Baba Yaga is a famous witch in Russian folklore about whom many stories were told. One of the things which are unusual about Baba Yaga is that unlike other witches, she does not ride a broom. Instead, she pushes herself across the forest floor with a pestle in a mortar (in which she barely fits). She can also fly across the sky in this uncomfortable position as well. In some stories it was said that she also had two sisters(also named Baba Yaga, to help make things really confusing).
She lives in a hut that dances around on a pair of chicken legs. The keyhole to her front door is a mouth filled with sharp teeth.The fence outside is made with human bones with skulls on top, often with one pole lacking its skull, leaving space for the hero or heroes of the stories.
Although Baba Yaga is sometimes portrayed as an ugly, malevolent force, some characters in other folk stories have been known to seek her out for her wisdom, and she has been known on rare occasions to offer guidance to lost souls. and stories in which she kidnaps children and threatens to eat them. It may be that the "child eating" portion of her depiction was formed to keep children from wandering off into the woods or to behave or "Baba Yaga would come for them".
Seeking out her aid is usually portrayed as a dangerous act. An emphasis is placed on the need for proper preparation and purity of spirit, as well as basic politeness. It is said she ages one year every time she is asked a question, which may explain her reluctance to help.
In general, the witch Baba Yaga is decidedly a wretched and evil presence, as was commonly associated with witches. This portrayal was in keeping with the usual depiction of witches and how they had powers, items and attributes of an otherworldly nature. Since the introduction of events such as the Salem witch trials and other such terrible occurrences, many people now understand that witches or those who are practicing Wiccans are harmless and revere the earth and the elements(with which Baba Yaga was mostly associated with).
Unfortunately, even today "witches" are persecuted and tortured and murdered for their beliefs. As recently as December of 2011, a Saudi woman was beheaded for "witchcraft and sorcery". Some information sites provide up to the minute on these happenings. It is alarming how these atrocities can continue in a society and world where we believe that we have evolved to a degree over the past 500-700 years. In some places it's simply not true.
Brawn Barber has been a practicing eclectic Wiccan for 20 years and owns and operates "Baba Yaga's Hut", an online store which provides Wiccan ritual items, amulets and talismans and other related products. They also have a "museum store" which has artwork including Greek, Roman, Norse, Egyptian, Pre-Columbian and Ancient goddess statuary, vases and wall reliefs. You may view this site at:
She lives in a hut that dances around on a pair of chicken legs. The keyhole to her front door is a mouth filled with sharp teeth.The fence outside is made with human bones with skulls on top, often with one pole lacking its skull, leaving space for the hero or heroes of the stories.
Although Baba Yaga is sometimes portrayed as an ugly, malevolent force, some characters in other folk stories have been known to seek her out for her wisdom, and she has been known on rare occasions to offer guidance to lost souls. and stories in which she kidnaps children and threatens to eat them. It may be that the "child eating" portion of her depiction was formed to keep children from wandering off into the woods or to behave or "Baba Yaga would come for them".
Seeking out her aid is usually portrayed as a dangerous act. An emphasis is placed on the need for proper preparation and purity of spirit, as well as basic politeness. It is said she ages one year every time she is asked a question, which may explain her reluctance to help.
In general, the witch Baba Yaga is decidedly a wretched and evil presence, as was commonly associated with witches. This portrayal was in keeping with the usual depiction of witches and how they had powers, items and attributes of an otherworldly nature. Since the introduction of events such as the Salem witch trials and other such terrible occurrences, many people now understand that witches or those who are practicing Wiccans are harmless and revere the earth and the elements(with which Baba Yaga was mostly associated with).
Unfortunately, even today "witches" are persecuted and tortured and murdered for their beliefs. As recently as December of 2011, a Saudi woman was beheaded for "witchcraft and sorcery". Some information sites provide up to the minute on these happenings. It is alarming how these atrocities can continue in a society and world where we believe that we have evolved to a degree over the past 500-700 years. In some places it's simply not true.
Brawn Barber has been a practicing eclectic Wiccan for 20 years and owns and operates "Baba Yaga's Hut", an online store which provides Wiccan ritual items, amulets and talismans and other related products. They also have a "museum store" which has artwork including Greek, Roman, Norse, Egyptian, Pre-Columbian and Ancient goddess statuary, vases and wall reliefs. You may view this site at:
 |
| babayagas Hut |
No comments:
Post a Comment