Women Who Run with the Wolves

The Slavic folk tale of Vasalisa and Baba Yaga illustrates the importance of intuition in a woman’s life. The story begins with a husband, wife, and their daughter, Vasalisa. The wife grows very ill and, on her deathbed, gives her daughter a little wooden doll. Vasalisa is told to keep it with her at all times because it will give her good advice if she’s wise enough to heed it. When Vasalisa’s father remarries, his new wife and two daughters are cruel to Vasalisa and conspire to have her killed. They let their hearth fire go out and instruct Vasalisa to seek Baba Yaga and ask the old witch for a coal to relight the fire.

Vasalisa walks into the darkened woods. Confused about which way to go, she consults the doll, who nudges her toward Baba Yaga’s cottage. The fierce old hag promises Vasalisa the fire she seeks if the girl will perform tasks that seem impossible. She must do all the housekeeping chores overnight and then sort a pile of poppy seeds from a pile of dirt and a pile of mildewed corn from fresh. The doll advises Vasalisa to sleep while the doll takes care of everything. Baba Yaga is impressed to see all the tasks completed.