Baba Yaga, wise woman or old hag?

Thursday's card was drawn from The Goddess Oracle deck.

Baba Yaga is a witch like character in Slavic folklore who flies around on a giant mortar or broomstick and lives in a hut that stands on chicken legs. In many stories she is an antagonist who kidnaps and eats small children, however in many other stories she is sought out for her wisdom and offers guidance to lost souls. 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. Most likely she was a wise old woman Goddess figure who was turned into an evil "witch" by competing religions that moved into the area.

Her 'hut on chicken legs' connects her to earlier religions as Siberian pagan constructed small huts that stood on top of stumps to hold figurines of their gods. Also Slavs had a tradition of performing cremation in huts of this types.

Baba Yaga is here today to remind you to remember the wisdom that ageing women hold. Our society devalues woman as they age and loss their beauty. Baba Yaga is screaming out "there is more then one type of beauty, everyone is beautiful if you will take the time to look. Do not look away from an old woman instead sit with her and listen.  Show her the respect she deserves and she will share her wisdom."