In her first contribution to Beyond Psychology, Raya Goldstein takes us into the myth of Mother Hulda. Through the lens of fairy tales, she explores the wild woman archetype and the primordial mother, revealing how stories preserve women’s wisdom while also exposing the fears that have long surrounded feminine power.

Most of us are probably familiar with the Grimm Brothers’ fairytale Frau Holle, or at least with other figures that carry the symbolic meaning of Mother Hulda. The old woman who lives outside society yet preserves great wisdom is a recurring figure in literature, and especially in fairytales, where she often appears as a wild woman archetype. Even though she is the keeper of wisdom, she is at first described as frightening and uncanny, having large teeth. This immediately raises the question of how these apparent paradoxes – wisdom and fright – can coexist and mirror each other.

The Primordial Mother Archetype

Overall, the great treasury of myths surrounding the figure of Frau Holle attributes to her different names, places, and qualities, all of which can be subsumed under the image of the primordial mother. The primordial mother can be understood as an archetype that unites the power of creation, the guidance of destiny, the gift of safety, and at the same time the force of challenge. The balance between reward and trial offers fertile ground and security for personal growth, thereby supporting processes of healing. In this way, the ambivalent image of this archetype symbolizes the wholeness of being and resonates with the rhythms of nature.

Goddess Roots and the Journey Inward

As already suggested, the scope of the myth is also reflected in her name, which can, among other things, be traced back to the Germanic goddess Holla. Due to the strong similarities among the various Germanic goddesses, one may also recognize in Frau Holle the features of the benevolent goddesses Hulda or Berchta, as well as Freyja. Thus, a broad spectrum of femininity is united in this figure, which symbolically represents the journey inward and embodies the connection to the womb, a portal to intuition and inner wisdom. At the same time, she mirrors the cycle of life and the process of maturation, while guiding the soul through transformation.

Demon, Witch, or Wild Woman Archetype?

At the beginning, Frau Holle appears as a demon or wild woman archetype, with long teeth, flowing hair, and magical powers. Yet in fairy tales, a demon does not necessarily mean pure evil. As Lutz Röhrich notes, demons were once understood as supernatural beings who could both heal and harm. Frau Holle likewise embodies this ambivalence: she punishes the selfish, but she also protects and rewards the open-hearted. Her appearance recalls the fairytale witch, yet such figures were never one-sided. Their meaning depended on context, carrying the power to both nurture and destroy.

Femininity as the Other

This very ambivalence mirrors how femininity has historically been portrayed. Women were cast as the Other, defined in contrast to the male world – mysterious, uncontrollable, dangerous. The attempt to define “femininity” always revealed its uncontainable nature: women could not be reduced to one fixed role. Here we see the cultural root of a fear that still lingers – the fear of women’s power. For to embody one’s depth, intuition, and wisdom was often to risk being branded a witch, a demon, or worse: evil itself.

And yet, fairy tales also hold another truth. They were spaces where women’s lived wisdom was preserved and transmitted. Through telling these stories, women wove their knowledge into cultural memory, ensuring that beneath the stereotypes and fears, their voices would continue to speak.

The Wild Woman Archetype as Threshold Guardian

The concept of the wild woman archetype is therefore neutral and does not necessarily mark Frau Holle as evil. Those who enter her realm must work hard, but even more importantly, they must act with an open heart and selfless intent, rather than being driven by a desire for recognition or wealth. In this way, Frau Holle reflects many of our inner demons. She also serves as a bridge between two worlds: the earthly realm and the otherworld, symbolized by the well, which functions as a portal.

The Well as Womb and Sacred Site

At the same time, the well is a sacred site, symbolizing the cycle of becoming and passing away. Birth itself can be associated with the well: by falling through it into the otherworld, one is reborn. Thus, the well also carries a feminine connotation. It can be read as a womb, inseparable from nature because of its watery element. The symbol of the well therefore embodies a double connection to nature: first, through the water itself, which is an essential part of nature, and second, through its function as a vessel that generates new life.