✨Mari, the great mother of the natural world, dwells in caves, mountains and water sources, and is associated with lightning, horse, cow/ram, tree, gust of wind, a cloud, a rainbow, or fire. At times she would appear as a beautiful woman, at others time, as a bird, crow or vulture.
Though the name Mari predates the name Mary and comes from an independent history, one easily slipped into the other as Christianity made its way into this region. Mari is still revered there and is experiencing a resurgence as perhaps the most important being in Basque sacred culture alongside the creator goddess Amalur with whom Mari sometimes merges or who created Mari as her active agent on earth to protect nature, maintain balance, and deliver justice in human dealings.
Maju (also called Sugaar) is Mari’s male partner; his main form is a great snake/dragon and he would appear as a sickle or crescent in fire. Together they are a formidable pair as patrons of the earth and defenders of nature, seeking justice when human harm the natural world or when they are dishonest and mean with one another. Maju can be considered to be the personification of thunder and lightning. Basque gender studies scholar Margaret Bullen theorizes that, long before the arrival of Christiniaty, Maju was actually a part of Mari, who was more a hermaphroditic being. The two were later separated, to align with the Christian view of Mother Mary as separate from the snake that she stands upon and “tames”.✨
source: various books
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© Ostarel 🌺
Though the name Mari predates the name Mary and comes from an independent history, one easily slipped into the other as Christianity made its way into this region. Mari is still revered there and is experiencing a resurgence as perhaps the most important being in Basque sacred culture alongside the creator goddess Amalur with whom Mari sometimes merges or who created Mari as her active agent on earth to protect nature, maintain balance, and deliver justice in human dealings.
Maju (also called Sugaar) is Mari’s male partner; his main form is a great snake/dragon and he would appear as a sickle or crescent in fire. Together they are a formidable pair as patrons of the earth and defenders of nature, seeking justice when human harm the natural world or when they are dishonest and mean with one another. Maju can be considered to be the personification of thunder and lightning. Basque gender studies scholar Margaret Bullen theorizes that, long before the arrival of Christiniaty, Maju was actually a part of Mari, who was more a hermaphroditic being. The two were later separated, to align with the Christian view of Mother Mary as separate from the snake that she stands upon and “tames”.✨
source: various books
✨
© Ostarel 🌺