Eventyret om Baba Yaga: TavshedBaba Yaga went into her hut and slept. Later, when she sat down to eat, Vasalisa stood nearby with a thoughtful look. "Well, child," asked Baba Yaga, "What do you have to say?" "I should like to ask you some questions," replied Vasalisa. "Ask your questions," said Baba Yaga, "But remember, if you know too much you will grow old too soon." "Thank you, grandmother. Who is the rider in white riding a white horse?" "Ah! He is my first, my dawning day." "And, who is the rider in red riding a red horse?" "Ah! He is my second, my rising sun." "And who is the rider in black riding a black horse?" "Ah! He is my third, my dark night." Vasalisa thought to ask about the three pairs of hands, but she felt her doll jumping up and down in her pocket and stayed silent. "Come, child," wheedled Baba Yaga, "Surely you have more questions?" "No, grandmother. As you said, if I know too much I shall grow old too soon." "You're very lucky," hissed Baba Yaga, "That is the right answer. You are wiser than your years. With that, she took from the fence a skull with eyes of fire, mounted it on a stick and thrust it into Vasalisa's hand. "Here, this is for you." And she gave her the needle and thread too. "Not another word. Be on your way, daughter. Go!" She began to push Vasalisa through the gate and out of the compound. Vasalisa turned to thank her for the gifts, but the doll was jumping around in her pocket. Vasalisa realised she must now take the things she had come to beg for, and had had to work for, and leave. She turned and fled through the forest, the skull lighting her path. Vasalisa ran through the forest, holding the stick with the fiery skull before her. As she ran she became afraid of the skull with its strange light. So afraid, she was on the point of flinging the skull from her, when it spoke to her softly, "Do not be afraid. Hold fast! Bring me home to your step-mother's house." Reassured, Vasalisa continued her journey through the forest. The step-mother and step-sisters thought Baba Yaga had killed her and gobbled her up. They saw the eerie light and watched it bobbing through the forest. When they saw Vasalisa they rushed out to meet her. And so, Vasalisa returned home triumphant. She had survived. Her dangerous journey was completed. But the skull held the step-mother and step-sisters in its steady gaze and burnt into them. By the morning the three were burnt to cinders. Snip, snap, snude ... 
Analyse-kommentarTale & tavshed - omgangen med det helligeDa det hårde slid hos heksen er ovre, er det på tide, at Vasilissa viser, hvad hun duer til som præstinde-novice. Hun har ved sit slid og sin selvopofrelse gjort sig fortjent til kultens mere esoteriske viden. Derfor spørger hun om meningen med de tre ryttere, som hun mødte på vej ud til heksens hus (se afsnittet De tre ryttere), og Baba Yaga afslører, at de er i hendes tjeneste som hhv. hendes morgen, middag og aften. Herefter opstiller heksen en fælde for den unge pige. Da hun har set mange magiske ting i løbet af tiden i heksens tjeneste, er det kun naturligt, at hun har mange spørgsmål, men her kommer udfordringen. Det er nemlig en dyd for en novice at vide, hvad kun kan spørge om, og hvad der bedst får hvile i fred. Man skal omgås det hellige med respekt, og det indebærer, at det ikke er alt, man kan - eller skal - tale om. Vasilissa får endnu en gang hjælp af sin dukke - eller rettere, i kraft af sin skæbne som præstinde ved hun, hvad hun skal gøre i denne situation. Og hun vælger derfor ikke at spørge om mere. Belønningen lader ikke vente på sig. Baba Yaga forærer pigen nål og tråd, og desuden også et af kranierne med ild indeni. Dette skal pigen tage med hjem til stedmoderen og stedsøstrene, der selvfølgelig - som i alle gode eventyr - får deres velfortjente straf. Lyset fra templet kan kun tåles af rene og selvopofrende (indviede) mennesker. Snip, snap, snude ...
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