4.Baba Yaga (Slavic Folklore)

Transcript

0:01

Welcome my Suki friends to mythos, according to your is truly. I'm your host, Wendy Morrow on this podcast, we dive into. The myths and folklore from all over the world. These stories have shaped cultures. Stirred imaginations and kept us captivated. For centuries. Together, we'll be exploring the origins, meanings and mysteries behind. chills. With a fresh perspective and a little bit of fun. So grab. Your favorite drink and gather around my campfire for a tell you. You won't forget. Today's tale. It was about. Baba Yaga. This is a Slavic folklore, Ana. And I'm so excited to talk about it. In the heart of a deep ancient forest, hidden beneath shadows and twisting trees, there stood a house pushed on enormous chicken legs. This was the home of Baba, a fearsome witch known across the land with skin as old as bark, and the gaze as shark as a hawks. Her house was enchanted, able to turn around at her command. Always standing guard over the secrets within, Legend spread her immense power and her knowledge of magic, And her ability for trickery, testing the courage of any who dared enter her domain. One day, a young girl named Vasilisa found herself on the edge of Baba Yaga's forest. Vasilisa was kind hearted, but in need of courage, and she was on a quest for something only Baba Yaga could provide. A single glowing coal to relight the family hearth. Her stepmother, a cruel woman who resented her beauty and kindness, had sent her into the forest, hoping she would be lost to Baba Yaga's forever. Gathering her courage, Vasilisa took a deep breath and stepped into the dark, tangled woods. Clutching a small doll. Her mother had given her. Her mother had whispered, keep this doll close, my dear, and it will guide and protect you. And so whenever she felt fear, she would hold the doll tight and feel her mother's love giving her strength. The approach to Baba's Hut after hours of wondering Vais finally came upon the strange sight of the chicken legged hut. It loomed above her, swaying slightly, and she called out, loudly, as she could, Oh, great Baba Yaga, may I speak with you? The heart turned around on its legs, Twisting to face her as Baba Yaga herself emerged, her long bony fingers clutching a walking stick, her eyes gleamed with a wicked curiosity as she examined the small figure before her. Well, well, Baba Yaga called. What brings such a little creature to my forest? Her voice was thick and smoky, and her breath smelled of herbs and ashes. Vasilisa gathered her courage. I came to ask for a coal to relight my family hearth. A coal? Baba Yaga sneered, leaning closer to study Vasilisa's face. Many have come to me with requests, but few have left with what they seek. You must earn it, girl. I don't give gifts lightly. Vasilisa's heart pounded. She did not Basilisa's heart pounded, but she did not waver. I am prepared to do whatever you ask, Baba Yaga. Trials of Wit and Bravery Baba Yaga's grain grew whiter. Very well, then, I will set you three tasks, each one harder than the last. Fail, and you'll find yourself as bones in my stew. Succeed, and you'll have your coal. Her first task was to clean her house from top to bottom. Every speck of dust and every cobweb, As vase, Elisa entered the hut. It seemed endless with corners that stretched into the darkness. The shelves crowded with strange jars, but she remembered her doll, and when she whispered her troubles, the dolls spring to life, sweeping and scrubbing while vasa guided it. Finishing the task with remarkable speed, baba yaga granted an approval. Impressive, but let us see if you can do this. She led Vasilisa outside, pointing to a pile of grain, mixed with poppy seeds. Separate these by morning, she commanded. Every last one. Vasilisa was exhausted, but she whispered to her doll, and the tiny figure began its work. All night the doll sorted tirelessly, and by morning the seeds and grains were neatly separated. Baba Yaga was astonished and grudgingly impressed. You're clever, she admitted, but only the bravest deserve to leave here alive. The final task. For the final task, Baba Yaga demanded that Vasilisa find her way to a well deep in the woods, guarded by the dark spirits. Vasilisa felt a chill, but she took her doll and set off. The forest grew darker and darker and more menacing, with eyes peering from every shadow. The spirits taunted her, whispering doubts. But she pressed forward, her doll guiding her. At last, she reached the well and filled the pail with water. Returning to Baba Yaga, she held out the pail with trembling hands. Baba Yaga took the water and gave her a look filled with an odd mixture of admiration and resentment. You have completed your task, girl. You are brave and resourceful. Here, take this, she said, handling Vasilisa a single coal that glowed with a warm glowing light. The lesson of Baba Yaga's gifts. Before Vasilisa left, she mustered the courage to ask Baba Yaga, Why did you help me, even though you didn't have to? Baba Yaga's eyes softened for just a moment. Not all who come to me learn the truth, but you have proven yourself. Know this, it is not strength alone that will seek you through life's trials, but courage and wisdom and a little bit of help from friends. Remember, the forest has its own magic and its own favors with the brave. Vasilisa thanked her and hurried home. When she placed a coal on her family's hearth, it sparked to life, warming their home. She had faced her fears, learned the value of wits and bravery, and matured not only with fire, but with a heart fuller and fiercer than ever. Journey taught her, and all who heard her story, That true courage often lies not just in strength, but in facing the unknown with an open heart and a clever mind. Alright guys, at the end of every story, I share a scripture that goes along with the story and the lesson that was learned. The scripture today is Joshua 1, 9, and it quotes, Be strong and of good courage, Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed, for the Lord God is with thee, whethersoever thou goest. I truly do love this scripture, and the reason why it goes so well with this folklore, is because Vasilisa had to be strong and courageous and take action. I feel like I've said this before but inaction is action. And so when you don't do anything, To help yourself Then The results will always be negative. You won't see any improvement until you take the steps necessary to get where you're Wanting to go and where your vision is at it's funny because I'm recording the second half of this at a different date because I have problems recording the end. For some reason it wasn't allowing me to properly record the ending of the original scripture I chose. I was just out of town for a friend's wedding, and with everything looming over me, with unemployment and figuring out school and just all the other things in my life right now, I have been so overwhelmed I think everybody has moments like that when we're just like I don't know if I can keep doing this like this is overwhelming I just wish I could just escape it, but it's so much so that There's no place for me to go to avoid my problems and it's just like okay, Wendy you have to fix this head on and also Remembering that When we ask for help, when we get on our knees and pray, and believe and hope that it will happen for you and that you will be blessed. Being courageous is so much more than just Being strong. I looked up the definition of dismayed, and it says, experiencing or showing feeling of alarm or concern, upset, worried, or agitated because of some unwilling situation or encounter. And I'm definitely feeling dismayed. I'm feeling hopeless, and at times, had to constantly remind myself that I am blessed, and I have opportunity, and I have to count my blessings, and just allow God to influence my life, and to change my life. And I know that, If I continue to find strength in, in God and allow Him to influence my life, that I will receive blessings. Recently I heard a quote about being, childlike and being submissive. There's another scripture that says, That talks about how we should be submissive and patient and full of love. Willing to submit to all a father has. And that if we do these things, he will carry us. He will carry the broken pieces. And right now I feel like I definitely have, some broken pieces. I think about my life that I've lived so far and how I feel like shattered glass my pieces are broken and I have to believe that in the end I will become more beautiful and Heavenly Father will be able to mold me back together. Being broken is also, part of nature and part of a season. And that happens to everybody. Also it's a beautiful thing. In the Asian culture they have, broken pottery pieces that, they glue back with liquid gold, and in the end, it looks more beautiful. I'm trying to remember what that's called, because it's a literal type of art, and it's absolutely gorgeous, but that's what it reminds me of hope, courage, action, and, God and truth. That's the gold that holds us together and real faith and believing that in the end we'll become more beautiful than how we started. Something I also like about this story is that Vasilisa had her mother's doll and that she felt like her mother was close to her. Honestly to me, I really admire that because I think about family history and our parents and loved ones and those that truly care about us. I think about how in my life I've received encouragement from. People that have loved me and I think about my, biological mother as well. And I think about how my ancestors would want me to keep moving forward. These are literal angels that are watching over you consistently. So whether you feel alone, you are never alone. Like you have ancestors, people that have gone on before you. People that have consistently fallen in love over the history of time to make you, you have come into this world because you were meant to come into this world. It was very intentional and you have people that have gone on before you already that have made marks in this world that love you, that already know, how to handle life and the trials and that you will face. Like I don't think there's a person that's not being watched over and guided Sometimes we ignore them and we don't listen, we don't pay attention. I know in my life I've had like little experiences where I knew that someone was watching over me and guiding me. The other day I went to the park and I was praying, meditating, trying to figure out my life, and I looked up, and I saw this beautiful firefly Come and land right above me Literally right above my head. It did not move. The other ones like would fly away, but this one just stayed And just sat there and was I felt like an overwhelming amount of like peace settle into my heart. And I was like, I wonder what fireflies mean. And so I looked up the spiritual meaning of fireflies. And it meant like peace and guidance and love from those that have passed on already. Like your guardian angels. And that reinsurance that things will be okay. It just stayed there for a long time until I left. Experiences like that, when you just know that someone's watching you, when something has special meaning for you in your life I know I appreciate when people I know, help and serve me, I love to serve my friends as well, and that's always helped me. That's another lesson, we don't have to do this life alone. It's not meant to be done alone. There's a reason why we live in tribes and communities. We've always lived in tribes and communities, and we're not meant to be alone? Humans are not meant to be alone. And so if you are, I would strive to communicate and make connection with people, that love you. Know it's a struggle because I struggle with that sometimes. I know when I'm hurt, I want to exclude myself. I just want to like run. Like I was saying earlier, I just want to leave and escape and just, forget everything and everyone but in all reality the thing that you're running from is what's going to heal you in the end and so I want to conclude this episode by saying that Even though change is hard change is also really good And difficulty makes you stronger. Trials and tribulations teaches you hope and faith and courage to move on and move forward. I truly love you guys and I hope that you know that you are special alright, my spooky friends. I will see you on the next episode.