Hi guys,

This was a dream I actually had back in April of 2009. Right after, I posted it on another forum to discuss within a day or two, as it was just not leaving me. I revisited it within the last few days, still thinking about it, and I reopened the thread there. That has been the only place I have discussed it, so I am going to copy and paste the original posts and replies here so as to ask for you guys help as well. The member who originally suggested to me that it was Baba Yaga or Hecate has since been banned and his posts were deleted, so I can't get them.

OP:


Me replying to banned Andy:





Viasinistra:









ViaSinistra:



I am not going to put my post today wrapped in a quote:

Sorry to dig up an old thread.

I have still been thinking about this dream. I still haven't had another one.

I think Via is on target with the symbolism, and I also think it was Baba Yaga now. I began comparing Baba Yaga and Hecate. Baba Yaga has Slavic roots in Russian folk lore. I am half Slavic. My grandparents on my mothers side came to the U.S. from Czechlasovakia during WW2 to get away. My mother is also the mother that I heard shoot herself in the head when I was 3 yrs old. I've always thought this didn't affect me, but the effects might not be apparent due to the psychological defense mechanism of repression.

Baba Yaga is also more closely associated with the Crone aspect of the Triple Goddess symbol (I think). When I was unable to choose my tattoo, I threw the ones I was debating between at my dad and asked him to choose the one that fit me best. He chose the Triple Goddess symbol, the one in the form of three crescent moons that almost looks like horns or a biohazard. lol.

He said that it fit me best because although it represents the femimine polarity of the universe, it is not feminine in appearance with regards to our culture. Culturally the stereotypical female is stricken with many flaws which he claims I do not have. He also said that even though I am in the first or second stage of the cycle, I have qualities associated with them all. That's all nice but I'm getting OT.

Here are some quotes about someones observations of Baba Yaga:


"When a culture's language has no word to connote "wise elder woman," what happens to the women who carry the "Grandmother" consciousness for the collective? Prejudicial (prejudged) attacks throughout history against older women symbolized patriarchy's feminization of fear: the ultimate fear of annihilation, to be nonexistent (no existence). Centuries-long indoctrination limits our imagination so that we see this ancient aspect of the feminine only in her negative forms. We see her as the one who brings death to our old way of being, to our lives as we have known them, and to our embodied selves."

This goes with what Via said about the death of an old system of beliefs.


"To be sent to Baba Yaga was tantamount to being sent to one's death, but Vasalisa was actually helped by Baba Yaga. By facing her own worst fear -- death itself, Vasalisa became liberated from her previous situation and immaturity."

I thought that the dream had something to do with my inability to handle horrific imagery, but now I definitely think it has more to do with the deep distress with death I have developed.

"The Crone is a figure who incorporates both dark and light, life and death, creation and destruction, form and dissolution. The doll [Vasalisa's doll, given to her by her dying mother] becomes the symbol of the Sibyl, a figure of inspiration and intuition. She acts as a guide through the great passages of life, leading a woman into her own inner knowing."

"Like Baba Yaga, the Crone must help us by her example and "admonish us to revere all peoples and all circles of life upon this earth . . . not only important for the dignity and self-esteem of each woman, but vital for the countenance of life on our sweet Mother Earth" (Eagle). Since men define power as the capacity to destroy, the Destroying Mother Crone must be the most powerful female image for them, therefore, the only one likely to force them (us) in any new direction.
A woman who denies her life process at any time in her development, clinging desperately to outmoded images, myths and rituals of her past, obscures her connection with Self, the Divine, and therefore, with her spiritual heritage, the natural universe. The same holds true for our daughters, maidens who are coming of age. There is a kind of internal balance and sense of holiness available to us when we accept ourselves as part of a world that honors cycles, changes, decay and rebirth. It is time for women to reflect and give form to the authentic self in its evolving, formative process. The woman who is willing to make that change must become pregnant with herself, at last. She must bear herself, her third self, her old age with labor. There are not many who will help her with that birth. To Crone is to birth oneself as "Wise-woman," and see the world through new eyes.
We have not had the safety valve of feminine metaphor in our spiritual understanding; consequently, the Feminine, both Divine and human, have appeared monstrously contorted, threatening and uncontrollable."http://www.mythinglinks.org/BabaYaga.html





I am in a temporary living situation, living with my dad. This is only due to the fact that he is old in age and doesn't have too horribly much longer to live though. It is not the typical living situation. My dad and I are both financially independant and my boyfriend and I pretty much do everything around the house. We paid the house off and split the costs of living 50/50.

I have always had trouble dealing with the fact that loved ones have to die though.






Well, I really have no wise influence on me, other than my dad sometimes. Any spiritual wisdom I do have I give credit to my discussions here and on religiousforums.com. There are definitely no female older wiser influences in my physical life.






That is a definite. lol.





Now that I just reread this, I just made a connection with something I realized the other day. I have always been the kind of person that enjoys making people of different opinions understand each other, and agree to disagree in peace without harming each other. That's why I am attracted to teaching world religion at college level I'm sure.

In breaking away from christianity I was actually breaking away from the mormon church. You have to understand that even still I call the mormon church an oasis in the desert of christianity. Fundamental chritianity is easy to break away from, the mormon church is a little different.

But, because my reasons for breaking away are so fundamental, it does not matter which version of chirsitanity I felt close to. I have a disagrement with the atonement for everyones sins in that I do not accept the sacrifice. I would never allow someone to be tortured and sacrificed to save me from myself. For one, I love myself, and for two I can pay for my own wrong doings or prevent them and make ammends for them through the person/being wronged and not through a diety.

At the same time, through the understanding of Jesus and God I have with the Mormon church, I have no desire to be disrespectful or unfriendly with them. I felt that I needed to pray and explain myself, but when I went to do it I couldn't. I was scared of the feelings I might recieve.

Until I am confident enough to do this I have not completely broke my ties with my old ways of thinking. I am also not confident enough in my position to have it accepted, or I am not confident enough in my position to hold my position if what I was taught of thier nature is wrong. From what the mormon church teaches, such an approach and position would be accepted lovingly. They do not confine, they encourage knowledge to be sought out, and they are ever forgiving and accepting when there is no malicious intent. I guess I am afraid they might be wrong, when I have always said they are the only ones I think have christianity right.


« Last Edit: Today at 3:30pm by Tigeress »

Any further insight or advice is very welcome, and thank you in advance.

I know I just threw a mouthful out there and I haven't been a member here very long. I do like everyone a lot that I have met so far, and I value everyones thoughts highly.

This post has been edited by Tigeress: Jan 3 2010, 04:48 PM