Baba Yaga, the witch, the goddess, the dealer of death. Baba Yaga lives in the forest with a house made of bones that is supported by chicken legs. Yes, her house has literal chicken legs that hold it up, and some believe the home is a separate evil entity itself! Her home is surrounded by a fence that has human skulls decorating the tops of the fence posts. Although terrifying, she is generally known as a goddess of regeneration & rebirth. When things die, things are also reborn.
She has appeared in many stories of Slavic folklore. In Slavic mythology Baba Yaga is the symbolic representation of death & rebirth. She is known as a single witch, but also sometimes known as a triple entity representing the cycles of a woman's life (think: Maiden, Mother, & Crone). Baba Yaga is associated with mortar & pestle, as she rides around the forests on an extremely large mortar, and uses the pestle to grind up the bones of the humans she consumes! She is widely known for kidnapping children who misbehave. And like most witches, she does have a broom which she uses to clean up after herself. She really is a thoughtful and truthful goddess of death.
Despite being this scary and horror like character - some people do seek the help of this powerful and mystical goddess. She has the power and magic to help people, because she is extremely wise and knowledgeable. Some legends say that Baba Yaga and her house entity can only be found in the forest, on a path that is led by something magical such as spirits! If you seek her and find her, be prepared to complete the tasks that she has set up for you, in order for your wishes to be granted. If you fail to complete those tasks you will be killed and eaten, and your skull will end up as just another decoration for her fence or home!
