What's in a name?
“Baba Yaga” by Des Hanley
I encountered a discussion about Baba Yaga and how to pronounce her name. I was prompted to do some research and discovered something that needs consideration. There are 13 Slavic countries (Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia) and 12 distinct Slavic languages (Belarusian, Russian, Ukrainian, Czech, Lower Sorbian, Polish, Slovak, Slovenian, Upper Sorbian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, and Serbo-Croatian). Thus, how her name is pronounced is largely dependent on which region the speaker is from.
The most common pronunciation (Bulgarian, Polish, Serbian) is BAH-bah YAH-gah. It should be noted this is the most common way her name is pronounced in English-speaking countries. Ukrainian is BAH-bah yah-GAH, with the emphasis on the second syllable of “Yaga”. Russian is BAH-bah YEE-gah. The most interesting was the Hungarian name which is Vasorru Baba (VASH-orr-oo BAH-bah), which translates to “Iron-nosed Witch”. At the time of this writing, I have not been able to track down any additional variations from the other languages mentioned above.
Something that also has an impact is your own dialect, which can affect how another language sounds because your accent will differ from native speakers of the language. So while I think it is definitely important to show respect to our Deities by learning the proper pronunciation of their name, in this case we have to simply choose what we are comfortable with and what fits with our practice. What feels right to us as opposed to what someone else tells us is right.
Reclaim your breath
A few years ago, I was inspired to purchase a bird feeder for the purpose of offerings. I find it to be a great way to incorporate nature into your practice and connect on a regular basis. After filling my feeder, I decided to fill a jar and place it on my altar as an offering to Baba Yaga.
While I was cleansing and consecrating the jar, She told me to “reclaim your breath” and I was guided to gently blow on the jar three times. She further said that our breath holds tremendous power, but are often made to feel that to use it is wrong. For example, I was taught not to blow out candles because it would negate the magical intent. That by breathing on them, I would be blowing my negative energy on them. I now see that for what it is. A load of BS.
One of the aspects of working with Baba Yaga is to question what it is that you have learned, rather than simply accepting it as fact. If something doesn't feel right, honor that feeling. Research things that give you pause. As you would transfer a plant that has outgrown its pot, let go of the ideas and tools that no longer serve and it will give you the room you need to grow.
Earn the fire
In preparation for the dark moon, I decided to buy cashews as one of my offerings. I put them in a large canning jar (as witches are prone to do) and as you can see, it isn't full. So in my infinite wisdom, I decided to top it up with sunflower seeds. I then headed out to the yard to trim a tree or two and fill the bird feeders. While I was working, I was told that I was going to separate the sunflower seeds from the cashews.
This reminded me of the tasks Baba Yaga assigned to Vasilisa.
“Baba Yaga said that Vasilisa must perform tasks to earn the fire, or be killed. She was to clean the house and yard, wash Baba Yaga's laundry, and cook her a meal. She was also required to separate grains of rotten corn from sound corn, and separate poppy seeds from grains of soil.” - Wikipedia
I am not in any way comparing what I was asked to do to separating poppy seeds from grains of soil. What I reflected on while I worked was the motivation behind filling the jar. Was I simply trying to appear affluent? Why was the offering that I chose not enough on it's own? I often do this. Go ten steps beyond what is expected because I feel to do otherwise isn't enough. That my honest effort isn't valid. That I am not good enough unless I surpass everyone's expectations. The flaw in this thinking is that once others grow accustomed to this level, then their expectations also inflate to the point that you consistently overextend yourself, causing harm to your physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and financial well-being.
The lesson here is that what you offer is enough and that trying to offer more than what you have to give is only going to mean more work for you, not more gratitude from the recipient. Instead, focus on giving every task an honest effort.
Let's Chat About Offerings
As I went about my research, I found some great advice. When leaving offerings of food on your altar, rather than trying to “guesstimate” when the deity/otherworldly being in question are finished with your offerings, light a tealight candle and let them know that you will leave it there until the candle burns out. I typically do this in the evening and leave the offerings there until the next day.
With regard to what to offer, I was prompted to buy Baba Yaga a bar of red chili infused dark chocolate. European butter, maple syrup, butter tarts, chocolates, candy, and peanut butter pretzel nuts have also been well-received. I have a shot glass of alcohol on the altar at all times. Baba Yaga has shown a preference for Fireball Whiskey and green apple vodka.
This has been my experience and it by no means is a “rule”. I always recommend asking what the deity in question would prefer and following your intuition. You may have access to something they want that can't be found elsewhere, so it's good to keep that in mind.
The Work Begins
“Baba Yaga’s Hut” by Thomas Denmark
I didn’t seek her out. She found me. It made me nervous. Baba Yaga’s reputation proceeded her arrival on my doorstep and after working with The Morrigan, I knew what it was to be dragged through the muck by your hair and forced to face things you would rather leave buried.
Once I made the decision to accept her invitation, the Work began. One of the first things I learned was that Baba Yaga is not a fan of clutter. That doesn’t mean she expects your space to be spotless at all times. If there are things you’ve been avoiding or if you are disrespecting an area of your home, this is something you will be expected to amend. If you ask for her help, you will be put to work. She wants payment in elbow grease.
My first task was to go through my space and get rid of everything my ex gave me. I didn’t have much left, but it all had to go. I had to sever all ties fully and completely. I extended this task to anything from my past that had negative energy attached. The decision was made to toss my high school yearbooks. Although I have many great memories, they were buried beneath a lot of hurt. I also downsized my Pagan library, letting go of books that were no longer relevant to my path and forwarding them on to others in the community.
Four years ago, I made the decision to sell my house and live with my parents on their acreage. This would help me become debt-free and also enable me to travel. At this point, I had been living there for three years. Before I moved, I downsized my belongings by 2/3. The majority of my stuff remains packed away because I don't need it now but will when I live on my own again. The next task she set before me was to go through all of it. Every. Single. Item. It was sorted, what I was keeping was repacked/labelled, and what I decided to let go of was donated to a charity garage sale. One glaring example was my collection of 44 candle holders. I paired them down to 18 and donated the rest. The entire process was extremely emotional because there was stuff in there that I honestly didn't want to deal with, but Baba Yaga doesn't have time for avoidance or excuses.
Knock Knock
Artwork by Scott Brundage
I don’t know exactly how to put into words what working with Baba Yaga is like. I am not of Slavic descent, nor had I invested any time researching Slavic Paganism. The only connection I can offer is a few years of Ukrainian dance and that was a lifetime ago.
She showed up out of nowhere, in Ireland of all places and while I was elbows deep in a Morrigan pilgrimage. It seems that Baba Yaga likes to catch you off guard, your defenses down and open to whatever energies or deities come forward. Cerridwen and I had a long term relationship, having put things on hold so that I could focus on my work with The Morrigan. I met the Cailleach at Loughcrew and it wasn’t long before I sensed another presence. It definitely wasn’t The Morrigan, I was certain of that. No, this was someone new. Because I was in Ireland, I assumed it was Maeve, but the energy seemed off. So I decided to wait it out and just let things progress because there was no point in doing otherwise.
So she followed me home, Old Bony Legs. She made herself known and also made it clear that there was much Work ahead. She doesn’t need you to be Slavic. She doesn’t need you to be anything but yourself. But I will offer you this bit of advice. She does need you to be honest. Don’t even think about bullshitting her. She won’t hesitate to call you on it and she won’t be gentle when she does.
When Death is in the cards
Of all the divination tools, the Death Card evokes the strongest reaction in people. I can certainly understand why this is, but it makes me sad to know that it causes such dread. I have met people who are so afraid of this card that they refuse to even consider a reading.
So let’s dispel the myths and set the record straight. The Death card is a staple in the Tarot, but not all Oracle decks feature one. The image above is from “The Faeries Oracle” by Brian Froud and is (in my opinion) the most beautiful depiction of this card that I have ever encountered. In contrast, Froud’s second deck (entitled “The Heart of Faerie”) does not include a Death card.
No matter what deck you find it in, the Death card represents the end of one aspect of being, doing, or thinking. Closing a chapter. A change in direction. It can be the end of a relationship, changing careers, or a physical move. Although I would never presume to state this as a certainty, this card rarely means a physical death.
These endings also mean new beginnings. In order to move forward, we have to release what no longer serves. Sometimes that simply means making a decision to downsize our collection of candle holders so that we can focus more clearly on the sacred work and less on the “stuff” (I plan to expand on this in a future blog). Other times it means taking a deep breath and starting the process of moving across the country to pursue our passion.
Sometimes these changes can be painful. Sometimes, it’s the best thing that could have ever happened and you experience a smooth transition. I recently let go of the idea of finding my way back to a previous career because I realized that it had ended for a multitude of positive reasons. More importantly, once I was completely honest with myself, I realized I didn’t even want to go back. It was simply the lure of the familiar in an uncertain time that kept me clinging to something that wasn’t even in alignment with who I had become. Once I worked through this and was able to finally truly let go, I found my way into a new career path that I definitely never would have even known was a possibility had I still been hanging on to my old life.
When the Gods retreat
The Morrigan’s Cave, Ireland 2015 photo by Sidhe Writes
I was a member of the Sisterhood of Avalon when the Morrigan arrived at my door. Not so much knocking gently but hammering mercilessly, demanding to be heard. My time with the Sisterhood was coming to an end and I made the decision to accept the Morrigan’s invitation. The work before me was beyond challenging. It was frightening and I spent most of my time up to my eyeballs in shit, for lack of a better term.
I knew better than to formally dedicate myself to her because she is notoriously tough and, as I would soon learn, unforgiving. I was tasked with a pretty major project, requiring a great deal of my time and energy. One afternoon, I was grumbling and acting like a child. I tripped and fell, resulting in an immensely painful hairline fracture. The lesson? Acts of service must be done without complaint.
I returned to Ireland and the cave. I was fully prepared to venture down and deepen my relationship with Herself. Much to my dismay, that was not her plan. I was to wait outside, holding space for those who made the journey within. I asked myself why I was deemed unworthy. What did I do wrong? What didn’t I do right? Her answer was that I was doing the Work that she needed. I was indeed worthy or I would not have been asked to hold space and ensure the well-being of those whose own Work lie within the cave.
One day, not long after my return home, the Morrigan told me that I was to clear off my altar. I assumed this was in preparation for more Work and did as I was told. I waited for further instruction as to where we were going from here. Nothing could have prepared me for her answer. Our work together was done.
Even after two decades, I find my practice as a polytheist to be a delicate balancing act. My time with the Sisterhood helped tremendously, as I worked with 5 Welsh Goddesses for a period of three years. Experiencing the ebb and flow of their presence in my life and as a focal point of my practice was enriching and stabilizing for me. But at no point did I consider that any of them would end our relationship. I foolishly believed that I was at the helm. So when the Morrigan left, I experienced a tremendous sense of loss and overwhelming grief. I couldn’t understand why she would abandon me. I see now that was part of the Work I was meant to do with her. To learn that the Gods are not at our disposal. They are not obligated to us in any way and are free to leave at any point, if that is what is needed.
I realized that this entire experience would not have happened at all if I were not open to it and capable of dealing with it, regardless of the pain it caused. I now understand that the reason the Morrigan had to leave was to make way for someone else, who would build on what we started and change my life in ways I could never have imagined.
Moonrise
Gazing across the landscape
towers of steel and concrete
It's what appears after moonrise
that captivates me
Each light holds a story
a moment in time
within that story, a subplot
turning on a dime
Which light to choose
which path to follow
which story to unravel
row by row
Release
I held them in my hands
memories encased in polypropylene
coated in iron oxide
memories of a past
that wounded me
one by one
I drop them
into the abyss
Cut short
Photo by Sidhe Writes
Our need to arrive
before we left
has left you stranded
We’re always running late
You’re running for your life
Abruptly ended
What was sundered and undone, shall be whole - the two made one
I became interested in divination over 20 years ago, taking a class at a local metaphysical center on oracle reading. I believed in divination, I just didn’t fully believe I could do it. What I learned is that we all can. The cards (or pendulum or tea leaves or stones or bones, etc.) are simply a tool that helps us sharpen our intuition and offers us insight to the messages we are receiving.
I enjoy doing readings, both for myself and for others. But to be honest, my relationship with my decks wasn’t nearly as deep or meaningful as I now know it could be. So I would waffle back and forth, either using them on a somewhat regular basis or tucking them away and ignoring them for months (or years) on end. Lately, like so many others, I have been feeling the pull. Not only to return to them but to put in the work needed to expand my knowledge and deepen that relationship.
I have both of the Froud decks and enjoy them, but was constantly torn as to which deck to use. The images are beautiful, but I was never really able to fully immerse myself. I felt like I was being pulled in two directions, unable to focus on either.
It was only after I decided to honor my intuition and combine them that something clicked. Bringing all 134 cards together seems to have magnified the energy, enabling me to finally connect in a meaningful way.
I am not gonna lie. This combo has resulted in a chunkster of a deck. I mean, look at how thick that is! As soon as I saw the two together, my first instinct was to reconsider. Although shuffling is a bit of a challenge, I am getting used to it and the energy that I experience working with both decks at once is amazing. Needless to say, I wish I had done this sooner.
I started pulling a card each morning to help me find a focal point for the day. This has also offered me clarity with regard to how I am processing current events and the overall impact they are having on me, both personally and professionally. A very dear friend inspired me to begin journaling my experience with each of the cards. This is not a new concept, but it is a new habit that I feel has enhanced my spiritual practice considerably.
We have a tendency to look outside ourselves for the latest gadget or hottest fad, hoping that will be the proverbial “cure for all that ails you”. Because of my frustration, I had been searching for a shiny new deck to work with. Thankfully, I allowed my intuition to guide me and soon discovered that what I really needed was to see the tools I had in a new light. To not only consider the possibilities, but be open to them.
Corvids
Corvids take to the sky
surveying the landscape
as only they can
with generations of understanding
Stone walls
cascading down rolling hills of green
Cottages
changing hands
through the generations
Crumbling ruins
still withstanding
the test of time
The trees
whispering stories
hidden language
Corvids return to their home
to ponder the world
as only they can
through the eyes of ancients
There cannot be light without darkness...
I wish I could remember the first time I saw “Legend”, but I am positive it was in a theatre. I can’t imagine me missing the opportunity to see a film that included faeries and unicorns. I am assuming it was a mind-blowing experience. Perhaps that’s why I can’t remember it. But I can honestly say that the novelty hasn't worn off after all these years. I still get goosebumps and tear up every time I watch it.
The film stars a young Tom Cruise who now, sadly does not seem to want to be associated with it for reasons that I cannot as yet determine. Rosie O’Donnell mentioned it to him in an interview years ago and he seemed embarrassed by it, which is a shame as it’s an amazing work and remains one of my favorite films.
Director Ridley Scott created a world filled with magick and wonder the likes of which we’d not seen before. Released in 1985, they did not have the technology that exists today and for that, hardcore fans are extremely grateful. Many feel that the film simply would not have been the same, had it been created with the help of CGI rather than the elaborate makeup, costumes, lighting, and set design that made the movie so amazing.
There were 2 different versions of the film. The Directors Cut and what has been dubbed the “US Version” ( or “Theatrical Version” ), which is 52 minutes shorter. Some say that Ridley Scott was told by studio execs that “Americans will NEVER sit through a 2.5 hour film.”, a comment that sounds ridiculous when one considers that the theatrical release of “Lord of the Rings - the Fellowship of the Ring” runs 178 minutes. However, the truth is that comments made by some of the audience members at one of the initial screenings caused Scott to second-guess himself and make drastic cuts to the film.
There are also 2 scores. The original was done by Jerry Goldsmith. The US Version contained the score by Tangerine Dream, which was completed in just three weeks. Again, the original score was replaced after initial test screenings. Interestingly enough, I prefer what Tangerine Dream brought to the film. It has been said that if they could pair that score with the Directors Cut, they would have the perfect film. I tend to agree.
I was extremely thrilled to add the 2 disc special edition of “Legend” to my DVD collection. It presents a world where Faeries and Humans live side by side, minus the “fluffy bunny, airy fairy” attitude. Scott initially brought in Alan Lee as a visual consultant, which further explains the film’s appeal, at least to me. Although Lee was eventually replaced, one look at Meg Mucklebones and you can’t help but acknowledge his influence.
Nell even warns Lili about the Faeries as she’s leaving the cottage.
“You stay clear of Spring Banshee’s my dear. These woods be thick with ‘em. Stay clear of toadstool rings, and willow trees, and old oaks.”
Lili, of course, skips off giggling and waves away her concerns. Little does she know...
The biggest draw for me is that this story utilizes Celtic Faerie Folklore (intentional or otherwise) and thus the story is believable to those of us who take The Other Crowd very seriously. The characters seem to jump off the pages of the books in my library, taking me on a journey that is both intriguing and frightening.
Transforming BPM to WPM
I listen to music while I write. Lately, I find Pachelbel’s Canon especially helpful. It’s a hugely popular piece, which is interesting considering that the Canon remained forgotten for hundreds of years and was only rediscovered in the 20th century.
As soon as I hit “play”, my mind immediately snaps back to whatever it is that I am working on. The music allows me to remain where I need to be for however long it takes.
There is a scene in “Believe” that took me three days to write, which meant listening to the same song on repeat for three solid days. That particular song was “Bard Dance” by Enya and at a whopping 1 minute and 23 seconds long, the “repeat” mode got a heck of a workout.
You might be thinking “You must be so sick of that song!”, but the truth of the matter is that when I am writing I lose all concept of time. I have to admit that it must seem like absolute torture to some. Listening to the same song on repeat for three solid days, while frantically trying to keep up with all the characters that were coming forward and the stories they wanted to tell. But when I read through that scene, I am always struck by how it came out exactly as I pictured it in my mind and how much I love the characters that were kind enough to join me on the journey.
In my humble opinion, when you look back on something you’ve written it should be with fondness. All of the challenges and the frustration forgotten, you remember how much you loved researching it, how intriguing the characters were, the rush you had finally getting it all out of your head and down on paper (literally or figuratively).
I can’t speak for other authors, but I think it’s wonderful to have your own personal soundtrack for your work. Even if you never share it with anyone else, choosing instead to keep it between you and the characters that the music helped bring to life.
Has thinking outside the box become yet another cliche?
Once we create a comfort zone, we rarely step outside of that comfort zone. But the consequence of that is a phenomenon known as hedonic adaptation. Overstimulation to the same kind of thing, the same stimuli, again and again and again, renders said stimuli invisible. Your brain has already mapped it in its own head and you know longer literarily have to be engaged in it.” - Performance Philosopher, Jason Silva
As a commercial copywriter, I found this concept extremely interesting. When it comes to advertising, everyone expresses that they’re looking for something “really different”. Something that will “stand out” and “catch people’s attention”. But in truth, stepping outside their comfort zone is uncomfortable. So they invariably revert back to what is safe and (in their minds) “proven”.
I’m not in any way saying we should reinvent the wheel. But if the original concept had not been improved upon, I think it’s safe to assume we’d still be riding around in a horse and buggy.
We’ve all heard stories of people considered to be at the top of their game who were rejected time after time. We all sit back and think “I bet so-and-so at such-and-such company is really kicking themselves.” But rather than shut down and beat themselves up over a lost opportunity, shouldn’t they be opening their minds to the myriad of amazing talent just waiting to be discovered, ideas begging to be brought to fruition, and dreams sitting on the cusp of realization? Instead of focusing on those who missed the boat, why not turn our attention to the people who recognized the brilliance of the idea and had the courage to take the leap? THAT’S where the lesson is.
Maybe it's time to admit that the proverbial wheel (along with all its clichés) has seen its day. The next time we ask someone to “think outside the box”, perhaps we should take a moment and ask ourselves how far outside that box we’re willing to travel.
Let’s say you’re asked to come up with an idea. I brainstorm all the time, so this is fun to me. Here’s where it gets sticky. There is no solidified brand, no positioning statement, no mission outlined, no target market established, no concept at all of the message intended for the potential audience. Believe it or not, telling a creative mind that you’ll “know it when you see it” is actually more restrictive than approaching them with at least a general idea of what you’re looking for. It does no good at all to give someone supposed “free reign” and allow them “creative expression”, only to shoot them down over and over again with a simple “I don’t know what I want, but I don’t want THAT.” Now, I have had a very small selection of clients over the years who have allowed me to just run with an idea and been very happy with it. But that is a VERY small group.
Getting back to the concept of a “comfort zone”, we all have them. They’re necessary, or we would have no boundaries and no social code with regard to propriety. Having said that, my boundaries are certainly different from yours, which in turn will be different from your neighbours, and so on. You may find that you have to adjust your comfort zone in order to speak to those you’re trying to reach. Otherwise you risk alienating your audience or worse. Having them tune out altogether. If you can’t manage the adjustments necessary, perhaps you need to rethink your entire game plan.
So, before telling someone to “think outside the box”, be sure that you are both on the same page with regard to the size, shape, and flexibility of that box. Otherwise you’ll soon find that you’re each speaking a completely different language.
Why I Only Own 4 (unread) Books.
Welcome to my library!
Back in the fall of 2018, I stumbled upon a video by Booktuber, “Read With Cindy” entitled “Why I only own 4 books”. They talk about Booktube consumerism and how it is possible to read a ton, to love books, and to be part of the Booktube community without having an extensive library. Here’s the link. You will have to cut/paste it into your browser because I am apparently not tech-savvy enough to know how to make it clickable here on the bliggity blog.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82aYuS6SNrU
I was inspired to consider my own bookish habits and in December of 2018, I re-evaluated my library. I discovered that I had almost 90 unread books on my shelves and decided that I would not buy any more until I had read each and every one of them.
I further decided to unhaul anything that I would not read again. I had until NY Eve 2019 to complete the challenge, with the vow that any unread books remaining would be forwarded to libraries and charity shops in the community. Because I am deadline-driven, it forced me to make this task a priority.
When it comes to embracing a minimalist lifestyle, books are a hard category for most people and the thought of parting with them can cause a lot of anxiety. But I looked at where the anxiety was coming from and realized that it was a fear-based reaction. I was afraid that if I let them go I would be faced with crippling regret as a result of my decision. In short, I didn't trust myself. After sitting with the feelings, I realized that I needed to move through the fear. Once I did that, I was able to be rational about the process.
The first thing I noticed was that I had a ton of coffee table books that I seem to have bought without much thought. For example, I had four books on Celtic artwork that were pretty much identical, which I would have known had I not simply scooped them up because they were on sale without looking through them first. I also had a ton of spiritual books that I had either outgrown or were no longer relevant to my path. While I was at it, I thought it would be a good idea to re-read my favourite fiction, some of which I hadn't touched in over a decade. Much to my surprise, I ended up letting go of quite a few because they didn't age well.
I read a total of 146 books in 2019 and was able to unhaul (drumroll, please)... 123! I now own 83, all of which I have read. Now… lemme take some SHELFIES!
One of the things that I noticed was how many books that I purchased in the name of “research” but never ended up reading until last year. Even more surprising was how many I was able to let go of because of this handy-dandy invention called “the internet”.
My little spiritual library may not be overly impressive, but it’s all relevant to my path and to who I have become as a result of my journey.
