Join us in this episode, for an illuminating chat with Author, Word Historian, Workshop Leader Kris Spisak! Kris is an author of: “Becoming Baba Yaga; Trickster, Feminist, and Witch of the Woods”, “The Baba Yaga Mask” and “Get a Grip On Your Grammar” among other books. She has been spotlighted in Writer's Digest and The Huffington Post for her work helping other writers. Kris shares her Ukrainian upbringing and stories that she heard from family and how this influenced her passion for writing, Baba Yaga and the importance of words and storytelling.

We talk about Baba Yaga’s mythos, magic and history through Slavic folklore. Kris explains she might be tied to ancient roots of a divine feminine presence from the Cucuteni–Trypillian culture in ancient eastern Europe primarily Moldova, Romania and Ukraine areas.

Baba Yaga is a Fierce Feminist, Initiator, Villain, Wise Woman, Healer, transformer, Witch of the woods with so many differing aspects, stories, misconceptions and layers associated with her. Kris also speaks about Baba Yaga’s symbols of the Chicken Legged Magical Hut in the woods(symbol of a womb), her fences of bones/skulls, her massive flying Mortar/Pestle (symbols of transformation) which are mundane yet magical and divine. Baba Yaga tests protagonists through folktales such as Prince Ivan, Visalisa the beautiful, who need to prove themselves to transform come to her chicken hut in the woods.

We chat about Baba Yaga’s connection to nature as an Earth goddess and as an herbalist. We also delve into her role as Gatekeeper between the natural living world and the spiritual realm, and Baba Yaga’s aspect as a trickster and shapeshifter. She is not merely a Witch of the Woods but also as an archetype and force empowering us at any age and walk of life (especially Women) and for finding our own true paths amidst the horror and the hope of present day life.

Tune in and be enlightened!

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