Maui

Maui :Maui of a Thousand Tricks; Maui the Wise; The Super-Super Man

Maui, trickster hero, is a beloved magician spirit renowned throughout Polynesia. Maui of a thousand tricks is subject of a thousand tales. He helped the creator deities complete the world and personally brought many gifts to humanity, sometimes challenging the authority of the deities in order to do so. Maui famously snared the sun in the sky, but he also controlled the winds, arranged the stars, and stole fire for people. Maui fished up the Hawaiian Islands and New Zealand’s North Island, too.

There are different versions of his origins. He may have two divine parents or just one. His mother is usually Hina. Chants, invocations, and magic spells attributed to Maui are repeated by devotees in the belief that they strengthen and empower.

ORIGIN:

Polynesia

MANIFESTATION:

A skilled, tricky, inventive shape-shifter

ATTRIBUTES:

Canoe, hook

Constellation:

Scorpio (in Hawaiian astrology: Maui’s fishing hook)

SACRED SITES:

Places throughout Polynesia are associated with him. For example, he snared the sun from Maui’s Mount Haleakala.

SEE ALSO:

• Hina

SOURCE:

Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses– Written by Judika Illes Copyright © 2009 by Judika Illes.