Baba Yaga: The Slavic Witch of the Woods 

Baba Yaga is a figure from Slavic folklore, an ambiguous old witch that resides in the woods. She lives in a hut that stands on chicken feet with a fence of skulls surrounding it, and she rides around in a mortar wielding a pestle. She is portrayed as an old hag with wrinkly skin and iron teeth, often grotesque to look at and displays moral ambiguity. Most of the time she is regarded as a cautionary tale, warning people not to wander too far in the woods or become victim to the old hag witch. Other stories tell of her helping the hero of a story after they prove their worth. The word “Baba” stands for grandmother and adds to the notion that she can be benevolent and wise. 

 

One of the more prominent stories featuring Baba Yaga that is retold in Women Who Run With the Wolves by Dr Clarissa Pinkola Estes, tells the tale of a young girl named Vasilisa. She lived with her wicked stepmother and stepsisters who sent her into the woods in search of Baba Yaga with the intention to retrieve a magical fire. In their wickedness, their intentions were really for Vasilisa to be devoured. 

After wandering in the woods for days, Vasilisa finally finds Baba Yaga and asks her for the magical fire. The old crone forces her to perform impossible tasks such as separating rotten grains of corn from the usable ones, with no promise of retrieving the magical fire. 

In her desperation, Vasilisa starts to talk to her dolls that her mother had given her before she died, begging it to help her overcome her awful circumstances. The doll helped her to complete the tasks as Vasilisa slept. When Baba Yaga returned, expecting to see the tasks were incomplete, she was astounded to see that Vasilisa managed to finish them. The old crone asked how she managed this and Vasilisa simply responded “by the blessing of my mother”. Baba Yaga could not stand to be in the presence of someone “blessed” and promptly threw her out, but not before providing her a skull filled with coals from the magical fire to bring back to her step-family. 

One of the ways this story can be interpreted is that Baba Yaga represents the untamed Wild Woman that resides within all who identify as a female. The doll represents a woman’s inherent intuition and that the trials with Baba Yaga improved Vasilina’s trust in her own Inner Knowing.

Creating an Altar for Baba Yaga 

Traditionally an altar for Baba Yaga would be located in the hearth of the home. An ideal place would be in the kitchen or on a fireplace mantle. 

Offerings to include on your altar:

• Bread
• Bones 
• Candle (especially made from beeswax)
• Mortar & Pestle (Find your own Mortar & Pestle here)
• Water
• Greenery 

Light the candle while you are at home, mediation with the flame and focusing on calling in Baba Yaga. Baba Yaga can be very selective with who she works with so consistency and willpower are key. She sizes up her prospective followers, only offering wisdom to those that she deems worthy. This is done in all of the folklore she appears in. Eventually, with effort and courage, you may start to feel enveloped by the wise grandmotherly energy that resides behind her abrasive exterior. 

For more information on Baba Yaga and Slavic Witchcraft, consider reading Baba Yaga’s Book of Witchcraft: Slavic Magic from the Witch of the Woods which can be purchased here.