Ask Baba Yaga: How Can I Trust My Body Again?

Kelpie and skull from the book Faeries illustrated by Brian Froud and Alan Lee

Health. Apart from children, it is said to be the greatest wealth we have. Most of us smile and nod, agreeing but never does this truth become so plain as when it - and your expected future years - are threatened. It doesn't have to truly be a life-threatening issue to get you to see this, only for you to wonder (made worse if your doctors are also wondering), but there is a loose end that catches when you least expect it, after having your health threatened, and that is, you are hyper aware of your body. Every twinge, ache, abnormal signal, anything that you would have shrugged off before now send the cortisol pumping through your system as you wonder: "Is 'It' back?" How do you deal with that when you are more aware than ever that ignoring your body is exactly what not to do?

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

(Originally posted at The Hairpin HERE)

You will have noticed, it's not a Baba Yaga picture at the head of this post, but a kelpie. In this case however, I don't think she will mind. I have a feeling she has an affinity for these creatures, and in the case of 'emerging beasts and drowned boats' the kelpie is a great metaphor for those panic inducing sensations. After so many people urging you to "get on with life" after a serious health battle, it's refreshing to have Baba Yaga tell you that to ignore these (kelpies and signals both) isn't helpful, but that there is more to learn and to know in your 'lake'. We just need to keep our trigger fingers off the panic button as we listen.

As a bonus for today, remember our post from some years ago titled "If Baba Yaga Were A Horse..."? We still consider this a great tribute and, with kelpies on the brain, this image felt like it wanted another airing. (You can read the original post HERE.)

Baba Yaga by ELena Davydova (Lenika86)

What do you think of Baba Yaga's advice?

Want to ask Baba Yaga a question of your own?

You can!

This is the 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.