Baba Yaga is a prevalent and wise character in Slavic folktales. With her connections with the horsemen Bright Day, Red Sun, and Dark Midnight she is deeply intertwined with nature, and with her liminal location and connection with both life and death she is even more powerful. She is, in all respects, a goddess of nature, of life and death. Perhaps it is more accurate to call her Mother Earth or Mother Nature herself. Even more than this, however, Baba Yaga is a completely empowered woman, which is extraordinary when many of the female characters of Slavic folktales are greatly dis-empowered. She is a true feminist character, and has been for centuries…

Baba Yaga is truly an incredible figure, a goddess, a tester, and a donor. She is the embodiment of nature itself: destructive and creative, full of death and rebirth, and all-powerful. She is deeply ingrained in Slavic culture and folklore, and has been for hundreds of years. Even more than that she is a female character created in a time and society that were extremely male-dominated, and will serve as a powerful, female character for hundreds of years to come. Baba Yaga is a true feminist icon. She gives and takes, is cruel and helpful, and is always filled with knowledge, and is ready to test and teach those who come to her door. She is able to fly, work magic, and commands many animals, including birds, dogs, and a cat who lives inside her house