Myths and folklore serve as timeless gateways into the soul, especially for women. These stories, passed through generations, bypass reason to touch the depths of our inner worlds, highlighting themes of transformation, loss, and renewal. They reveal a wild, instinctive part of us, waiting to be rediscovered.

Engaging with myths invites a journey into self-discovery. These tales remind us that our struggles are part of a shared human experience, echoing through time. In them, we find permission to release, to grieve, to change, and to reclaim what has been lost. Myths call us back to our true selves, showing that healing begins in the dark spaces where inner strength and transformation lie in wait.

La Loba – The Wolf Woman

There is an old woman who lives in a hidden place that everyone knows but few have ever seen. As in the fairy tales of Eastern Europe, she seems to wait for lost or wandering people and seekers to come to her place.

They say she lives among the rotten granite slopes in Tarahumara Indian territory. They say she is buried outside Phoenix near a well. She is said to have been seen traveling south to Monte Alban in a burnt-out car with the back window shot out. She is said to stand by the highway near El Paso, or ride shotgun with truckers to Morelia, Mexico, or that she has been sighted walking to market above Oaxaca with strangely formed boughs of firewood on her back.

She is called by many names: La Huesera, Bone Woman; La Trapera, The Gatherer; and La Loba, Wolf Woman. The superstitious call her soul stealer, claiming she weaves a dream catcher to snatch up those who would cross over and cage them in the light of her fire.

The sole work of La Loba is the collecting of bones. She is known to collect and preserve especially that which is in danger of being lost to the world. Her cave is filled with the bones of all manner of desert creatures: the deer, the rattlesnake, the crow. But her specialty is said to be wolves.

She creeps and crawls and sifts through the montañas, mountains, and arroyos, dry river beds, looking for wolf bones, and when she has assembled an entire skeleton, when the last bone is in place and the beautiful white sculpture of the creature is laid out before her, she sits by the fire and thinks about what song she will sing. And when she is sure, she stands over the criatura, raises her arms over it, and sings out. 

That is when the rib bones and leg bones of the wolf begin to flesh out and the creature becomes furred. La Loba sings some more, and more of the creature comes into being; its tail curls upward, shaggy and strong. And still La Loba sings so deeply that the floor of the desert shakes, and as she sings, the wolf opens its eyes, leaps up, and runs away down the canyon.

Somewhere in its running, whether by the speed of its running, or by splashing its way into a river, or by way of a ray of sunlight or moonlight hitting it right in the side, the wolf is suddenly transformed into a laughing woman who runs free toward the horizon.

So it is said that if you wander the desert, and it is near sundown, and you are perhaps a little bit lost, and certainly tired, that you are lucky, for La Loba may take a liking to you and show you something — something of the Soul.

In the story of La Loba – The Wolf Woman, we encounter a powerful archetypal journey that aligns deeply with the themes of visioning and regeneration. This tale weaves together several core feminine archetypes that reflect the cyclical nature of death, rebirth, and transformation.

1. The Crone – Keeper of Wisdom and Regeneration

La Loba embodies the archetype of the Crone, the wise old woman who resides at the edges of the world—hidden, often feared, and yet essential to the soul’s journey. The Crone archetype is associated with the Winter Solstice, the darkest point of the year, when life retreats beneath the surface. Like the barren earth during winter, the Crone teaches us to pause, reflect, and regenerate.

In this story, La Loba’s work of collecting bones mirrors the work of regeneration: gathering what has been lost, forgotten, or discarded and breathing life back into it. She calls us to journey inward, sift through our personal “bones”—our lost parts, memories, dreams, or truths—and reclaim what is essential. In the context of visioning, La Loba reminds us that creation begins in the void, in the quiet stillness where we can reimagine and reconstruct ourselves.

2. The Wild Woman – Rebirth of the Soul

The wolf, who is brought back to life through La Loba’s song, symbolizes the archetype of the Wild Woman—the untamed, instinctual self that runs free. This rebirth of the wolf reflects the reawakening of the feminine soul, reconnecting to the primal energy of creativity, freedom, and authenticity. In the story, the wolf’s transformation into a laughing woman signifies the liberation of one’s true essence.

For women on the journey of visioning and regeneration, the Wild Woman is a call to return to the parts of ourselves that are raw, free, and unshackled by societal conditioning. She reminds us that true vision arises not from conformity, but from a deep, soulful alignment with our authentic nature. This rewilding is necessary for regeneration, as it releases stagnant energies and opens space for new growth.

3. The Midwife – Birther of New Life

Though unspoken, La Loba also carries the energy of the Midwife, a guide who facilitates the birth of new life. Her singing over the bones is an act of creation and resurrection, not only restoring the wolf but also bringing forth the woman who runs free. This archetype emphasizes that regeneration is not passive—it requires intention, devotion, and a willingness to tend to the fragile process of rebirth.

In the context of winter and the solstice, this is a profound metaphor: the darkest season is not the end but the preparation for new life. In moments of stillness and introspection, we are midwifing our visions, planting seeds of what we will bring forth as the light returns.

Themes of Visioning & Regeneration

La Loba’s story holds a deep resonance with the themes of visioning and regeneration:

• Visioning: The story invites us to sit with what is hidden or buried in our lives. Through deep listening and reflection—like La Loba choosing the perfect song—we can reassemble the fragmented parts of ourselves and envision a life that feels whole and aligned.

• Regeneration: Just as La Loba breathes life into the bones, we are called to tend to our inner landscapes, nurturing what has been neglected or lost. It is a reminder that true transformation arises from honoring our own cycles of death, rest, and rebirth.

In this way, La Loba becomes a guide for women who are seeking to reclaim their authentic selves. She shows us that regeneration begins with the courage to face the shadows, the patience to gather the “bones” of our lives, and the vision to sing ourselves back into being.

Here are journaling prompts inspired by the story and the themes of visioning and regeneration:

1. Gathering the Bones

   • What parts of yourself—dreams, truths, desires—have you forgotten, discarded, or buried over time? What “bones” are calling you to reclaim them?
     Reflect on the aspects of your life or identity that feel lost and need your attention to come back to life.

2. The Song of Rebirth

   • If you could sing life back into the most authentic version of yourself, what song would you sing? What words, feelings, or intentions would you pour into this act of creation?
     Explore what you need to say, release, or affirm to reconnect with your truest self.

3. The Wild Woman Within

   • When was the last time you felt wild, free, and untamed? What would it look like to invite that energy back into your life now?
     Describe how your inner Wild Woman expresses herself and how you might honor her presence.

4. The Darkness as Fertile Ground

   • In what ways can you allow yourself to rest, reflect, and regenerate during this season of stillness? What might emerge if you slowed down and trusted the process?
     Write about how the “darkness” in your life can be a space for growth and transformation.

5. Visioning the Horizon

   • Imagine yourself as the woman who runs free toward the horizon. Who is she? How does she feel, move, and live? What vision is she chasing, and what is she leaving behind?
     Envision the life you want to create, focusing on what feels liberating, aligned, and true to your soul.