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Navyi
Navii (or Navky, Navi) are the spirits of dead people who have not found peace in the afterlife. In Ukrainian and pan-Slavic demonology, the Navies are associated with the souls of those who died prematurely or unnaturally, especially through violence, suicide, or in childhood (for example, unbaptized children). They are considered dangerous and can harm the living, especially those who carelessly treat the dead or violate certain rituals.
Navis often appear at night, especially in places where there is water, such as rivers, lakes or swamps, or in cemeteries. They were imagined as misty shadows or vague figures that could lure people to dangerous places or cause them illness and misfortune. It was believed that the Navi can also attack those who do not honor the dead or disturb the peace of the graves.
There are versions according to which the Navi are the spirits of people whose life path was violently interrupted; they can be considered hostile spirits of dead foreign tribesmen or non-believers who have become dangerous for the living. There is also the idea that they can "come to life" when the soul (jivatma) moves into the body of the deceased, turning it into an enemy dead. Although less common in Ukrainian beliefs, such notions may be part of local or regional traditions.
Often Navi are identified with ghouls in the sense that both categories can harm the living, cause disease, death or even natural disasters. However, ghouls are the living dead who operate in the physical world, while Navii usually remain in the form of restless spirits.
To avoid danger from the Navies, it was important to perform all burial rites properly, including baptizing children so that they would not become part of the Navies. There were also traditional charms used to ward off these spirits, such as consecrated objects, prayers, and special incantations. One of the most important traditions is the commemoration of the dead, which helped ensure their peace in the afterlife and avoid their harm to the living.
Navis often appear at night, especially in places where there is water, such as rivers, lakes or swamps, or in cemeteries. They were imagined as misty shadows or vague figures that could lure people to dangerous places or cause them illness and misfortune. It was believed that the Navi can also attack those who do not honor the dead or disturb the peace of the graves.
There are versions according to which the Navi are the spirits of people whose life path was violently interrupted; they can be considered hostile spirits of dead foreign tribesmen or non-believers who have become dangerous for the living. There is also the idea that they can "come to life" when the soul (jivatma) moves into the body of the deceased, turning it into an enemy dead. Although less common in Ukrainian beliefs, such notions may be part of local or regional traditions.
Often Navi are identified with ghouls in the sense that both categories can harm the living, cause disease, death or even natural disasters. However, ghouls are the living dead who operate in the physical world, while Navii usually remain in the form of restless spirits.
To avoid danger from the Navies, it was important to perform all burial rites properly, including baptizing children so that they would not become part of the Navies. There were also traditional charms used to ward off these spirits, such as consecrated objects, prayers, and special incantations. One of the most important traditions is the commemoration of the dead, which helped ensure their peace in the afterlife and avoid their harm to the living.