Baba yaga
The mythical Baba Yaga is a terrifying cannibalistic witch from the deepest forests of Russia, who has iron teeth and a weathered old body that seems as old as the mountains themselves and resembles a skeleton of how thin she is, in-spite of her infamously huge appetite. She has a long nose that some say can touch the ceiling when she lays down and rattles as she snores.
She travels inside a large flying mortar with her knees almost touching her chin, she uses a pestle to push herself across the forest and she has a broomstick made from silver birch in her other hand to help her navigate in the air and to sweep away all traces of herself, since she is regarded as a very secretive woman. Whenever she appears or disappears a loud wailing winds begin to blow wildly and the trees start to swing violently as leaves start to whirl through the air together with spirits that follow her.
Baba Yaga has a very strong sense of smell and she can smell out the blood of a Russian born from a distance. Normally when visitors encounter her or enter her home, she asks if they came in their own free will or were they sent by someone else. (Normally the latter is the answer). Her magic is weak against the pure of heart, such as Vasilisa and those who are ‘blessed’ by the protected powers of love, virtue or a mother’s blessing. Another way to gain her gentle side is if a man, (preferably young and good looking) flirts with her for she is very vein and enjoys the flattery.
She travels inside a large flying mortar with her knees almost touching her chin, she uses a pestle to push herself across the forest and she has a broomstick made from silver birch in her other hand to help her navigate in the air and to sweep away all traces of herself, since she is regarded as a very secretive woman. Whenever she appears or disappears a loud wailing winds begin to blow wildly and the trees start to swing violently as leaves start to whirl through the air together with spirits that follow her.
Baba Yaga has a very strong sense of smell and she can smell out the blood of a Russian born from a distance. Normally when visitors encounter her or enter her home, she asks if they came in their own free will or were they sent by someone else. (Normally the latter is the answer). Her magic is weak against the pure of heart, such as Vasilisa and those who are ‘blessed’ by the protected powers of love, virtue or a mother’s blessing. Another way to gain her gentle side is if a man, (preferably young and good looking) flirts with her for she is very vein and enjoys the flattery.
Personality
It is said she is the guardian of spirits of the fountain of the waters of life and Death. Even though she is normally portrayed as a terrifying old hag, she is also plays the role of a helper and a wise woman. It is said she embodies the symbolism of Mother Earth/Nature and all the forces of nature, of which are normally wild, untameable and cruel but can also be kind and nurturing.
Some say she embodies the pagan Goddesses of Mother Nature, Wisdom, Death and the Bone Mother. She is a wild and untameable spirit of nature bringing wisdom and death of ego, for only through death there is rebirth. She can guide and give wise advice and magical gifts to those who are worthy of such gifts. Normally being heroes and those with pure of heart. The stories that portray her have a hero or heroine who have to encounter her for search of wisdom, knowledge and truth.
Some say she embodies the pagan Goddesses of Mother Nature, Wisdom, Death and the Bone Mother. She is a wild and untameable spirit of nature bringing wisdom and death of ego, for only through death there is rebirth. She can guide and give wise advice and magical gifts to those who are worthy of such gifts. Normally being heroes and those with pure of heart. The stories that portray her have a hero or heroine who have to encounter her for search of wisdom, knowledge and truth.
chicken legged hut
Baba Yaga lives deep inside the Russian forests that only the lost travels can find her. Her home is a hut that has two huge chicken legs that carries it, wherever the witch tells it to go. Normally the hut is either spinning around as it moves through the forest, with blood chilling screeches and will continue being very noisy, including when it is still, with loud creaking and groaning. When visitors enter the house, the chicken legs lower itself down and the door swings wide open with a loud crash. Normally when it is still and rests, it stands with its back against the visitors. (Baba Yaga has to chant a demand to make it turn towards her, but she uses secret incantations to do further orders to it). Some say the windows of the house serve as eyes for the huge chicken that is holding it.
The hut is normally surrounded by a fence made of human bones, with spikes that hold a glowing eyed skull, whose sockets illuminate the darkness with a greenish unholy light that will never flicker or go out.
The hut is normally surrounded by a fence made of human bones, with spikes that hold a glowing eyed skull, whose sockets illuminate the darkness with a greenish unholy light that will never flicker or go out.
Servants of Baba Yaga
Baba Yaga’s powers embody the elements of nature and she has a faithful servants that is the White Horseman, the Red Horseman and the Black Horseman. In the story of "Vasilisa the Beautiful and Baba Yaga" she tells Vasilisa that the mysterious horsemen in the forest are ‘My Bright Dawn, my Red Sun and my Dark Midnight’
Another series of servants are three bodiless and somewhat menacing pair of hands, which normally appear out of nowhere and do her bidding. She calls them ‘My soul friends’ or ‘friends of my bosom’ and she is a little hesitant to explain much more information about them. Her final servant would be her herdsman, which is a strange character known as Sorcerer Koshchey the Deathless.
Another series of servants are three bodiless and somewhat menacing pair of hands, which normally appear out of nowhere and do her bidding. She calls them ‘My soul friends’ or ‘friends of my bosom’ and she is a little hesitant to explain much more information about them. Her final servant would be her herdsman, which is a strange character known as Sorcerer Koshchey the Deathless.
Written by Lady Grey ©