Editing Latvian mythology (section)

===Demons===
The belief that all sorcerers and witches are evil only came in to being after Christianization. Before it was believed that, like everyone, sorcerers could be both evil and good. After Christianization it was believed that sorcerers were servants of evil called ''burvji''; ''burtnieks'' (wizards) and ''raganas'' (witches) marry ''velni''. These might, in reality, have been folk medicine practitioners.

''Laumas'' and ''spīganas'', terms speculated to originally refer to different notions, were also used to refer to witches in some areas. With the help of Jods, they could turn into various beings or have evil spirits serve them. Thus the [[demon]]s could variously be thought to be independent spirits or spirits of sorcerers flying around. It was thought that souls of sorcerers leave their bodies, which become dead and can then be permanently killed by turning it, as the soul does not know how to return into the body.

There are also reports of [[werewolves]] (''vilkači'', ''vilkati'') – humans who could turn into wolves. The turning was usually accidental as it happened when someone stood between two pines which had grown together at a certain time. This time varied depending on the region. There are conflicting reports on what forces they serve, though they usually serve no one and are just beasts.

Witches are often reported to steal milk either by themselves or by employing toads and snakes, believed to be capable of sucking it from a cow's udder and then regurgitating it on command.

Another beast sometimes said to be in a sorcerer's service or even a sorcerer's pet was ''pūķis'' (dragon) – a being who would steal grain and other riches and bring them to its owner. It would be kept in a separate room that nobody could enter without the owner's permission. Dragons would be fed the first bit of every meal. If a dragon felt that it was not revered enough it would turn on the owner and burn the house down. Sometimes dragons could speak.

A demon, sometimes related to sorcerers but usually said to be the soul of a child condemned to haunt until the time he or she ought to have died, is ''[[Lietuvēns]]'', who tortures people, cattle, and horses during the night and who is associated with [[sleep paralysis]].<ref name=Smits>{{cite web|title=Latviešu tautas ticējumi|url=http://valoda.ailab.lv/folklora/ticejumi/lietuven.htm|work=Artificial Intelligence Laboratory|publisher=Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science University of Latvia|access-date=21 February 2013|author=P. Šmits|language=lv}}</ref>

Similarly, it is sometimes reported that ''Vadātājs'' is a ghost, sometimes of a prematurely deceased person and sometimes seeking to kill a person in way similar to his own death. Often, however, vadātājs is a devil himself. This demon attacks travelers, making them confused and unable to find their way. Often its aim seems to be to lead people to the nearest body of water, where they would drown.<ref name="bur" />

''Velns'' ([[plural|pl.]] ''Velni'') are beings whose young are portrayed as roughly half the size of a human. The young ''velni'' are not physically powerful, but are still mischievous and sometimes even stupid. All velni have black fur and occasionally horns on their head. Grown velni are strong and occasionally have multiple heads, this is best portrayed in the famous fairy tale "Kurbads". All velni are greedy.  They live in "Pekle" or later referred to as "Elle". To get to Pekle you have to find a very deep hole, usually in caves, swamps, or the roots of a large tree, as Pekle is not another realm, but simply a place beneath the surface of the Earth.

''Sumpurņi'' ('Dogsnouts') are beings that are taller than a human and live in forests.  Their most distinguishing feature is having the body of a human covered in fur and the head of a dog or sometimes bird. Sumpurņi also have a tail, it was believed that they had a hierarchical society with nobles and even kings, the length of one's tail would determine his position in their society. When in a state of rage, sumpurņi would attack humans and other animals and tear them apart and suck their blood. The order of this is sometimes reversed.