Can I Have What He’s Had?

The Common Raven is an acrobatic flier, often doing rolls and somersaults in the air. One bird was seen flying upside down for more than a half-mile. Young birds are fond of playing games with sticks, repeatedly dropping them, then diving to catch them in midair.

Tree and I were not sure what had made this Raven happy enough to be jigging about, but we were only just saying that we thought we would like some of what he has had.

Then we heard what sounded like a jet arriving and  we realized that Baba had returned to Lemuria in her mortar. No wonder Raven is dancing a jig.

When Baba makes a come back everyone has a reaction.

Meanwhle, this aged Raven who has clearly seen it all before, is far from impressed.

Flapping My Wings

Birds use a variety of methods to communicate with each other, including vocalizations, beak tapping, courtship displays, flight patterns and nonvocal wing sounds. Numerous species of birds have the ability to create sounds that attract mates or warn of dangers. Changes in the spacing of feathers allow the air to pass through during flight to create different vibrations that result in an audible noise.

At Baba’s, my Raven doll reminds me that, while she is off on her mortar we can spare some time to just dance and flap our wings.

Whirling and Twirling

It is joyous to be in a place where houses dance, where inanimates such as mortars fly like birds, where the old woman can make magic, where nothing is what it seems but is, for the most part, better than it seemed to begin with.

Here in the world of Baba Yaga I can let go of hyper-normalcy, the routine lifeless life of Cafe Latte and overt commercialism. In this place where a chicken house walks about, twirls even, dances a hippity-hop dance I can feel myself becoming enthusiastic, dare I say joyful. It is time to twirl and whirl and dance like a crazy chicken for awhile.

Golden Seed Grove

Learning fine discrimination, separating one thing from the other with finest discernment, learning to make fine distinctions in judgment (sorting the mildewed corn from the good corn, and sorting the poppy seeds from a pile of dirt). Observing the power of the unconscious and how it works even when the ego is not aware.
Clarissa Pinkola Estes – Women Who Run With Wolves.

There is something to be said for taking the time to be and to reflect. I revisited the Golden Seed Grove, a very special corner of the Soul Food Cafe.

Given all that has been relinquished I think it is time to plant fresh seeds and contemplate the concepts of growth and regeneration.

But first Baba has told me to sort the seeds. I will need the help of my doll to fulfill a task that requires discernment and judgement.

To Let Die What One Must Let Die

Vasalisa’s initiation begins with learning to let die what must let die. This means to let die the values and attitudes within the psyche which no longer sustain her. Especially to be examined are those long held views which make life too safe, which over protect, which make women walk with a scurry instead of a stride.
Clarissa Pinkola Estes – Women Who Run With Wolves

Like the solitary raven I am perched, knowing I can take flight, but not quite sure where to fly to. For now I am at Baba’s examining long held views that kept me safe but also restrained.

Perhaps I will turn to the Tarot to help me identify just what the views are that I need to dismember and let die.

The Crone Archetype

It’s a beautiful thing to become a Crone now, whereas many years ago it would’ve been frightening. The recognition and honoring that you are making a passage into another stage of life — an initiation into an age of wisdom — is very important.

The Crone is not just an old woman now. She is sort of an ageless Wisdom Goddess, not necessarily the ugly old witch with a very long nose who lives close to the ground. People would go to her and she would be able to do certain ceremonies for them.

Women in their Crone years are often relegated to the sidelines and become invisible. My body may be aging but my mind will always be forever young.

I refuse to be a shadowy figure. I am determined to reclaim the wisdom that was once associated with older women.

Understanding the Crone Archetype helps me to hear forgotten voices and come to know myself

Working With Baba

Raven and I have decided to stay on in the House of Baba. The soup she gave me has nourished me and inspired me to learn more about aging and moving into a new period of creativity. As I pottered about in her library I stumbled upon the work of Helen Redman. After exploring her site I can feel the creative juices stirring.

Baba’s Ravens

Baba Yaga says, “Intelligence ripens with age.” In Slavic oral traditions, Baba Yaga was the old crone of autumn who lived in the last sheaf of harvested grain. Fittingly, the woman who bound that sheaf would bear a child the next spring, for the old Baba was also guardian of the fountain of the waters of life. Her legend suggests she was the preserver of herbal knowledge and medicinal healing. Let us return this wise crone to glory!

Deities associated with Ravens include Baba Yaga, Bran, Odin, and the Morrigan. The Morrigan was a raven deity who gloried in battles; she could assume the forms of a hag, a beautiful woman, or a crow or a raven.

In Ireland, the raven was associated with the Morrigan and other battle or death goddesses. Badb, the Raven of Battle, was goddess of war and bloodshed. The Morrigan was a raven deity who gloried in battles; she could assume the forms of a hag, a beautiful woman, or a crow or a raven. The continental Celts had a goddess Nantosuelta whose symbols were ravens and doves. The god Lugh had two magickal ravens as companions.

In Welsh, ubran means “raven,” the name connectin it with the god, Bran the Blessed. One of the greatest heroes in Welsh legend was Owein, who had an army of magickal ravens that fought King Arthur’s men. Although an important totem animal of the Celts, the raven was considered to be of dubious reputation, and they took great care when dealing with it. Ravens were scavengers, one of the birds that frequented battlefields and feasted on the dead. If a raven had any white on it, the bird was consider to be beneficial and mot malevolent.

Ravens were creatures of the Morse-germanic Valkyries, who wore their black feathers when they fulfilled their task as Choosers of the Slain. The Germans called the raven waelceasig (“corpse-choosing”) and a Valkyrie waelcyrge. The skalds, Nordic poets, had a number of kennings (metaphors) for the raven: “blood-swan,” “blood=goose.” They also called dead warriors “feeders of the ravens.”

At Raven’s Beckoning

Raven symbolizes changes in consciousness and is the symbol of a shape shifter. Ravens are prophets, spell-casters, and messengers. Raven offers knowledge of the world to the people for safe keeping. Over the course of generations, this knowledge is passed on, and the spirit of transformation begins to unfold.

When change needs to occur, the Raven flies quickly. She also brings new things, new places, new ideas, and rebirth. Raven helps the worthy, but loves to trick the unsuspecting; and is as full of mischief as she is wonderful. Raven symbolizes the home of our ancestors, our personal stories and imprinted memories. Raven is distinctly earthy, and feminine.

At Raven’s beckoning Baba comes to me with soup, a special elixir for the soul,  strong brew that she thinks will warm the now aching heart where Dougie was comforted as he died.

Baba’s Place

Baba Yaga represents the power of old age, the power of the archetype of witch, and most of all, the power of the cycles of life, death and rebirth. She is also a guardian of the creative fire.

I have come to Baba’s to get a fire stick to rekindle the fire in my personal furnace of creativity.

Accumulative loss and grief have taken their toll and I had ceased to tend to the fire.

Baba is not known for her understanding. She is a harsh task mistress. She is known to burn to cinders those who are not true.

I come carrying a doll, given to me by my mother many years ago. I do know that if I am in doubt, if I feel challenged, it will guide me.