The Old Kingdom theory I have.
So while re-reading The Old Kingdom Trilogy I noticed something super peculiar!
So in Sabriel (the book), when Sabriel (the character) summons the Mother Sending she wonders if it’s the “very unusual dead spirit of her mother, which was unlikely, or some residual protective magic left by her”. Sabriel even calls the sending “Mother” and is very clearly feminine.
She is described as tall pale light, from far away. Closer up, a blurry glowing human shape with its arms outsretched. would answer her questions, protect her while her body was in life. The Mother Sending’s greeting is warm.
Key note that she is described as luminous, shining, bright, etc.
The sending’s last words to Sabriel were “Go with Love- and do not tarry, do not stop, no matter what happens.”
Sabriel also mentions that her father, Terciel, had taught her how to summon this spirit implying that this spirit is far older and more powerful than him.
Fast forward to Abhorsen, specifically when Sam, Dog, Mogget & Lirael are taking the well to bypass Chlorr.
We’re gonna look at symbolism.
Rosemary: Rememberance/Remembering
Wells: Femininity/Motherhood/Mothering, Life, Water (also deeply connected with femininity, etc)
So in order to open this well, at the Abhorsen’s home, the charter marks say “A breathe or kiss from my children”. This has two meanings.
First is Sam, being LITERALLY the Abhorsen’s child. Even though he is an inheritor of the Wallmakers.
Second, is being Astarael’s children. In Clariel, the Abhorsen’s are referred to as “Astarael’s Get”, or Astarael’s children.
Anyways, in the well we see that it has been eroded rather than made. Which is impossible since it would have to have been at different times in different directions. Which sounds eerily similar to the waters of Death. The closer they draw to Astarael’s manifestation, the more the tunnel feels of death. It’s cold, Lirael can sense the water at her ankles.
Astarael in the well is, duh, one of the nine bright shiners. She is described as an impossibly tall woman, head bowed, reaching out her arms to sweep [them] up”. Her domains are time & death.
I am also curious as to why her knowing self is outside of the charter (The Astarael in the Well) and her unknowing self is in Death as a manifestation to serve the Abhorsen and Charters. We know that even the 9 bright shiners are powerful but it is unconstrained power, as is the nature of free magic.
Anyways, my theory is that the Mother Sending is the Unknowing part of Astarael. The mother sending is docile, is described similarly to other free magic beings. Its voice is crackly, staticky much like Mogget’s.
Not to mention all the maternal implication of Astarael. Her arms are open, she’s referred to the abhorsen’s children, she has the symbol of love, etc.
but ya! thats my theory! i’d love to hear what yall have to say. I’m also sure this is not very well put together, considering I finished the latter half after taking my trazodone to help me sleep. so, keep this in mind.
and PLEASE! tag your spoilers!
