My visit to Mother Tree

A young Mongolian woman is bowing in front of Mother Tree. Beside her is an alter filled with foods, milk cartons, vodka bottles, incense and more offerings.

We watched as a young Mongolian woman lay prostrate on the ground in front of the Mother Tree. She’d been waiting for a while to be able to do this and when we looked at what she was bowing down to, a lightning struck tree covered in scarves, milk and vodka, we began to understand a little more about Shamanism.

Mother Tree is located in the Selenge Province of Sukhbaatar which is about four hours from Ulan Bator (where I live) and is an important religious spot for those who practice Shamanism in this area. As I mentioned before, Mother Tree is a tree that was struck by lightning and is now revered as sacred and a sort of doorway to the spirits who may help answer prayers. Thousands and thousands of scarves (mainly blue), bricks of tea, bottles of vodka, cartons of milk, crackers, cookies, cakes, matches, incense, bird seed, money, steering wheels (to ask a blessing on a new car), crutches, wheel chairs and many other objects are covering the landscape. Besides bowing down to the tree, people of all ages were also hugging other scarf clad trees, crawling into caves made of scarves, and tossing milk and/or vodka up in the air.

A father teaches his kids to pray to Mother Tree. A woman (left) is going to tie a blue scarf on the tree among thousands of other scarves as an offering. A woman 

(far right) adds to the offerings on the alter.

A bus full of children being taught to pray. 

A little girl prays to another tree nearby called “Son Tree".



Many people who practice Shamanism in Mongolia will make at least one trip up to Selenge each year and pray to Mother Tree. While we were there, I noticed many stray dogs and birds eating foods that have been offered to Mother Tree. When I asked if those who worship here are offended by this, I was told that they are honored by it. The spirits consume their offerings through the birds and dogs. If your offering is taken by an animal, it means that the spirits have accepted your gift.

A fence made of bricks of tea, covered in scarves, sprinkled with vodka and milk, with bird seed, foods, and matches. These fences are surrounding Mother Tree and sort of make a maze throughout the area.

Shamanism is practiced all throughout Mongolia and I see evidence of it all over Ulan Bator. These blue scarves are hung throughout UB on trees and bridges. Many times in the mornings, I will see my neighbors throwing vodka and/or milk into the air as they mumble a few words.  Drums are also heard playing in my apartment building. When we travel throughout the country side, there will be little spirit trees peppered throughout. These are usually small trees (or tree branches/big sticks placed) on high hills or mountain peaks with many scarves tied all around them.

Next week, we will be visiting a Buddhist temple here in UB as we continue to learn more about the religions practiced here in Mongolia.