50
C. L. Moreno Biec
together and stay apart without compromising each other’s sources of power. This
language was a reaction to a culture where direct speech was traditionally frowned
upon; they developed symbols to conceal knowledge.
Many of the symbols talk about simple everyday things that are important for
this society. Also, understanding nature—the dying properties of mud, the effects of
inclement weather on the various stages of the process, the time needed for processes
that are beyond human control—is vital in this language, thus becoming a strong
memory holder and identity developer. For many, these pieces of cloth have also the
ability to heal, and by mixing certain symbols and colours they developed a way of
deep connection between the user, the maker, their beliefs, and nature, thus making
a formula with magical and therapeutic properties.
When a language has so many layers of meaning it can enhance people’s wellbeing in a very discreet, everyday manner that is more effective than a more ostentatious equivalent. It is also interesting to observe that in the making of the dye the
primary resource is soil, the Latin word for which is “humus” which is also the root
for “human” and “humility”. The connection with the soil makes us both humble
and human.
Satish Kumar, an Indian activist and ecologist, concluded in his book Soil, Soul
and Society, a New Trinity for our Time [7] that soil (mud) represents life on earth.
For a digital society like ours, it is very important to re-connect with the soil and to
touch it. It is a way to be part of a healthy web of life. If we recover this interaction
with nature, slowing down and using our senses, this will improve self-realisation,
and taking care of ourselves is how we can take care of the world.
4 Felt
The third non-verbal language, Mongolian felt, is one of the oldest forms of textiles,
dating back 8500 years, and its particularity resides in its process. In places like
Mongolia, the making of felt was a communal activity, whereby people congregated
in a sacred ceremony where they not only exchanged their skills but also shared the
moment of creation, building a strong tradition which helped to keep their culture
alive. Felt is one of the simplest textiles, for which the fibre does not need to be spun
or woven; it is made from fibres in their natural state only adding heat, pressure,
and agitation. It is a textile that can be made in the most remote areas and with
few resources, which is why felt has always been important for nomadic peoples.
The advantages of felt in terms of protection for basic needs, shelter, warmth, and
insulation made life easier for many people.
Mongolians created their own felt houses called yurts. Having made felt the chosen
material to surround their lives with, these people believed that felt was what made life
possible. This community put a lot of effort into making the yurts because for them,
most of whom were nomads, it was the only place to feel at home and protected from
the changing surroundings, and for this reason, they have countless hidden meanings.
In the middle, a crown made of wood formed the top structure from which the yurt
C. L. Moreno Biec
together and stay apart without compromising each other’s sources of power. This
language was a reaction to a culture where direct speech was traditionally frowned
upon; they developed symbols to conceal knowledge.
Many of the symbols talk about simple everyday things that are important for
this society. Also, understanding nature—the dying properties of mud, the effects of
inclement weather on the various stages of the process, the time needed for processes
that are beyond human control—is vital in this language, thus becoming a strong
memory holder and identity developer. For many, these pieces of cloth have also the
ability to heal, and by mixing certain symbols and colours they developed a way of
deep connection between the user, the maker, their beliefs, and nature, thus making
a formula with magical and therapeutic properties.
When a language has so many layers of meaning it can enhance people’s wellbeing in a very discreet, everyday manner that is more effective than a more ostentatious equivalent. It is also interesting to observe that in the making of the dye the
primary resource is soil, the Latin word for which is “humus” which is also the root
for “human” and “humility”. The connection with the soil makes us both humble
and human.
Satish Kumar, an Indian activist and ecologist, concluded in his book Soil, Soul
and Society, a New Trinity for our Time [7] that soil (mud) represents life on earth.
For a digital society like ours, it is very important to re-connect with the soil and to
touch it. It is a way to be part of a healthy web of life. If we recover this interaction
with nature, slowing down and using our senses, this will improve self-realisation,
and taking care of ourselves is how we can take care of the world.
4 Felt
The third non-verbal language, Mongolian felt, is one of the oldest forms of textiles,
dating back 8500 years, and its particularity resides in its process. In places like
Mongolia, the making of felt was a communal activity, whereby people congregated
in a sacred ceremony where they not only exchanged their skills but also shared the
moment of creation, building a strong tradition which helped to keep their culture
alive. Felt is one of the simplest textiles, for which the fibre does not need to be spun
or woven; it is made from fibres in their natural state only adding heat, pressure,
and agitation. It is a textile that can be made in the most remote areas and with
few resources, which is why felt has always been important for nomadic peoples.
The advantages of felt in terms of protection for basic needs, shelter, warmth, and
insulation made life easier for many people.
Mongolians created their own felt houses called yurts. Having made felt the chosen
material to surround their lives with, these people believed that felt was what made life
possible. This community put a lot of effort into making the yurts because for them,
most of whom were nomads, it was the only place to feel at home and protected from
the changing surroundings, and for this reason, they have countless hidden meanings.
In the middle, a crown made of wood formed the top structure from which the yurt