. This indigenous faith shaped the worldview, governance, and cultural identity of the Turkic tribes for centuries before the widespread adoption of […]
The Tree Intelligence
I have fruit and pine trees in my garden in North Cyprus. I love trees and strive to maintain them. Pomegranate, lemon, mandarin, apricot and wild very sour orange trees (all lovely, with or without fruits) adorn my garden. I have been cutting the lower branches so the trees look good and it’s easier to […]
A Day Out of Time
North Cyprus is a small country brimming with wonders. There are places I can never get enough of and find myself returning to time and again. The Karpaz Peninsula is one of these places, home to two of my favorite spots: Karpaz Gate Marina and Golden Beach. We embarked on a day trip to this […]
Yayla (Tablelands)
In Turkiye and Turkish culture, we have a tradition of countryside people spending summertime on mountains which is called YAYLA with their cows and sheep etc. Usually, these tablelands are on high altitude (our Yayla is in 2700 metre high altitude) very cold and covered with snow most of the year. Some Yayla places have […]
Why Islamic Cults don’t like Ataturk?
In recent years, there are numerous insults, attacks on Ataturk in Turkey and surprisingly outside. People have no knowledge of Turkish history, very limited knowledge of Islamic religion, they haven’t read Ataturk’s book NUTUK, but they spread unfounded false accusations like a disease. My question is WHY? Why a man who died in 1938 bothers […]
Herbs as Alternative Medicine
There are thousands of herbs and spices from all corners of the world. Every one of them has a different usage and goodness in it. The real secret is to know which one to use when and how to combine them for effective benefit of healthy living. After catastrophic Chernobyl nuclear accident which was a […]
TRNC (Turkish Republic of North Cyprus) – Meds best kept secret
Turkish North Cyprus is one the best-kept secrets of the Mediterranean. It has the best local weather, food, people and a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. Although culturally in many ways it is part of the middle east, visitors feel at home no matter which country they come from. It is the only country I know where […]
The Art of John Kingerlee
I met John (Mu’adh) and his wife Mo (Iman) during a recent visit to Ireland when we were thrilled to be guest in their home. Some mutual friends from the Norwich Muslim community had introduced them to us, so we called them before our arrival in Ireland and they both insisted that we should visit and […]
Hala Sultan (Umm Harâm bint Milhân) Tekke (Mosque) and Shrine
Cyprus has been ruled and visited by many people throughout history including the Persians, Romans, Venetians, Lusignans, Ancient Greeks, Ottomans and more recently the British – who leased Cyprus from the Ottoman Turks in the 1870s until Cyprus gained its independence in 1960. Each of these civilizations has in turn left behind unique traces on the island […]