In this episode of Goddess, Witch, Woman, we descend into the glass coffin and meet the most famous witch of them all — the Evil Queen of Snow White.

Drawing from Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Maria Tatar, Sandra Gilbert & Susan Gubar, and ancient goddess myths, we explore what lies beneath her envy: the ache of aging, the inheritance of silence, and the shadow of the mother.

We go deep in:

The mirror as patriarchal gaze

Adolescence and menopause as mirrored initiations

The Queen’s hunger and transformation into the Hag

The symbolism of the apple, comb, and laces

Hera and Hebe as mythic parallels

The enduring allure of the Evil Queen

Listen if you love: fairy tales, mythic psychology, women’s archetypes, feminist storytelling, or Jungian depth work.

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A dark fairy tale becomes a mirror. We explore the witch of Hansel and Gretel as an archetype of hunger, danger, and initiation. 🔮 Featuring Baba Yaga, devouring mothers, historical witch hunts, and Gretel’s fire of transformation. Includes myth, analysis, and prompts for reflection.

📚 References & inspirations:The Interpretation of Fairy Tales by Marie-Louise von Franz

The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales by Bruno Bettelheim

The Great Mother by Erich Neumann

From the Beast to the Blonde: On Fairy Tales and Their Tellers by Marina Warner (I've got an autographed copy + a selfie with Marina, I'm a nerdy fan girl, excuse me)

The Complete Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm, an edition by Jack Zipes

Aarne-Thompson-Uther (ATU) Index – Tale Type 327A - For those who like to go deep into folklore: ATU 327A is the tale type classification for "children lost in the forest who encounter an ogre or witch." This site has an excellent index: https://sites.pitt.edu/~dash/type0327.html

Witches, Witch-Hunting, and Women by Silvia Federici

💌 Subscribe to my newsletter at for more myth, ritual, and audio blessings: https://mariannaportela.substack.com

In the shadowy forest of Slavic folktales, Baba Yaga waits — death crone, devourer, and initiator. In this episode, we journey through her myths, symbolism, and archetypal wisdom. Why does she frighten us? What does she demand? And what do we gain if we pass her tests?

We explore the tale of Vasalisa the Wise through the lens of Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés, look at the origins of Baba Yaga’s name, her connection to death, nature, wild wisdom, and why she still matters — maybe more than ever.

🔮 Featuring:– Myth and analysis of Vasalisa the Wise– Origins and etymology of Baba Yaga– Archetypal initiation and the wild feminine– Symbolism of spinning, fire, skulls, and ritual tasks– Folktales, folklore, and fierce grandmothers

📚 References & inspirations:• Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés • Baba Yaga: The Wild Witch of the East in Russian Fairy Tales by Andreas Johns • The Maiden King by Robert Bly and Marion Woodman

wonderful fiction:

• Ask Baba Yaga: Otherworldly Advice for Everyday Troubles / by Taisia Kitaiskaia • The Witch and the Tsar by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore • The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson💌 Subscribe to my newsletter at mariannaportela.substack.com for more myth, ritual, and audio blessings.

What Makes a Witch? | Episode 12In this threshold episode of Goddess, Witch, Woman, we begin a new series. One that turns the spiral from goddess to witch — from devotion to accusation, from memory to myth.

We trace her steps through folktale, persecution, and power. From Baba Yaga to Hecate. From bruxa to crone. From burning times to broomsticks.

This is a remembrance of all she is: shadow and healer, heretic and wise woman. A witness to what was done — and what still stirs.

Includes references to Silvia Federici, Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Sharon Blackie, Jean Shinoda Bolen, and more.

Mentioned books:– Caliban and the Witch by Silvia Federici– Hagitude by Sharon Blackie– Crones Don’t Whine by Jean Shinoda Bolen– Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés

Want to go deeper?🔮 subscribe to mariannaportela.substack.com

What if your inner season doesn’t match the outer one? In this short, reflective episode, Marianna explores seasonal dissonance, mythic rhythm, and Persephone as guide of the in-between. A gentle permission slip for anyone feeling quiet in a loud world.

This midsummer episode walks with Sulis, Celtic goddess of healing waters and solar fire. We explore the sacred spring at Bath, the Solstice's paradox, the Cancer New Moon, and offer a bath ritual for radiant healing. May Sulis meet you where fire and water touch.

Goddess, Witch, Woman | ep. 10 - Hecate, archivist of grief, midwife of deathTW: pregnancy lossIn this final episode of the Hecate series, we meet her as Psychopomp — guide of souls, guardian of grief, Queen of the Dead. We explore her ancient names, her connection to the weasel, the Necromanteion of Thesprotia, and how she holds what the world forgets. Personal story, myth, and reflection woven into ritual. With love from the underworld.Please comment and share, so more people can find their way to the Goddess!Recommended Reading:– Hekate: Goddess of Witches by Courtney Weber– Hekate: Her Sacred Fires by Sorita d'Este- Restless Dead by Sarah Iles Johnston– Goddesses in Older Women by Jean Shinoda Bolen– Entering the Garden of Hekate by Cyndi Brannen

first time uploading a video to substaxk, just wanted to share this moment of creativity and playful healing.

This episode comes with a warning: if you listen too closely, you might start dreaming of magickal gates!

In this second part of our Hecate series, we keep walking with Her. She carries keys. Garlic. Stories. And truth.

We explore:– garlic offerings in the Deipnon– Hekate’s role in magical papyri and ancient texts– the myth of Bluebeard’s bleeding key– Pharmakeia, Circe, Medea, and plant witches– what it means to carry the key and choose to use it

We end with questions to guide your ritual, and a blessing for the ones who are ready — or almost ready — to turn the lock.

Mentioned Books:Courtney Weber, Sorita d’Este, Cyndi Brannen, Jean Shinoda Bolen, Clarissa Pinkola Estés

→ Subscribe at mariannaportela.substack.com→ Book a Goddess Oracle Reading at https://calendly.com/mariannaportela/100min→ Follow @healingstoriesforwomen on IG

Hecate of the Crossroads

In this first episode of our Hekate series, we meet the goddess who walks beside us when the path is unclear. Part myth, part personal story, and part invocation, we explore Hecate’s role as guardian of the crossroads: the liminal, holy space where choices are made.

We walk with Persephone, unravel patriarchal myths, and sit in the mess of personal grief and becoming.

Sources & inspirations include:

Hekate: Goddess of Witches by Courtney Weber

Hekate: Her Sacred Fires by Sorita d’Este

Goddesses in Older Women by Jean Shinoda Bolen

The Homeric Hymn to Demeter

For full references and links, see the Substack post.

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🔮 Book a Goddess Oracle Reading with Marianna: https://calendly.com/mariannaportela/100min