InScandinavian folklore, arå(in Swedish) (pl.rår), short forrådare ("ruler") frområda (to rule, to advise) from old Norseráða, is a spirit who is the keeper or warden of a particular location or landform. The rå is known both in Nordic culture and in the Sami culture, where it is calledradie.
It was important for humans to cultivate good relationships with them, since they had power over the natural forces and animals under their care, and could cause both good and bad luck for humans who interfered with the places and creatures under their watch.
The different species of rår are sometimes distinguished according to the different spheres of nature with which each was associated, such asskogsrå[1][2][3] orhulder (forest),sjörå (freshwater)[4] orhavsrå (saltwater), andbergsrå (mountains).[5]
In accordance withold belief systems, every object, animal, and plant had its ownrå or spirit which protected it. Arå could also have jurisdiction over places and items owned by humans, such asskeppsrået (rå of the ship) andgruvrået (rå of the mine).
Though specific individualrår depicted in folklore, such as theskogsrå and thebergsrå, were typically described as female, in general therår could be both masculine and feminine.
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