When you enter a forest alone, you sometimes get a strange feeling. The wind doesn\u2019t just feel like the wind. Water doesn\u2019t just flow like water.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s as if there\u2019s an unseen eye among the trees. It\u2019s as if a guardian sits by the spring.<\/p>\n
The ancient Turks knew this feeling well. Because in their world, nature wasn\u2019t just made up of stone, earth, and water. In their world, everything had a spirit.<\/p>\n
In Turkish mythology, these spirits were called \u201ciye.\u201d<\/p>\n
In Turkish mythology, \u201ciyes\u201d are described as invisible beings that protect various aspects of nature and life. It was believed that a mountain, a body of water, a tree, and even a house had its own \u201ciye.\u201d For this reason, the ancient Turkish belief system viewed nature as a living order filled with spirits.<\/p>\n
In Turkish mythology, an \u201ciye\u201d refers to the guardian spirit of a place or entity. The word\u2019s origin stems from Old Turkish, where it meant \u201cowner, guardian, or master.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, this ownership does not imply possession in the conventional sense.<\/p>\n
The iye of a tree is the spirit of that tree; the iye of a river is the guardian of that water; the iye of a house is the unseen owner of that hearth.<\/p>\n
For this reason, in ancient Turkic mythology, the world is filled with countless nature spirits.<\/p>\n
In shamanism and the ancient Turkic belief system, it was believed that these spirits lived in an invisible balance with humans.<\/p>\n
If humans show respect for nature, the \u201ciyeler\u201d protect them. But it was believed that if nature were harmed, the \u201ciyeler\u201d would become restless.<\/p>\n
In Turkic mythology, it was believed that every element of nature had its own spirit. For this reason, nature was seen not merely as a living space, but as a world inhabited by spirits.<\/p>\n
In Turkish mythology, the Water Spirit is the guardian spirit of springs, rivers, and lakes.<\/p>\n
In ancient Turkic communities, it was customary to show respect upon reaching a body of water. This was because it was believed that angering the spirit of the water would bring disaster.<\/p>\n
For this reason, small offerings were left at the water\u2019s edge in many places.<\/p>\n
In Turkish mythology, forests are described as mysterious places. It was believed that every tree and every path had a spirit.<\/p>\n
The Forest Spirit was considered the guardian of the forest. Hunters would sometimes leave small gifts before entering the forest.<\/p>\n
Mountains were considered sacred in ancient Turkish beliefs. This was because the mountain peaks were the places closest to the sky.<\/p>\n
For this reason, it was believed that every mountain had a mountain spirit. The small rituals performed before climbing a mountain were actually a way of greeting this spirit.<\/p>\n
In Turkish mythology, the tree represents the connection between heaven and earth. For this reason, certain trees were considered sacred, and it was believed that they were inhabited by a tree spirit.<\/p>\n
The ancient Turks were particularly reluctant to harm old trees, as they believed a spirit lived within them.<\/p>\n
Sometimes, small pieces of cloth tied to tree branches are actually a silent greeting left for that tree\u2019s spirit.<\/p>\n
In Turkish mythology, just as nature was believed to be filled with spirits, so too was the human home. The best-known of these is the house spirit.<\/p>\n
The house spirit was considered the protective spirit of the hearth and the household. The house spirit was sometimes thought of as an invisible member of the family.<\/p>\n
The following traditions were common in old Turkish homes:<\/p>\n
Keeping the hearth clean<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Avoiding unnecessary noise in the home<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Hanging small amulets to bring prosperity to the home<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Ancient Turkish beliefs were based on a kind of agreement with nature. If humans show respect for nature, the spirits will protect them. But if nature is harmed, its balance is disrupted.<\/p>\n
For this reason, it is important to treat nature with care in the tradition of shamanism.<\/p>\n
Polluting a body of water is not merely harming nature. Cutting down a tree unnecessarily is not merely a waste.<\/p>\n
These actions were also considered acts of disrespect toward the spirit of that place.<\/p>\n
Today, the iyeler may seem to many people like nothing more than a story from Turkish mythology.<\/p>\n
But in reality, the iyeler remind us of a forgotten truth: Nature is a living entity.<\/p>\n
Modern humans are trying to reconnect with nature. They are rediscovering an interest in the scent of plants, the quiet energy of stones, and small rituals.<\/p>\n
Perhaps the reason for this is very simple: When humans sever their connection with nature, they also distance themselves from themselves.<\/p>\n
The ancient Turks used to say:<\/p>\n
When you enter a forest, walk slowly.
Because the forest is not alone.<\/p>\n
The wind is not merely the wind.
Water is not merely water.<\/p>\n
This world is filled with invisible spirits.<\/p>\n
And in Turkish mythology, the
oldest of those spirits are called the iyeler.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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