Khergit Shamanism

Real Life Connection

-Tengrism

Deity/Deities -There are no deities or gods in the Way, however there is a reference to the first Khan who is the brightest spirit of all.

Notable Religious Figures

-The first Khan, whose spirit is said to be the Sun

Spirits

— There are many types of spirits, including elemental/natural spirits and the spirits of man.

— Spirits of man rest in the skies as stars; the brighter the star is, the great the person achieved in life, whether that be constant acts of selflessness, wit and/or love or becoming a great warrior. The blackness the stars sit in are referred to the Above Steppes or the Upper Steppes.

- There are four types of elemental spirits: fire, water, earth, and wind.

i. Fire spirits which burn in all things for spirits are composed of flame. Represented by love, passion, chaos, lust, rage, pride, courage, and things that burn bright.

ii. Water spirits which enforce gradual, slow change and contain fire spirits. Represented by order, tranquility, healing, fish, change, and reason.

iii. Earth spirits which embody everlasting things such as land and its corresponding ancient truths. Represented by honesty, truth, age, providing, food, care, knowledge, trees, stone, remembrance, and stories.

iv. Wind spirits which create rapid change and carry messages to and from the Above Steppes. Represented by fun, laughter, chaos, change, clouds, the sky, and the breeze.

- Spirits embody all and everything.

- Horses are seen as an elemental spirit made into flesh.

- For this reason, stealing or mistreating a horse is considered a grave offense. Harming a horse outside of justified conflict is equally as offensive.

- Travelling by boat or via the sea is thought to disrupt the water spirits and thus it is avoided by many followers of the Way.

Worship

- Thanking the spirits for their assistance after one has completed a task (whether it was successful or not), often done by a small sacrifice of food to the respective element (burning it, burying it, throwing it into the sea or leaving it out for the wind).

- Communing, an act done by shaman to connect to the spirits, to speak with the spirits, discuss destinies and the future, and seeking advice.

- Telling stories of ancestors as a means to please and honor their family's spirits.

-Wrestling which pleases the fire spirits.

Miscellaneous

- Followers typically do not interfere with other religions nor those who are devoted to them. They do not try to convert nor overpower others, for they respect all beliefs as they are respected.

- Religious figures are typically dubbed shaman. They are people who can commune and speak with spirits in the Above Steppes.

- Wind spirits often guide people to the path that will benefit them, however it is the person's choice if they wish to take it or not.

- The dead must always be burned so their spirits are carried out by the fire spirits and rise to the Above Steppes with aid from the wind spirits.

- Cannibalism is considered a great offense.

Information
Miscellaneous