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One of my absolute favourite fairytales growing up was Rumpelstiltskin. I’ve always had a soft spot for an underestimated heroine who uses her wits to escape a tight spot, but what truly hooked me was the magic of spinning straw into gold. The idea of transforming something ordinary into something valuable is a story I keep returning to—in myths, in books, and in real life. Naturally, that same curiosity led me to the alchemists of old and their legendary quest to turn bas

In the latest episode of the Beyond The Good Girl Podcast, I sat down with purpose coach and SpeakEasy member Gabi Da Gama to debrief our recent journaling session on Snow White. Together, we explore why this childhood fairy tale triggers such strong reactions in modern women, what the Evil Queen teaches us about envy, and how journaling serves as a mirror to our inner power. Listen to the Full Episode The Trigger of the "Passive Princess" Fairy tales are deeply embedded in o

(🎧 Listen to the full episode using the player above, or read the article and journal prompts below!) Once upon a time, in a castle on the edge of an enchanted forest, lived a sorceress of great power. She possessed a magic mirror that spoke absolute truth to any question asked of it. Most of us know the classic retelling of Snow White. It's usually framed as an innocent child who escapes a murderous stepmother through sheer beauty, cleans up after seven dwarfs, and gets res

In the Russian fairytale Vasilisa the Beautiful, a young girl is forced to do all the work around the home by her stepmother and stepsisters. Sound familiar? It definitely has Cinderella vibes. That is, if Cinderella’s stepfamily plotted her death at the hands of a terrifying sorceress who eats humans and turns their bones into furniture. I first heard this story when listening to Clarissa Pinkola Estés’ book Women Who Run with the Wolves. Listening to Estés tell this tale

There are dozens of ways to journal—from a quick 3-minute gratitude practice to entering a fairytale world and exploring archetypes. But recently, when fatigue, physical burnout, and a low mood caught up with me, I returned to the foundational tool that started it all: The Daily Pages (or "Morning Pages") from Julia Cameron’s classic book, The Artist’s Way. If you've ever wondered whether writing three pages of stream-of-consciousness prose first thing in the morning ac

Rapunzel is trapped in a tower by a powerful sorceress. The tower has no doors and no stairs—only a tiny, high-up window looking out into a deep, silent forest. On the surface, the tower was built to keep her safe. In reality, it serves to completely isolate her. Yet, the story actually begins long before the tower—it starts with something else the sorceress was desperate to protect: the Rapunzel herbs in her garden. She built a sky-high wall around them for a reason,

What story immediately comes to mind when I ask you to recall a childhood favorite? I love asking people this question. Finding out what captured someone's childhood imagination reveals which archetype or narrative is still alive in their subconscious today. In our SpeakEasy Journaling Club, members share a rich spectrum of favou/rite tales—from The Ugly Duckling and The Secret Garden to the dark, terrifying psychological landscape of Bluebeard. These are stories of tr

Have you ever felt lost in the woods, going in circles? Or like you are stuck in a high tower with no way down? Perhaps you feel like you are endlessly chasing a "happily ever after" that always stays just out of reach. The language of fairytales is so deeply woven into our collective psyche that we instantly recognize where these stories land in our own lives. Every setting, character, villain, magic object, or talking animal acts as a mirror reflecting a part of our inne

I have always been a "tugger at edges." Not a destroyer. Not someone who burns things down for the sake of chaos. But someone who notices a loose thread in the fabric of an inherited story and simply cannot leave it alone. We are all born into narratives we didn’t choose—huge, sweeping scripts that were already running long before we arrived: Cultural stories about what makes a "successful" woman Religious or family stories about obedience, self-sacrifice, and rules

I want to tell you about the time my inner rebel escaped. She didn't go quietly. She didn't suggest a strongly worded email or a difficult conversation or even a sensible job application closer to home. She looked at a map, found the furthest point from Abu Dhabi she could reasonably get to, and booked herself a teaching post in Outer Mongolia. The Rebel wanted Freedom. The Good Girl chose Obligation. I am, technically, the one who applied. But I want to be clear that the reb

Welcome to the Beyond the Good Girl Series, where we explore the archetypes that shape women’s lives and how reclaiming them can lead to real transformation. This series is about noticing patterns, understanding their purpose, and learning how to step fully into your power. The Good Girl: Protector and Prisoner The Good Girl archetype is familiar to most of us. She’s the part of us conditioned to be compliant, polite, and safe — the one who avoids conflict, follows the rules,