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Dark Goddess of Liberation Lilith; A Guide to Who She is and How to Work with Her

Why I’m writing about Lilith

Why am I hosting a workshop on Lilith soon? Why did I already teach a class on her last year and summon her? Why did I create a study guide already for her? Why am I writing this blog post for you all now? Many reasons! The main reason, I teach and work with the “dark” goddesses and she is the number one goddess I get questions about.

Lilith has become a popular goddess for witches to want to work with for many reasons, the ” dark” feminine is becoming more popular for witches and pagans to be willing to work with for one. Second, many people, women especially are starting to do the very challenging work of healing journeys related to sexual trauma. I want to take a moment here as well. In case no one has said it to you; and you are on that journey; I am so very sorry you have that journey to take in your life. But, Lilith is one of the best choices of a deity to have with you for assistance and guidance on that journey. I personally know this myself and you can find and read many many stories saying the same.

Other than that she is just all around an astounding deity to work for liberation of yourself in almost every way and area of life. How you see yourself, your connection to magic, your connection to the collective, truly connecting to your “dark”/ Shadow self, and allowing you access and permission to enact justice when it is needed.

My journey with her has been a long one crossing many paths, working with many different faucets of her and delving into untying her extensively knotted and complicated history. She has been a staple in my practice for many years now and has a place on one of my altars often. So, if you have ever been curious about her, if she has ever called to you in the night or during some of your darkest times, if you are a student who was in my class last year and have been craving more this blog post is for you!

Keep reading to go on a journey through her darkness and duality. Learn about who she is, her extensive history, how she affects us today, how to work with her, how to honor her, and so much more! This post will not be the only one either as there is just no way to encompass all that she is in one blog post so this is just the beginning of our journey with her! Let’s start with who Lilith is.

Who is she?

Lilith is a “Dark” Goddess, she is one of incredible power, charisma, and persuasion. She is a mistress of the divine feminine and a true seductress. She is a Queen of Darkness and understands the powerful energies that sleep in the night and can bend them to her will.  She hears the dark whispers of the forgotten night.  The sleeping Dark mother who calls to the creatures of the nights and nurtures them in blankets of moonlight. She is Lilith, the Dark Mother and the Dark Queen of the Night. She is incredible to work with!

She is a healer and a lover and one who can provide comfort and support to those in need.  Her night energies provide rest and comfort and she can inspire those who work with her with dreams. She empowers those she works with.  She can awaken our power and help us to claim who we are and our space and become the people we desire to be.  She reminds us of our truth and the powerful individuals that we are.

She is very pro-independence and helping people to rise up in their power and increase their self-image and self-confidence. She is the protector of women and children (especially babies) and helps to empower people in all areas. She seeks justice and abhors slanderous gossip and bullying. She is gifted on the areas of divination, healing, black magic, necromancy, and bending dark energies to her will. She knows how to work with the energies of blood and the life force contained and can assist anyone who is called to work with her in learning these skills.

Her power and radiance shine on those who work with her and she has learned about the feminine archetypes and is empowerment for women, she understands greatly the darkness of all sides of these energies, the great empowered darkness. Her feminine energies though are not vindictive or damaging in any way to the masculine energies.

She is balanced and beautiful. She is one who seeks to empower women while still allowing them to be women. She can be vicious and violent, one who will defend herself and her family and one who will not let anyone push her around. She rises to the challenge presented to her and she will defend herself with the sheer might of the goddess she is.

She is all this and More. Lilith has incredible power and ability to see through illusions and uncover the truth of false accusations. She is a very powerful sexual and bold goddess who can work powerful sex magicks and sex rites.

Lilith, Feminism, Sexual Liberation and Witches

Let’s first touch on one of the ways that Lilith affects the collective as a whole; Lilith is an icon, symbol and representation of a dark goddess and feminine identity, feminine sexuality, liberation and empowerment. As the first woman of Adam (the first man – which in biblical Hebrew “Adam” אדם means “man”), Lilith has been forced to feel the pain of rejection, oppression and scorn for seeking equality and being denied to fully express herself, her true nature.

Lilith is like many dark goddesses who have been viewed to be feared, seen as hag-like, demons and scary, but rather this intense raw energy as a dark goddess can be “owned” and use protectively; a weapon that was once used against the Dark Goddess is now in her hands to defend herself.

Lilith may speak and come forth to women, but she may also come forth to men if she feels necessary. Anyone regardless of gender who feels a strong connection or the call of Lilith to awaken and liberate their sexuality, to revive or unleash their feminine side, can work with Lilith. Lilith (like many dark goddesses) may choose someone to work with when she feels the time is right; this may be at a younger age in your 20s or later in your 40s or 50s, whenever Lilith decides will be the right time.

Lilith’s extensively long history

Lilith has a long history that dates back far into Jewish mythology, Sumerian and Mesopotamia; a history that has often been cruelly unfair to a goddess and figure such as Lilith. I am going to do my best to sum up her very extensive history for you in this blog post, there really truly is so much to her history and so few know even half of it. If you want the entire detailed history you can read my study guide here https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-gjqbHtFpVvAk3ArQ_LJAF1gtQzMcnAA/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=107019596187888016346&rtpof=true&sd=true I wrote for my class with Divination Academy last year.

For 4,000 years Lilith has wandered the earth, figuring in the mythic imaginations of writers, artists and poets. Her origins lie in Babylonian demonology, where amulets and incantations were used to counter the sinister powers of this winged spirit who preyed on pregnant women and infants. Lilith next migrated to the world of the ancient Hittites, Egyptians, Israelites and Greeks. She makes a solitary appearance in the Bible, as a wilderness demon shunned by the prophet Isaiah. In the Middle Ages she reappears in Jewish sources as the dreadful first wife of Adam.

In the Renaissance, Michelangelo portrayed Lilith as a half-woman, half-serpent, coiled around the Tree of Knowledge. Later, her beauty would captivate the English poet Dante Gabriel Rossetti. “Her enchanted hair,” he wrote, “was the first gold.”1 Irish novelist James Joyce cast her as the “patron of abortions.”2
Modern feminists celebrate her bold struggle for independence from Adam. Her name appears as the title of a Jewish women’s magazine and a national literacy program. An annual music festival that donates its profits to battered women’s shelters and breast cancer research institutes is called the Lilith Fair.
In most manifestations of her myth, Lilith represents chaos, seduction and ungodliness. Yet, in her every guise, Lilith has cast a spell on humankind.

Lilith in Sumerian and Mesopotamia

The ancient name “Lilith” derives from a Sumerian word for female demons or wind spirits—the lilītu and the related ardat lilǐ. The lilītu dwells in desert lands and open country spaces and is especially dangerous to pregnant women and infants. Her breasts are filled with poison, not milk. The ardat lilī is a sexually frustrated and infertile female who behaves aggressively toward young men.

The earliest surviving mention of Lilith’s name appears in Gilgamesh and the Huluppu-Tree, a Sumerian epic poem found on a tablet at Ur and dating from approximately 2000 B.C.E. The mighty ruler Gilgamesh is the world’s first literary hero; he boldly slays monsters and vainly searches for the secret to eternal life. In one episode, “after heaven and earth had separated and man had been created,”3 Gilgamesh rushes to assist Inanna, goddess of erotic love and war. In her garden near the Euphrates River, Inanna lovingly tends a willow (huluppu) tree, the wood of which she hopes to fashion into a throne and bed for herself. Inanna’s plans are nearly thwarted, however, when a dastardly triumvirate possesses the tree. One of the villains is Lilith.

Lilith in the bible and Talmud

She than makes her way into Judaism and Christianity. Over time, people throughout the Near East became increasingly familiar with the myth of Lilith. In Judaism she is the most notorious demon. In the Bible, she is mentioned only once, in Isaiah 34. The Isaiah passage lacks specifics in describing Lilith, but it locates her in desolate places. The Bible verse thus links Lilith directly to the demon of the Gilgamesh epic who flees “to the desert.” The wilderness traditionally symbolizes mental and physical barrenness; it is a place where creativity and life itself are easily extinguished. Lilith, the feminine opposite of masculine order, is banished from fertile territory and exiled to barren wasteland.

While Lilith is not mentioned again in the Bible, she does resurface in the Dead Sea Scrolls found at Qumran. The Qumran sect was engrossed with demonology, and Lilith appears in the Song for a Sage, a hymn possibly used in exorcisms: “And I, the Sage, sound the majesty of His beauty to terrify and confound all the spirits of destroying angels and the bastard spirits, the demons, Lilith. . ., and those that strike suddenly, to lead astray the spirit of understanding, and to make desolate their heart.”7

Centuries after the Dead Sea Scrolls were written, learned rabbis completed the Babylonian Talmud (final editing circa 500 to 600 C.E.), and female demons journeyed into scholarly Jewish inquiries. The Talmud (the name comes from a Hebrew word meaning “study”) is a compendium of legal discussions, tales of great rabbis and meditations on Bible passages. Talmudic references to Lilith are few, but they provide a glimpse of what intellectuals thought about her. The Talmud’s Lilith recalls older Babylonian images, for she has “long hair” (Erubin 100b) and wings (Niddah 24b).8 The Talmud’s image of Lilith also reinforces older impressions of her as a succubus, a demon in female form who had sex with men while the men were sleeping. Unwholesome sexual practices are linked to Lilith as she powerfully embodies the demon-lover myth.

Lilith in The Alphabet of Ben Sira

Until the seventh century C.E., Lilith was known as a dangerous embodiment of dark, feminine powers. In the Middle Ages, however, the Babylonian she-demon took on new and even more sinister characteristics. Sometime prior to the year 1000, The Alphabet of Ben Sira was introduced to medieval Jewry. The Alphabet, an anonymous text, contains 22 episodes, corresponding to the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The fifth episode includes a Lilith who was to tantalize and terrify the population for generations to come. To some extent, The Alphabet of Ben Sira shows a familiar Lilith: She is destructive, she can fly and she has a penchant for sex. Yet this tale adds a new twist: She is Adam’s first wife, before Eve, who boldly leaves Eden because she is treated as man’s inferior.

Ben Sira cites the Bible passage indicating that after creating Adam, God realizes that it is not good for man to be alone (Genesis 2:18). In Ben Sira’s fanciful additions to the biblical tale, the Almighty then fashions another person from the earth, a female called Lilith. Soon the human couple begins to fight, but neither one really hears the other. Lilith refuses to lie underneath Adam during sex, but he insists that the bottom is her rightful place. He apparently believes that Lilith should submissively perform wifely duties. Lilith, on the other hand, is attempting to rule over no one. She is simply asserting her personal freedom. Lilith states, “We are equal because we are both created from the earth.”10

The struggle continues until Lilith becomes so frustrated with Adam’s stubbornness and arrogance that she brazenly pronounces the Tetragrammaton, the ineffable name of the Lord. God’s name (YHWH), translated as “Lord God” in most Bibles and roughly equivalent to the term “Yahweh,” has long been considered so holy that it is unspeakable. During the days of the Jerusalem Temple, only the High Priest said the word out loud, and then only once a year, on the Day of Atonement.

In The Alphabet, Lilith sins by impudently uttering the sacred syllables, thereby demonstrating to a medieval audience her unworthiness to reside in Paradise. So Lilith flies away, having gained power to do so by pronouncing God’s avowed name. Though made of the earth, she is not earthbound. Her dramatic departure reestablishes for a new generation Lilith’s supernatural character as a winged devil.

In the Gilgamesh and Isaiah episodes, Lilith flees to desert spaces. In The Alphabet of Ben Sira her destination is the Red Sea, site of historic and symbolic importance to the Jewish people. Just as the ancient Israelites achieve freedom from Pharaoh at the Red Sea, so Lilith gains independence from Adam by going there. But even though Lilith is the one who leaves, it is she who feels rejected and angry.

The Almighty tells Adam that if Lilith fails to return, 100 of her children must die each day. Apparently, Lilith is not only a child-murdering witch but also an amazingly fertile mother. In this way, she helps maintain the world’s balance between good and evil.
Three angels are sent in search of Lilith. When they find her at the Red Sea, she refuses to return to Eden, claiming that she was created to devour children. Ben Sira’s story suggests that Lilith is driven to kill babies in retaliation for Adam’s mistreatment and God’s insistence on slaying 100 of her progeny daily.

To prevent the three angels from drowning her in the Red Sea, Lilith swears in the name of God that she will not harm any infant who wears an amulet bearing her name. Ironically, by forging an agreement with God and the angels, Lilith demonstrates that she is not totally separated from the divine.

Lilith in the Zohar

The next milestone in Lilith’s journey lies in the Zohar, which elaborates on the earlier account of Lilith’s birth in Eden. The Zohar (meaning “Splendor”) is the Hebrew title for a fundamental kabbalistic tome, first compiled in Spain by Moses de Leon (1250–1305), using earlier sources. To the Kabbalists (members of the late medieval school of mystical thought), the Zohar’s mystical and allegorical interpretations of the Torah are considered sacred. The Lilith of the Zohar depends on a rereading of Genesis 1:27 (“And God created man in His image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them”), and the interpretation of this passage in the Talmud. Based on the shift of pronouns from “He created him” to the plural “He created them,” in Genesis 1:27, the Talmud suggests that the first human being was a single, androgynous creature, with two distinct halves.

Centuries later the Zohar elaborates that the male and female were soon separated. The female portion of the human being was attached on the side, so God placed Adam in a deep slumber and “sawed her off from him and adorned her like a bride and brought her to him.” This detached portion is “the original Lilith, who was with him [Adam] and who conceived from him” (Zohar 34b). Another passage indicates that as soon as Eve is created and Lilith sees her rival clinging to Adam, Lilith flies away.
The Zohar, like the earlier treatments of Lilith, sees her as a temptress of innocent men, breeder of evil spirits and carrier of disease: “She wanders about at night time, vexing the sons of men and causing them to defile themselves [emit seed]” (Zohar 19b).

The passage goes on to say that she hovers over her unsuspecting victims, inspires their lust, conceives their children and then infects them with disease. Adam is one of her victims, for he fathers “many spirits and demons, through the force of the impurity which he had absorbed” from Lilith. The promiscuity of Lilith will continue until the day God destroys all evil spirits. Lilith even attempts to seduce King Solomon. She comes in the guise of the Queen of Sheba, but when the Israelite king spies her hairy legs, he realizes she is a beastly impostor. The Zohar’s final innovation concerning the Lilith myth is to partner her with the male personification of evil, named either Samael or Asmodeus.

Lilith in Luciferian Witchcraft and Luciferianism

She encompasses the spectrum of divine feminine energies. She is the consort and lover of Samael who holds the title of Adversary. Many people think that Samael and Satan are the same being, but they are not. Samael is not a demon, he is an Angel, a dark angel and one who is not aligned with the group of Holy Angels.

He works with the Darker beings of the Outer Spiritual world, most specifically the creatures of the night and has deep connections and affiliations with those beings who are of darkness. He embraces and understands the darkness and is aligned with it. That is where his energy resides and he is the consort and lover of Lady Lilith and her King. He is not Satan.

Samael and Lilith have MANY children together, in fact, Lilith is the first of her kind and the mother of many offspring that are like her. She is a beautiful and incredible goddess of lust, passion, seduction, and pleasure.

Lilith in the Outer spiritual world was one who suffered great abuse and left what she knew. She ventured out into the world on her own relying only on her skill and ability. She met the Angel Samael, and they were smitten with each other. She grew and was infused with the power of the Dark Goddess. They completed each other’s energies and she embraced her empowered feminine qualities and stepped into the powerful Goddess and Queen that she is today.

Honoring The Darkest Aspects Of Lady Lilith

Lady Lilith, the enigmatic and powerful goddess, is a multifaceted being whose mythology encompasses both light and shadow. While she is revered as a symbol of independence, liberation, and empowerment, there are darker aspects to her lore that speak to the complex and often misunderstood nature of her essence.

As a figure who defies easy categorization, Lilith embraces the duality of creation and destruction, nurturing and wrath, desire and fear. In this section, we will delve into the darkest aspects of Lady Lilith, exploring her role as a succubus, a torturer of men, and a stealer of infants. It is through honoring and understanding these aspects that we can fully appreciate the depths of Lilith’s mysteries.

Lilith as Succubus: In some legends, Lady Lilith is depicted as a succubus, a nocturnal entity that seduces and bewitches those who cross her path. Her allure is both intoxicating and perilous, leading to both pleasure and ruin.

Lilith as Torturer of Men: In tales of retribution and justice, Lilith is known as a punisher of men who have wronged women or abused their power. As a goddess who refused to be subjugated by Adam, Lilith holds a mirror to patriarchal oppression and seeks to redress the imbalance. Lilith has a fierce determination to challenge tyranny and inequality.

Lilith as Stealer of Infants: One of the most fearsome aspects of Lilith’s mythology is her association with the stealing of infants. In ancient lore, Lilith was believed to be a child-snatcher, preying on the vulnerable and innocent. While this aspect is often viewed as malevolent, it may also be seen as a manifestation of Lilith’s wild, untamed nature that defies societal norms and conventions.

Lilith’s darkness is a reminder that we each possess both light and shadow, and that embracing our wholeness is an integral part of our spiritual journey. Allow Lilith’s complexity to inspire you to explore your own depths, to confront your fears, and to discover the hidden facets of your soul.

Lilith in Astrology

Lilith gives you the power you need to be YOU.
For women, Lilith can show you how you can be your true independent self and find that power within you as a woman. For everyone, she’s your ability to think for yourself and say it. Your inner Lilith – the person who has their own mind and own power independent of anyone else – can be a source of hidden power that helps you become a stronger version of YOU. That makes Lilith an incredibly empowering position!

In practice, I also find people with strong Lilith in their charts tend to:
be super feminists (girl power!)
be super mystics (Lilith is a little – or lot – witchy)
there’s usually a difficult relationship with the mother (perhaps linking to the “demon” and stealing babies part of the mythology)

What is Lilith, technically?
Black Moon Lilith (BML) is the point in the Moon’s orbit that is farthest from Earth (the apogee). There are two versions of BML, Mean and True or Oscillating. The movement of BML is not too stable, so the Mean position averages out the movement, while the True or Oscillating position gives the actual position. You can look up both positions in your natal chart and see which position, Mean or True/Oscillating, resonates stronger for you personally.

Technically, in astrology, there are three different Liliths (just to make it confusing!): Black Moon Lilith, Dark Moon Lilith (also called Waldemath Moon), and asteroid Lilith (the only physical body of Lilith). Dark Moon Lilith tends to be a little darker while asteroid Lilith to be more symbolic of the story of Lilith. I personally mostly just use Black Moon Lilith unless one of the other two is super strong in a natal chart.

How can I find my Lilith positions?
To find the locations of your Liliths for free, you can use astro.com. Click on ‘My Astro’ in the upper right, choose to use as a guest or create an account (to save your information), then input your birth data (date of birth, time of birth, and place of birth).

​You should be directed to the ‘Free Horoscopes’ page; click on ‘Extended Chart Selection’, then click on Additional Objects, and then click on Lilith in the menu (gives the Mean BML position), and in the Manual entry box, type in h13 (Oscillating BML), h58 (Waldemath), and 1181 (asteroid Lilith), then generate your chart (hit the button ‘Click here to show the chart >>’).

Working with Lilith in Witchcraft

Working with Lilith in witchcraft can be for different reasons connected to who Lilith is and what she represents. In Luciferian Witchcraft and Luciferianism (a form of Theistic Satanism), Lilith is honoured as the consort of Samael. However, you don’t have to practice Luciferianism or Luciferian Witchcraft to work with or be called upon to work with Lilith. Lilith can be worked with to reawaken your feminine sexuality, your passion for life, to reclaim your personal power when you feel small or that the world is overbearing and looming over top of you.

If you feel that you have given away your power or that you feel victimized in any way, Lilith screams back that you have the power to stand tall in the face of anyone encroaching on your space.
Here are a few ideas for witchcraft spells and magick involving Lilith or simply to work with Lilith:

  • Improving sexual relationships (to create balanced relationships)
  • Healing sexual trauma
  • Asserting independence and women/women’s rights
  • Fighting patriarchy/oppression/sexism placed on women
  • Boosting self-confidence and sensuality
  • To gain respect and/or recognition for contributions
  • Exploring and/or awakening your sexuality (especially if experiencing low libido)
  • Sex magick (feminine dominance)
  • Healing and/or managing menstrual issues and/or working menstrual magick
  • Working with the feminine shadow self or healing feminine shadow issues
  • Reclaiming your personal power and strengthening your voice
  • Handling or managing pre-menopause, peri-menopause or menopause symptoms
  • Feminine reproductive issues (especially with PMS, PMDD or other hormonal/mood swing problems)
  • Womb healing

Correspondences to Connect to Lilith

First, what is a correspondence? A correspondence is an item or symbol that is meant to connect you to a specific energy thru it’s representation. It is seen also as an item to respect, honor, and venerate that energy as well whether it be he zodiac energy the moon, an archetype energy , or a deity like I will list below for you to use.

Symbols

Owl- Wisdom, intuition, connection with Lilith
Serpent- Rebirth, transformation, feminine power
Black Moon- Mysticism, hidden knowledge, Lilith’s energy
Apple- Forbidden knowledge, temptation, femininity
Crescent Moon- Goddess energy, intuition, feminine cycles
Screech Owl- Night vision, divine guidance, Lilith’s presence
Black Rose- Mystery, seduction, Lilith’s essence
Bat- Transition, rebirth, connection with the night
Dark Water- Depths of emotions, divine feminine energy

Crystals
onyx
red jasper
obsidian
red carnelian
labradorite
black moonstone
black tourmaline
jet
garnet
clear quartz
All dark crystals (black and red) will work for connecting with Lilith.
Clear quartz can be effective if no other crystal is available.

Herbs/Plants
belladonna (caution: poisonous)
nightshade (caution: poisonous)
hemlock (caution: poisonous)
mugwort
sandalwood
patchouli
rose

Element:
Air (this is best utilized as incense)

Colors
black
red

Symbols Associated with the divine feminine

The Venus Symbol: Representing femininity and the divine feminine, the Venus symbol is a circle with a cross below it. This iconic symbol reflects Lilith’s role as a champion of women’s rights and a guardian of the feminine spirit.

The Raised Fist: A symbol of resistance and solidarity, the raised fist has been used by feminist movements around the world to signify strength and unity. Including a depiction of the raised fist on your altar honors Lilith’s revolutionary nature and her call for liberation and equality.

The Triple Moon: Comprising a waxing crescent, a full moon, and a waning crescent, the Triple Moon symbolizes the phases of a woman’s life—maiden, mother, and crone. It also reflects Lilith’s deep connection to the moon and her association with transformation and cycles of change.

The Equal Sign: Simple yet powerful, the equal sign stands for gender equality and the belief that all individuals deserve equal rights and opportunities. Placing this symbol on your Lilith altar reaffirms your commitment to justice and fairness.

The Snake: As a symbol of wisdom, rebirth, and healing, the snake is often associated with Lilith, who is said to have taken the form of a serpent in some tales. The snake also represents the shedding of societal constraints and the embracing of one’s true self.

The Wild Rose: The wild rose, with its untamed beauty and resilience, symbolizes Lilith’s free spirit and her defiance of patriarchal norms. It also serves as a reminder of the beauty and strength inherent in all women.

(Best) Day(s)

Wednesday
Friday
From just before sunset on Friday to the first three stars in the sky on Saturday evening is Shabbat in Judaism.
Depending on your belief, cultural background or how you modernize the Jewish creation story, it may be personally decided to honour (or not) Lilith during the time of Shabbat.
This may seem heretical, so you may choose whether Lilith can be honoured before or after Shabbat is over depending on your belief. This is a personal choice and only taking into consideration the cultural history and origin of Lilith.

(Best) Time of Day

witching hour (this can mean midnight or the time between 3 am and 4 am depending on your definition)
(Best) Moon Phase

dark moon
new moon

Sacred Days

Beltane / May Day (because of the sexual theme of the holiday)
October 24 – some sources state this day as the day Lilith left the Garden of Eden and also as a Sumerian holiday to mark the end of the harvest
February 29 (Leap Year every 4 years) – said to be the day when women can be loose/free to break (traditional) norms (e.g. old fashioned customs) and ask men out on dates; may not be so applicable in modern times, but can be in a sense a liberating day for forthrightness and breaking social limitations placed on women.

Ways to work with Lilith

Embrace the Moonlit Path
Lilith, the Goddess of the Night, draws her strength from the moon’s luminous energy. To connect with her, bask in the moonlight, whether it’s under the silver glow of the full moon or the gentle embrace of the crescent. Engage in moon rituals, meditations, or simply spend time in contemplation under her celestial guidance. As you align with the lunar cycles, you will tap into the depths of your intuition and unleash the hidden aspects of your being.

To learn more about working with the moon you can check you these previous articles of mine here on the topic; https://modgepodgemystic.com/working-with-the-full-moon/ ; https://modgepodgemystic.com/working-with-the-new-moon/; https://modgepodgemystic.com/moon-water-a-magical-staple/; You can also see some of my previously hosted moon celebrations/ rituals with Divination Academy here and check out the study guide on my resources page on my site as well.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeHvi9fxqgzRx1cIX1vfLMDVVtPYzKvl1&si=SGs-4Tcgre5Gjc-d

Invoke the Queen of Shadows
To work with Lilith, embrace your own shadows and fears. Light a black candle and call upon her as the Queen of Shadows. Confronting and accepting your inner darkness allows you to integrate and transmute these energies, empowering you to walk the path of self-discovery and empowerment. Trust in Lilith’s guidance as you navigate the depths of your subconscious, for within the darkness, you shall find your true strength.

To learn more about Shadow work and how to do it you can check out my Class on the topic Here and check you out the study guide in the resource section!

Celebrate the Wild Feminine
Lilith embodies the untamed, wild, and unapologetic aspects of femininity. Celebrate and honor your feminine power by embracing your authenticity and standing unyielding in the face of adversity. Engage in activities that help you connect with your feminine essence, such as dance, art, or nature walks. Embody the Goddess of the Night within you, and let her energy inspire you to reclaim your sovereignty.

Create a Lilith Altar
Design a sacred space dedicated to Lilith, adorned with dark-colored crystals, moon symbols, and images representing the night. Place offerings of dark fruits, red wine, or pomegranate seeds as a tribute to her essence. Meditate at this altar, seeking her guidance and strength, and watch as her energy infuses your life with purpose and resilience.

I don’t like to share my own personal altar and am working on being willing to do that so for credit here is the link where I got this one from https://images.app.goo.gl/nTXEztrS9dwbRrh68 But, I did teach a class on this already and am waiting for the video to be uploaded so until than if you need help you can comment on this article and keep an eye out I have an eBook I am just about done with for you on this topic!

Dance with Fire and Air
In ritual and celebration, dance under the moonlit sky, invoking Lilith’s spirit within you. Let the flames of fire and the whispers of the wind be your companions in this dance. Moving your body to the rhythm of the elements, you connect with the primal force of Lilith, igniting your passion and embracing the free-spirited aspects of your soul.

Invoke Lilith in Dreams
Before sleep, set the intention to meet Lilith in your dreams. Keep a journal by your bedside to record any visions, messages, or encounters you experience. Working with Lilith in the realm of dreams can provide profound insights, healing, and guidance as you navigate your waking life.

Explore Divination and Tarot
Turn to divination and tarot as tools to communicate with Lilith and gain deeper understanding of your inner self. Choose tarot decks that resonate with the themes of the night, the moon, and feminine power. Engage in regular readings, seeking Lilith’s wisdom to illuminate the paths that lie ahead. If you need to get a start at Tarot you can check out this amazing free class series at the link here;

Confront Patriarchal Conditioning
Lilith’s story challenges patriarchal constructs, making her a symbol of resistance against oppressive systems. Reflect on the ways patriarchal conditioning has influenced your life and choices. By dismantling these patterns and embracing Lilith’s essence, you empower yourself and support the collective shift towards equality and liberation.

Call on Lilith for Protection
Invoke Lilith as a guardian and protector, especially during moments of vulnerability or when you seek strength in challenging times. Her fierce energy can shield you from harm and guide you through adversity, reminding you of the power you hold within.

Commune with Nature
Spend time in nature to connect with Lilith’s primal energy. Seek solace in forests, beside flowing rivers, or under the open night sky. As you immerse yourself in the natural world, you become attuned to the rhythms of life and Lilith’s ancient wisdom.

If you want to start a journey or expand your knowledge on elemental magic and how to work with the elements I have a class coming up in mid march on this topic thru Divination Academy. Check it out at the link below!

https://fb.me/e/1WjNPOQEA

Work with Lilith in Ritual Magick
In your magical practice, incorporate Lilith’s sigils or symbols to amplify your intentions and spells. Seek her presence as you explore the mysteries of the night and harness her transformative energy to manifest your desires.

Honor Lilith in Rituals and Festivals
Celebrate Lilith’s presence during seasonal festivals, such as the Samhain or Beltane, when the veil between worlds is thin. Light candles and offer prayers to honor her role as the Goddess of the Night, inviting her blessings and guidance into your life.

Mirror Scrying: Gazing into the Veil of the Night
Embrace the ancient art of mirror scrying to connect with Lilith, the Goddess of the Night. Instead of staring at your reflection, dedicate a mirror specifically for scrying purposes. Call upon Lilith’s spirit as you peer into the depths of the mirror, allowing her to guide your divination sessions. Through this mystical practice, you can unveil hidden truths, receive insights from the otherworldly realms, and tap into the wild energy that Lilith bestows upon her devotees.

If you want to know more about working with mirrors and mirror scrying you can check you my previous post at this link here! https://modgepodgemystic.com/mirror-mirror-on-the-wall-whose-the-most-magical-of-them-all-a-guide-to-mirror-magic/

Air Element Magick: Embrace the Wild Winds
Harness the untamed energy of Lilith by incorporating air element magick into your practice. Work with the wind’s flow by making and burning incense, engaging in smoke and cloud scrying, or crafting powerful storm magick rituals. As the spirit of the wind, Lilith’s essence is intertwined with the breath of life, and through these practices, you can attune to her primal force and explore the mysteries of the unseen world.

The Owl Familiar Spirit: Commune with Lilith’s Sacred Messenger
The owl, synonymous with Lilith’s name in Hebrew, serves as a sacred animal and messenger of this enigmatic goddess. Connect with the owl familiar spirit or the Owl spirit guide in your practice to honor Lilith and delve into the occult mysteries she holds. The owl’s wisdom and intuitive prowess will aid you in understanding the deeper layers of the night and the secrets that lie within.

https://fb.me/e/1FH0pCuAJ ; https://modgepodgemystic.com/services-and-readings/

Sex Magick: Embrace the Lustful Enchantress
Explore the domain of sex magick, ruled by the intensely lustful nature of Lilith. Whether in personal or partnered encounters, learn to manifest your desires and tap into the transformative power of sexual energy. Engaging in sex magick rituals can provide profound insights into your own sensuality and desires, fostering a deep connection with the Goddess of the Night and the alluring mysteries she embodies.

If you are interested in sex magic Keep an eye out for some Ebooks, woskshops, and other things coming you can have access too on the topics in the meantime check out my study guides here from the two classes I have taught already on the topic through Divination.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yFUWXbHH6Ei6HPfQv8WkTqT28wuKrK-f2EkXLLli75w/edit?usp=drive_link

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1t4MlyfzJL0342KPFh3IF94XobMHo9R0DpxZhGsKk6vc/edit?usp=drive_link

The Daughters of Lilith: Becoming One with the Enchantress
In her demon form, Lilith is said to lead a horde of spirits known as the Daughters of Lilith. Delve into the study of this unique group of spirits and consider embracing your identity as a Daughter of Lilith, which is synonymous with being a witch. By aligning with this mystical lineage, you can connect with the ancient, powerful energies that flow through Lilith and explore the paths of witchcraft and the arcane arts.

Read about Lilith: Unveiling the Enigmatic Goddess
Embark on a journey of knowledge by immersing yourself in reading about Lilith. Delve into a wealth of resources, from ancient folklore and religious texts to modern interpretations and archaeological discoveries. By diving into the depths of Lilith’s story, you will gain a profound understanding of her multifaceted nature, her significance in diverse cultures, and the wisdom she bestows upon those who seek her guidance.

Final Musings

In the tapestry of history and myth, the name “Lilith” weaves a mesmerizing thread, connecting ancient civilizations to modern seekers of wisdom. As we embrace her enigmatic essence, she reminds us of the eternal truths found within the depths of the night—the beauty of embracing our shadows, the strength in claiming our sovereignty, and the power in honoring the wild and authentic self.

Lilith, the Goddess of the Night, beckons us to wander through the realms of our own souls, fearlessly exploring the depths of our desires, fears, and dreams. She stands as a beacon of feminine strength and empowerment, encouraging us to reclaim our voices, defy societal constraints, and dance boldly under the moon’s gentle glow.

She is incredibly powerful and healing for feminine energies and as a Queen in her own right, helping both men and women to feel comfortable with their bodies and embrace themselves and their truth. She is a Divine Goddess and one of abundance and empowered feminine archetypes. She is incredible and beautiful to behold. She is a goddess of women embracing their femininity.

Lilith is a guardian of the night, an embodiment of the shadowy and mysterious aspects of femininity. She reigns over the realms of darkness and dreams, where the subconscious mind roams free and untamed. As a goddess of the moon, she presides over its phases, from the new moon’s hidden embrace to the full moon’s radiant splendor. Her lunar influence connects her to cycles of life, death, and rebirth, a symbol of eternal renewal.

She is balanced and beautiful. She is one who seeks to empower women while still allowing them to be women.

She can be vicious and violent, one who will defend herself and her family and one who will not let anyone push her around. She rises to the challenge presented to her and she will defend herself with the sheer might of the goddess she is.

In her divine form, Lilith exudes an air of untamed sensuality and allure. She is the enchantress who bewitches mortals with her captivating gaze and seductive charm. Yet, her allure extends beyond mere physical beauty; it emanates from her deep connection to the primordial forces of creation. Lilith represents the life-giving aspects of femininity—the generative power that births both galaxies and ideas alike.

As the embodiment of feminine sovereignty, Lilith challenges conventional notions of subservience and patriarchy. She stands tall and unyielding, refusing to be confined by societal norms. The goddess Lilith is the epitome of independence, self-reliance, and courage. She empowers those she works with. She can awaken our power and help us to claim who we are and our space and become the people we desire to be. She reminds us of our truth and the powerful individuals that we are.

If you want to learn some more advanced ways of working with her like; how to Summon her, how to do tantric prayer to invoke her, working with her sigils and womb healing You can purchase my eBook about her in the shop.

To expand your knowledge about her further and meet her in a guided mediation or if you’d rather listen than read; you can watch my free class with Divination Academy on YouTube below!

Suggested Reading:

The Black Moon Lilith series:
​Black Moon Lilith in the Zodiac Signs
Progressions & Black Moon Lilith
Natal Planets Conjunct Black Moon Lilith
That Dark Lady, Lilith
Intro to Black Moon Lilith
Lilith the Witch
Transit Black Moon Lilith
Black Moon Lilith & Love Astrology
Prominent Natal Black Moon Lilith
When You’re Cut Off From Black Moon Lilith
Houses Ruled by Black Moon Lilith
Transit Black Moon Lilith in the Houses & Aspects

Book of Lilith spells and invocations https://eclecticwitchcraft.com/lilith-spells/

Resources sited:
History:
a. See Tzvi Abusch, “Gilgamesh: Hero, King, God and Striving Man,” Archaeology Odyssey, July/August 2000.
b. But see David R. Freedman, “Woman, a Power Equal to Man,” BAR, January/February 1983.

  1. Dante Gabriel Rossetti, “Body’s Beauty,” in The House of Life: A Sonnet-Sequence (Cambridge, MA: Harvard Univ. Press, 1928), p. 183.
  2. James Joyce, Ulysses, chap. 14, “Oxen of the Sun.”
  3. All Gilgamesh quotations are from Samuel N. Kramer, Gilgamesh and the Huluppu-Tree: A Reconstructed Sumerian Text, The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago Assyriological Studies 10 (Chicago: Univ. of Chicago, 1938).
  4. Translated by Theodor H. Gaster in Siegmund Hurwitz, Lilith—The First Eve (Einsiedeln, Switzerland: Daimon, 1992), p. 66. Another translation does not mention Lilith’s name and reads, “Be off, terrifying ones, terrors of my night.”
  5. Unless otherwise indicated, all Bible quotes are from TANAKH: The Holy Scriptures (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1985).
  6. These items may arise from Lilith’s association with darkness. Some translators and commentators have mistaken the etymology of Lilith’s name. Lilith, lylyt [tylyl], was not derived from the Hebrew word for night, lylh [hlyl], as they supposed. Instead, Lilith’s name originated in her depiction as a mythic Mesopotamian fiend and foe of Gilgamesh.
  7. 4Q510. See Joseph M. Baumgarten, “On the Nature of the Seductress in 4Q184,” Revue de Qumran 15 (1991–1992), pp. 133–143.
  8. All talmudic references are to The Babylonian Talmud, trans. Isidore Epstein, 17 vols. (London: Soncino, 1948).
  9. Raphael Patai, The Hebrew Goddess, 3rd enlarged ed. (Detroit: Wayne State, 1990), p. 226.
  10. The translation is my own. The full Hebrew text of The Alphabet of Ben Sira is found in Ozar Midrashim: A Library of Two Hundred Minor Midrashim (New York: J.D. Eisenstein, 1915), vol. 1, pp. 35–49.
  11. All references to the Zohar are to the edition translated by Harry Sperling and Maurice Simon, 2nd ed. (London: Soncino, 1984), vol. 1.
  12. David Stern and Mark Jay Mirsky, eds., Rabbinic Fantasies (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1990).
  13. Joseph Adler, “Lilith,” Midstream 45:5 (July/August 1999), p. 6.
  14. Rossetti, “Eden Bower,” in Poems (Leipzig: Bernhard Tauchnitz, 1873), pp. 31–41.
  15. Judith Plaskow Goldenberg, “Epilogue: The Coming of Lilith,” in Religion and Sexism, ed. Rosemary Radford Ruether (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1974), pp. 341–343.
  16. Pamela White Hadas, “The Passion of Lilith,” in In Light of Genesis (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1980), pp. 2–19.
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Baba Yaga; The Hag Goddess of Wisdom

Baba yaga is an incredibly fascinating witch and goddess. Her name alone just draws you in to learn more about her and pulls you into the slavic forest in search of her wandering hut on chicken legs. She will pull many in to learn about her but very few will actually learn her magic and walk her path with her.  Some view her as simply a folklore character, others a witch, some a hag, and to others she is seen as an ancestral figure to honor as a goddess. 

We can learn much from her when we are open to her wisdom. Her light is that of our ancestors, whose flame has been burning for generations. Death and rebirth are the domains of Baba Yaga, the Slavic goddess of regeneration.

Baba Yaga is staple of Slavic lore. She can be found in stories across several countries as a specific character, not just an archetype. What I find most interesting about her is that she is portrayed, almost equally, as a villain and a benefactor.

Who is she?

Baba yaga is seen in many folklore tales throughout the Slavic and Russian culture. Like I touched on before many see her as just that. A folklore character that has many myths and legends surrounding her of her doing dark things like eating children who wander into the woods.  But, many others view her as a divine ancestor, a powerful spirit, an ancient earth goddess. Though her lineage is unknown and we do not know where or who she came from or her parents which is a reason she is seen as primordial energy and not being of this world of the underworld. She is also referred to as the keeper of the waters of life aka the fountain of youth and when I have worked with her she has shown me a door that only she has the key to and explained all knowledge of time is within it.

Her importance during ancient times

In ancient cultures, older women were seen as the keepers of family or tribal wisdom and tradition, and they were revered as such.

These knowing women were thought to be familiar with the mysteries of birth and death; as a result, they were qualified to care for the sick and dying, and they were endowed with the function of bringing life and death.

Her name

The first part Baba translates to old woman or grandmother. Depending on the region and people, this can be a term of endearment or even an insult. It essentially points to the fact that the woman is in her elderly years and may even be ugly or misshapen, to some. Which is where we see the connection and description of her being a hag goddess being so common. To others, it gives the woman a certain power and wisdom

Yaga,  this part of her name is a little harder to translate and understand. There have been literally dozens of translations looking at various languages in Eastern Europe and Russia. Some include terror, horror, serpent, chill, witch and even dryad or wood nymph.

Her many images

Baba Yaga isn’t just one thing. She’s many: a monster, witch, hag, villain, divine grandmother, earth goddess, forest spirit, shapeshifter, light bringer, and to some she’s even considered a hero. According to Judika Illes, while Baba is of Slavic prominence, she may have once been the Scythian goddess of the hearth Tabiti. Though, I believe we can see her as many of the deities of the hearth. Including Hestia of Greek origin and Holda and Berchta of Germanic origin. We also can draw a connection to her and the celtic goddess Cerridwen with what she has to offer and her connection to herbal knowledge.  

To modern witches and Slavic pagans, Baba Yaga is a witch goddess who lives deep in a birch forest. She’s the keeper of herbal and healing wisdom and grants her knowledge to those who are worthy and of whom seek initiation.

Baba Yaga’s myths over the centuries have turned her into the wicked witch of the forest, seen as ugly and old. This is more commonly a societal view of how many see elderly women set in their ways and often shunned by younger generations who value beauty and youth over age and experience.

The tales say Baba is an old woman with iron teeth like boar tusks. She has bear claws and wears a necklace of skulls, smokes a pipe, and sometimes has a golden or iron foot. In other belief, she’s a snake from the waist down. Some say she wears an apron and holds a key to life’s mysteries. She flies about in a mortar, holding a pestle. Sometimes she holds a broom with which to sweep away any signs she’s been about.

When she’s first documented in 1755 (that we know of), the writer says Baba has bony legs, iron teeth, and refers to misshapen or repulsive features. Including the old woman’s nose, breasts, buttocks and vulva. Baba appears in a list along with other Slavic deities, with all of the others compared to Roman deities. But not Baba she’s on her own. Which shows her sovereignty and power.

Baba Yaga is associated with the dark forests, death, rebirth, sickness, dying, but also healing, renewal, sage wisdom and advice that comes from experience and a long life.

Her wise grandmother’s energy is strict and harsh, but for your own well being.

Her energy is most strongly felt in the autumn, leading up to Mabon and Samhain as the leaves change color and the temperatures begin to get cooler.

Baba yaga and the liminal space

Baba Yaga is not quite of this world and the next as she remains otherworldly between the physical world and the spirit world/underworld.

A crone witch and often referred to as a goddess, Baba Yaga can be considered part of the dark goddess archetype.

She is seen as a liminal witch and not quite of this world due to her magical hut which is central to her mythology and who she is. Baba Yaga is found between the worlds, not exactly of the spirit world or the underworld and not quite of this world either.

Her connection to death, mortality, fraility can be connected to the same as ghosts who roam the Earth and the magick of the mythological forest creatures such as the Rusalka (русалка) and Leshy (леший). 

However,  even with Baba Yaga as a dark/crone goddesss she doesn’t reside in the underworld, but she is connected to what it represents.

Baba yaga’s hut

Baba Yaga’s home is strongly connected to her mythology, which is also associated with the familiarity of the home and our ancestral connections. 

 So, where is Baba Yaga’s house and what does it look like? 

The tales say Baba Yaga’s house is deep in a birch forest. And that it sits atop a pair of giant chicken legs. Because it has legs, it can move. In other tales, her cabin sits atop the legs of a goat or spindle wheels.

Around Baba Yaga’s house, there’s a fence with skulls that sit on top. These skulls glow at certain times. And in her cabin, there’s a large oven akin to a cauldron. Baba Yaga is said to stretch out on top of this oven to warm herself, and in some tales, she’s so large that she can reach both corners of her home as she stretches out atop it. The cauldron in her home screams of Baba’s domain over magic, regeneration, ancestral wisdom and initiation into the magical arts and is where we see Cerridwen popping up again. During the day, a white horse and a red horse may be seen outside her hut. And at night, a black horse. It may also be surrounded by other wildlife including birds, squirrels, snakes, etc.

Baba yaga and Vassalissa the wise

Vassalissa the Wise may be the most well-known story featuring Baba Yaga.

One of the more famous of the Baba Yaga stories features the main character not as the old woman herself but a young maiden named Vasalisa. 

In the tale of Baba Yaga and Vasalisa the Wise, Baba takes on her typical personality as the fearsome witch in the wood. The young maiden, Vasalisa, is sent away by her evil stepmother and stepsisters. They selfishly and sadistically hope that Vasalisa will die in the cold, dark forest. But instead, Vasalisa comes to the hut of Baba Yaga, and the old woman offers her life as well as shelter and food in return for Vasalisa’s hard work around the house. And any other duties the old woman might require.

For three whole days, Vasalisa toils over the chores (without complaint) and cooks the old woman her meals. With the help of a poppet she holds in her pocket that is a vessel for her dead mother’s soul. And each day Vasalisa is met with 3 horses on the old woman’s property whom she also saw while traveling in the forest before coming to the hut. There’s a white and red horse that appear during the day, and a black horse that appears at night. Baba also threatens to put Vasalisa in her cauldron if she doesn’t complete her chores each day. On the third day, Vasalisa is brave enough to ask Baba Yaga a question. Vasalisa asks about the three horses, to which the old woman replies:

“The white horse is my bright day;

the red horse is my red, round sun;

And the black horse is my black, dark night.”

At the end of the three days, Vasalisa is granted her desire to return home. Baba Yaga gifts her a skull that lights up to light her way home. When Vasalisa returns home with the skull, she sets it in her stepmother’s hearth. Immediately, the stepmother and stepsisters are so taken with the skull that they can’t break eye contact. In turn, this turns them to ash and Vasalisa is free from their evil ways. She takes the skull and returns to Baba Yaga in the woods. Upon which Baba Yaga invites her to learn her ways.

Take aways from this myth:

Sacred Number 3: birth, death, rebirth; night, dawn, day; maiden, mother, crone

Cauldron of regeneration and initiation

The blood red horse may be akin to a woman’s menstruation and initiation into womanhood

Ancestral magic: Vasalisa holds a poppet in her pocket with the energy or spirit of her dead mother that guides and helps her throughout her trial with the old woman in the woods

Birch forest: also a symbol of regeneration and renewal, as well as of the Goddess in many European traditions

Initiation process: successfully completing an ordeal that tests one’s patience and brings one to death’s door and back again

Correspondences

First, what is a correspondence? A correspondence is an item or symbol that is meant to connect you to a specific energy thru it’s representation. It is seen also as an item to respect, honor, and venerate that energy as well whether it be a deity, an archetype energy , or the zodiac energy the moon is currently in like I will list below for you to use.

  • Sign- scorpio
  • Colors- red, white, black
  • Animals- snakes, horses, chickens, creatures of the forest, cat
  • Archetype- crone
  • crystals/gemstones-Garnet, bloodstone, tourmaline, smoky quartz
  • Epithets- Baba, Boba, Baba Den, Jezi Baba
  • herbs/flowers- nightshade, patchouli, sandalwood, geranium
  • Season- autumn and samhain
  • Tree-birch
  • symbols-mortar and pestle, broom, cauldron, skulls, flame 

When to work with Baba yaga

  • Advice
  • Guidance
  • Healing (physical ailments)
  • Wildcrafting
  • Herbalism
  • Relationship advice
  • Hedge Witchcraft

Baba Yaga gives straight-forward advice, knowledge and wisdom to those who respectfully request and want to improve their witchery skills.

Her witchery expertise is in areas of herbology and wildcrafting (using wild and natural items found in nature and forests), along with hedge witchcraft. Baba Yaga can help to give wisdom and teachings when it comes to witchcraft (folk magick) and healing.

She uses natural items in forests and nature that bring healing in herbal salves, ointments and teas and herbs that can be used in folk magic.

If you work with herbs in your practice, you can work with Baba Yaga to help you perfect your craft and improve your skills and knowledge with herbs and healing with herbs.

In meditation, Baba Yaga can offer healing teas and herbs that can work to help ease discomfort and minor ailments such as upset stomach, minor colds, seasonal allergies, rashes/hives, headaches, etc.

If you’re looking for the right herb for a spell or natural healing, you can call on Baba Yaga to guide you to the right resources or materials.

How to know if you should work with her

“Be prepared. Baba Yaga is not an easy teacher. And she is definitely no pushover. She will challenge you, she will test you, and she will push you farther than you ever believed you could go. But, like a tough coach or a domineering drill sergeant, perhaps it’s because she believes in you more than you may believe in yourself. To work with her takes courage, intelligence, resourcefulness, and even a little bit of moxie, but if you’re ready for the challenge, you’ll reap incredible rewards—climbing higher, going farther, and doing more than you ever thought possible.” ~ Madame Pamita, author of Baba Yaga’s Book of Witchcraft.

You’ll know if Baba Yaga is calling you to her house and to her craft. But if you’re unsure, here’s a few signs she might send you:

The Birch tree keeps showing up in books, TV, etc.

You see Baba Yaga’s name everywhere online, movies, books, etc.

You’ve had a vision, dream or meditation in which Baba Yaga approaches you or you find her house in the birch forest

Three horses come to you as an omen (and an even bigger sign if there’s one white, one red and one black)

You might see a cauldron, broom, or spinning wheel as signs

Dreaming of skulls along a fence-line or in the hearth

If you’re going through an initiation process in life, at work, in a skill or spiritually

How to work with her

Here are just a few ideas of how to work with her and always remember it may look different and feel different for each and every one of us so just follow your intuition and your call. 

1. Read and Research

The first thing I always recommend when getting to know a deity is to read as much as you can about them. If you’re not a reader, watch documentaries. Listen to audiobooks and podcasts. Whatever you can find about Baba Yaga will be helpful in getting to know her from a respectful, cultural perspective. She is featured in many fairy tales, movies, poems, and even in children’s books. Some books written from a modern witchcraft perspective include Madame Pamita’s Book of Witchcraft, Baba Yaga by Natalia Clarke, and a fun read called Ask Baba Yaga: Otherworldly Advice for Everyday Trouble by Taisia Kitaiskaia.

Some common myths to look into about her will be Maria Morevna, where she makes a deal to help Prince Ivan find his bride, only to sabotage his effort to keep his end of the bargain, which would have resulted in his death. And The Black Geese, where her only goal is to capture and eat children.

2. Set Up An Altar for Baba Yaga

Every deity and spirit appreciates their own space. Baba is no different. If you have a mantle or space near a wood stove, this is the perfect spot for her as she’s highly linked to the hearth in Russian lore.

When working with Baba Yaga, offerings of thanks should be made each time after making a connection with Baba Yaga or asking for her advice, guidance or help.

If you know some poetry or words in Ukrainian, Russian, Polish or any Slavic language, you can give thanks to Baba Yaga in these languages.

At your altar, you can leave tokens of appreciation and thanks to Baba Yaga such as:

Include objects that make her feel at home: a cauldron, broom, or mortar and pestle for example.

Tobacco / cigarettes

Vodka

Food: kovbasa, borshch, patychky, varenyky (pierogis), bread (хліб), potato pancakes (картопяні млинці)

Decoration: wheat, traditional embroidery or rushnyky (traditional embroidered towels/rugs), matroshka (nesting dolls), pysanky (decorated Ukrainian eggs), skull decorations, bones (ethically gathered or sourced), images or statues of Baba Yaga and/or her house.

These offerings can also be left in forests at the foot of a tree or a special area that you dedicated outside for Baba Yaga.

3. Initiation Process

Baba will take you on a road to initiation deep in her forest. This process will be different for every devotee. You may be required to perform acts of service in her name, perhaps by aiding in preservation of the earth, forest, or wildlife. Perhaps through herbal studies. And she may even quiz you with riddles. Be open to learning, being patient, and working hard. Ask Baba Yaga how you can learn from her.

4. Work with herbs

Baba yaga is a master with herbs and plants as she is so at home in the forest. She has so much knowledge on herbal remedies and usages for alignments. Working with herbs and studying them especially the more dangerous one like Nightshade are a great way to connect to her and learn from her.

5. Shadow work 

Since Baba yaga resides in the Liminal space, and is so connected to the primordial wisdom of the earth and our ancestors she makes one of the perfect goddesses to call on for shadow work. She is intense though one of the most intense goddesses I have ever called in during a shadow work session. When you enter her hut for a shadow work session you will go deep in the liminal space and be pushed further than have before to really get the answers the forest and your ancestors from the beginning of time have to offer you. So, be prepared for this journey with her she will push you and she will show you everywhere you made a mistake and caused your own suffering to get worse. 

6. Call to her for discipline

Something I don’t see often from other witches is using her for discipline and structure. Baba Yaga is that overbearing, strict, I will slap your hand away grandmother type energy. Due to this attitude of strictness she has she is perfect to call on for situations where you need a little more discipline like quitting a bad habit or maintaining your schedule. You can do this by calling to her in spells and invocations when setting intentions for discipline and even calling to her while binding or banishing a habit you wish to stop. She suggests that when doing this you spin in a circle to signify and understand the difficulty it takes to break free of a cycle.

7. Work with her as the triple goddess

 It is said that Baba Yaga has two other sisters, who are also Baba Yagas who live in Her hut. Baba Yaga becomes a Triple Goddess in this fashion, embodying the Virgin, Mother, and Crone. The “Keeper of the Water of Life and Death” is another name for Baba Yaga. So, if you work the triple goddess archetype you can use her as the crone representation alone or as all three. I have seen and done both myself. 

8. Guided meditation to meet her

The purpose is to meet Baba Yaga so you my get to know the true Goddess. This meditation is best done during the dark moon. It is a solitary medition best done alone. Cast a circle if you like or just get comfortable in you favorite meditation position. Make sure the room is dark and you will not be disturbed

. Now let us begin.

You have entered a thick forest, but some how you know your way. You reach an opening in the trees. There before you is the home of the Goddess Baba Yaga. The fence is made of bones topped with human skulls. The house dances on chicken legs. It is a fearsome sight, yet you know there is nothing to fear. You reach the gate and ring the bell for her. In a harsh voice she asks what you want. With a pure heart you tell her why you wished to meet her. She flies out of her house in her mortar to greet you. How are you feeling? What are your impressions? Baba Yaga approaches and asks you to come with her for a ride. Do you hesitate? Go with her. Fly through the air in the mortar with Baba Yaga. Take note to where she takes you and what she tells you. Enjoy the feeling of flying! Baba Yaga will know when it is time to come back. When you return to her home, thank her and give her a gift. Does she give you a gift? If so, what is it? You know your way back through the woods.

 Now you know the way and can visit Baba Yaga when needed.

Note: When I rode with Baba Yaga in her mortar the first time she ground me up into little pieces with her pestle. She then sprinkled the waters of life on me and I was back to myself. I felt refreshed, as if the unneeded traits were ground away. Baba Yaga came to me as a healer. She taught me all healers must be intimately familiar with the cycles of life and death. She remains guardian of both the underworld and the fountain of the waters of life

No matter how you choose to work with her if you even do just remember to show her respect, understanding and to express gratitude for all the wisdom she brings to you no matter how harsh of way she does it in. I will leave you with this poem written about her to help you connect and  decide if she is a goddess you would like to work with. 

Baba Yaga

Wild Woman

I walk in the forest

and speak intimately with the animals

I dance barefoot in the rain

without any clothes

I travel on pathways

that I make myself

and in ways that suit me

my instincts are alive and razor sharp

my intuition and sense of smell are keen

I freely express my vitality

my sheer exuberant joyfulness

to please myself

because it is natural

it is what needs to be

I am the wild joyous life force

Come and meet me

By Amy Sophia Marashinsky

To expand your knowledge about her and meet her in guided meditation or if you’d rather listen than read; you can watch my free class with Divination Academy on YouTube below!