h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

This "mara" sounds like what I know as Incubi and Succubi. These are supposedly evil spirits: the males Incubi, the females Succubi. They are said to have forcible intercourse with people while they sleep and they can take many forms, including vampires. Here in parts of South Africa there's an evil spirit called the Tokoloshe that also has some aspects attributed to incubi. These things are also related to poltergeist activity.

Personally I often suffer from sleep paralysis but so far no succubus has visited me. Some men report this kind of visitation as being extremely pleasant! But not always.

I get sleep paralysis often too. And it's horrible and I can only move my eyes, and if I open them I see things (like for instance that horrible disembodied hand that was trying to pin me down by my forehead *shudders*).

I had a book about all of these things, and it mentioned incubi and succubi - but they were different to maras. I can't remember what it said about them (and I don't have possession of the book right now). *tries to remember* Yes, they were similar.. but not the same.. there was a difference..

I'll go and see if I can get that book back. Thanks for your help

(as suc-u-bus from Starship Titanic) *belch.*

It's all closely related, and the different phenomena all have the same origin. Incubi, succubi and maras are all related to the phenomenon of sleep paralysis, with the element of disturbing and/or erotic dreams added, and the different ways these things manifest or are interpreted are related to cultural and other beliefs.