Wooden sign Auseklis with Mara's cross
Auseklis is made of ash or oak. Approximate size 7cm.
Auseklis protects against evil. It is a symbol of the morning star, symbolizing the victory of light in the battle against darkness.
The third most important sign in the sky is the star. It plays an important role in warding off dark and underground forces. Starry writing has a magical meaning in Latvian beliefs - it protected from evil. The night blanket protects the soul of the sleeper. Typically, the star in patterns is a straight and oblique cross.
The most basic form of a star is the cross. For many nations the sign of the cross is a symbol of light and also of fire. In the pagan beliefs and magic rituals, the cross or its derivatives are often given prominence. In Latvian ethnographic writings, the star of a cross has four, six or eight rays. A particularly luxurious variant of the star is the symbol of the morning star - the dusk. It is a star with eight rays and symbolizes the victory of light in the battle against darkness. Auseklite is also considered the strongest variant of the Lithuanian cross because it has to be drawn with a single line. In folklore, Ausekl is mentioned both as the son of God and as a star counter, as well as the groom of the Sun's daughter. It is interesting that Auseklite was used as a synonym of octagonal star by Latvian ornament researchers in the thirties. From literature it spread to the nation.
The second best known coolant of the star sign is the hexagonal star, which is often seen on wooden products. A hexagonal star is often surrounded by a circle, and therefore the thoughts are divided - it is the sign of the star or the Sun. The Lithuanian cross is also considered a derivative of the star sign.
In archeological material, the star motif appears only in the 16th - 17th centuries. The star sign is more widespread among Finno-Ugric peoples, so it is more common in the Liv settlements in Latvia. Latvians are believed to have taken over the star motif from neighboring Finno-Ugric peoples.
