Here at Life Healing Community there is a shrine built to honor the Spirit of the forest.

It is a special shrine built exactly in the same way as these were built in the ancient times in Mongolia and Siberia by  villagers who wanted to receive blessings and healing from the Spirit of the Forest.

The Mongolian people understood that one of the most important things to keep the world  (macrocosm) or ourselves (microcosm)  in balance is to respect the elements; the sky, water, fire, wind and earth. It was well understood that all animals and plants and trees have spirits or souls like we have ourselves. The Mongolian word "tegsh" describes the condition of being in balance with all of them and thus with ourselves as well.

What is a kata?

There were official ceremonies performed at these holy shrines in spring and fall but also anyone passing by such an altar or “Ovuu” would stop and add  his own piece of cloth (Kata) or offering for safety, protection and good health after walking around the Ovuu three times clockwise. By doing this, the person symbolically added his energies to the Ovuu’s power and the Ovuu in turn adds energy to him. . By adding his piece of cloth or Kata he receives healing, protection and abundance as he is willing to have.

Trees were honored by tying pieces of cloth on their branches to ask for favors and Mongolians then created shrines by gathering tree limbs together and forming a tipi looking structure as a standing altar built in the deep woods and forests. Trees are believed to have strong Spirit and are respected or given offerings of scarves called Kata (in the Tibetan language "Khadak" means blessing scarf) The scarf is blue because it also symbolizes Tengri or Creator. Because Tengri resided in the blue sky, the color turquoise was its symbol of worship and constant reminder of the grace of the Creator. Grace is the heart of belief.