Dreams have been a source of fascination and bewilderment to humans for millennia. Throughout our existence, we have tried to explain and interpret our dreams. We have used dreams as tools for self-discovery, artistic inspiration, and even channels for divine communication. Dreamwork is the mechanism for harnessing the power of our dreams. 

What is Dreamwork?

Dreamwork encompasses a multitude of spiritual and therapeutic practices that focus on your dreams. Sigmund Freud was known for having a particular interest in deciphering dreams to reveal what the subconscious mind is trying to manifest. This part of dreamwork is called dream interpretation, where the querent analyzes symbols and recurring motifs from their dreams to interpret a message from the subconscious. As a therapeutic practice, a qualified therapist will act as a guide for the querent, allowing them to explore the thoughts and patterns from their dreams and come to their own conclusions. 

Other than being a conduit to the unconscious mind, dreams have always been considered tools for contacting spiritual entities and a means for divination and receiving prophetic messages. The Oneirocritica is an ancient Greek text from the 2nd century that lays out a detailed framework for interpreting symbols in dreams, which includes divinatory delinations. The Bible even mentions certain prophets receiving symbolic dreams containing warnings about the future. 

What can you use Dreamwork for?

Dreamwork can be incorporated into your magical or spiritual practice in numerous ways. You can work more closely with deities or other entities that are harder to contact in the waking world by inviting them to visit you in your dreams. Dreams may come to you as a response to recent spellwork, confirming the effects of a spell. 

You can use your dreams as a tool to look into the future, or dreams can be a conduit to receiving prophecies from the divine. Lucid dreaming, where the dreamer is aware of being in a dream, can be a tool used for shadow work or revisiting past events to work through trauma. 

Preparations for Dreamwork

Dreams can feel uncontrollable at the start of your journey, and learning to harness them as a tool is a deeply personal experience. It will take considerable time and a lot of trial and error to find what works best for you. 

To begin, you should find a way to record your dreams, like a journal (paper or digital) or a recording device. Keep your dream journal next to where you sleep so you can record as soon as you wake. You will find that some dreams don’t have much meaning in them, but others will stand out as significant to you. 

Before you go to sleep, you will want to set a ritual to induce dreaming and give those dreams a direction. Magical teas, tinctures, or ritual baths can be a good starting point. Incorporate herbs and ingredients that correspond to your intention: if you want to peer into the future, herbs like mugwort or wormwood will enhance divinatory powers. If you are looking to connect with a deity, you may make an offering to them just before bed, inviting them to contact you in the dream world. 

While you are sleeping, it may be helpful to have a charm or talisman with you to focus your dream on your purpose and to provide protection from baneful entities. You can hold it in your hand or keep it under your pillow (as a safety precaution, it is not advised to wear anything around your neck while sleeping). Charms to block nightmares are helpful, as those dreams tend to be less productive, unless you are doing shadow work. Visiting the dream world can be exhilarating and frightening all at the same time, but having the right tools and resources will help you get the most out of your experience. You can find all of the tools mentioned above at Asheville Raven & Crone.

This month, we venture into the dark forest of Eastern European folklore to meet the frightful yet fascinating Baba Yaga. Famous for her roaming house with legs, Baba Yaga has a reputation for being the ultimate ambiguous entity, helping and hurting as she sees fit. Children who grew up in Slavic households will have heard her name as a threat against misbehaving, yet some witches today view her story holistically and find that she has many lessons to teach.

Where is Baba Yaga from?

The Baba Yaga appears in many Slavic folk tales, but particularly in Eastern Slavic mythology (modern-day Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus). The first written account of Baba Yaga dates back to 1755 as part of a discourse on the book Russian Grammar by Mikhail V Lomonosov.

Depictions of the Baba Yaga can be found in artwork from throughout the 17th century. 

She is often described as a crone who lives in a birch wood, in a house atop a pair of chicken feet. She moves around using a black kettle in some stories, and in a mortar driven with a pestle in other stories. She conjures storms along her path when she travels. The Baba Yaga has inspired many characters in modern art and entertainment, such as the spa proprietor in Spirited Away. 

Who (or What) is Baba Yaga?

It is contested whether or not the Baba Yaga is a singular figure or a classification of spirits, such as sirens, harpies, or vampires. She is sometimes referred to as an ogress, and in other stories, Baba Yaga refers to three entities in one. For simplicity, we will continue to refer to Baba Yaga as a singular character in this post.

Baba Yaga does not fit neatly into one description: across her folk tales, she plays the role of both malefic and benefic spirit. Cannibalism is a core feature of Baba Yaga’s character, and she is probably most infamous for eating children. She often travels alongside Death, consuming newly released souls. 

Many scholars of Slavic folklore consider the Baba Yaga to be a proto-feminist figure, especially considering her depiction in the tale of Vasilisa the Wise (or Brave). In this story, Baba Yaga is associated with protection and ancestral knowledge. It is also suggested from this story that she is a primordial goddess, complicit in the creation of the world.

Working with Baba Yaga.

If you are interested in or currently working with Crone energy, Baba Yaga may be an entity worth exploring. The name “Baba” itself suggests a familial role, such as a Grandmother, who may offer the wisdom that comes with life experience. Being an entity that walks the line between malefic and benefic, Baba Yaga would be a great energy to call upon for any baneful magic as well as protection spells. 

Offerings to Baba Yaga would include vodka, tobacco, or items collected from the forest. Other correspondences would include a mortar and pestle, the hearth and fire, and a broom. Your journey with Baba Yaga will require resilience, resourcefulness, and courage. Whatever your needs, the staff at Asheville Raven & Crone will help guide you down your chosen path.