Ask Baba Yaga: Should I Make a Vision Board?

Baba Yaga, Vasilisa & Chicken Legged Hut by Forest Rogers

A vision board sounds like a good idea for keeping a goal, doesn't it? Yet Baba Yaga has some interesting things to say about that, especially if you're very frustrated in the paths you've been taking...

This week's question and answer (via poet and oracle Taisia Kitaiskaia* of The Hairpin):

(Originally posted at The Hairpin HERE)

Oh the responses! Clearly, Baba Yaga has seen straight to the heart of the matter (..."narrow paths are made by those who do not know the forest & fear it, & hack it open blind...") and her advice has had some very grateful recipients so far:

• "so throw yr vision board back into its hell river" Boy, do I plan on using this retort when anyone brings up "The Secret"-related claptrap. (greyeminence)
• @greyeminence I expected a "sure, why not" on the vision board idea, but certainly "hell river" is better. (adorable-eggplant)
• Be a better woodsdweller & do not cut down every tree you meet, but first ask why it is there, & know it—only then.can you get through the woodshouse safely. UGH so real and so good. Working on this. (stonefruit)

@stonefruit - yes! A woodsdweller and not cutting down every tree you meet... This is such a great way to think of it!

I, too, expected good things about vision boards but I have to admit, the last time I employed that very tactic, the "dream" was actually quite the nightmare. If there were clues along the way about what was to come, I completely missed them in my driven, single-mindedness (aka "narrow path").

This advice, really is uncannily good.

What do you think of Baba Yaga's advice?

Want to ask Baba Yaga a question of your own?

You can!

There's now an email address where you can send your questions

directly to Baba Yaga herself.

AskBabaYaga AT gmail DOT com

To encourage Baba Yaga to continue imparting her no-bones-about-it wisdom (ok, there may be some gristle in there... bones too), I suggest we not to leave her box empty... 

Thank you Baba Yaga (& Taisia).

* Taisia Kitaiskaia is a poet, writer, and Michener Center for Writers fellow. Born in Russia and raised in America, she's had her poems and translations published in Narrative Magazine, Poetry International, and others.