Chaos Witch Rising

She is a tale as old as time, a global folkloric legend. She goes by many names across many different cultures, typically translating to “night hag” or “old hag” or something similar. In Scandinavian/Old English folklore, she is called “mara” or “the mare,” which is where the term “nightmare” originates from.

Primarily and historically, she is a demonic and malefic entity who lies upon or “rides” her victims, torturing them, strangling them, and even trying to suck their souls from their bodies. To experience her energy typically involves some sort of compression that makes it hard to move and hard to breathe.

Scientifically, this phenomenon is understood as a sleep paralysis experience, and it’s more common than one might think, affecting a large portion of the human population at least once. The experience is a result of suddenly waking up during REM sleep while the body is still paralyzed (why we don’t physically act out our dreams). Transitioning quickly between sleep and wakefulness during hypnogogic (falling asleep) and hypnopompic (waking up) states can cause visual and auditory hallucinations.

Personally, I have experienced the traditional sleep paralysis “night hag” twice in my life (years apart). I can attest that the feeling of this palpable dark energy presence is…disturbing. It’s a turn-the-bedside-lamp-on-NOW moment.

It’s truly amazing that science can explain this phenomenon, in a certain sense. Science can prove what is happening in the brain during these circumstances. And I certainly don’t argue that.

But like I said, the feeling it provokes is hard to shake. I’m left wondering…why her? Why is she an old crone, an old witch? Why is it an old woman?

What does she represent personally and on a global, collective level? Is it really just some insane coincidence that she is a remarkably specific, worldwide infamous entity?

Something is still lurking in the shadows.

Science, in all its masculine logos energy, would have us believe that it’s meaningless. “I already told you what this means. Don’t ask questions.”

That feels like a red flag.

My advice is to do the opposite. When someone or something tells us not to investigate, that’s probably EXACTLY where we need to look.

To understand the night hag better, I think one has to view her from psychological, folkloric, and spiritual/mystical perspectives. She does not lurk in the shadows—she is the psyche’s shadow. She is a dark feminine archetype: a crone, a witch, a femme fatale, a dark mother, a creator and destroyer. She stands at the crossroads of consciousness and unconsciousness. Quite literally in this instance.

She whispers (or sometimes laughs menacingly), “Here. Pay attention! Look here.”

She can scare us back to reality, an intuitive realization. She can motivate us to ask important, inward-directed questions. What am I not seeing? What am I not aware of here?

She can bestow energy; she can drain energy.

The night hag represents a repressed feminine energy, and her shadowy manifestation insists on being seen and heard. She will not deny her raw power. She will not cross her legs at the ankles. She will not sit quietly and keep her thoughts to herself. She will not keep her elbows off the table. She will no longer “keep the peace for peace’s sake.”

Her stories are found in those of Hecate, of Cailleach, of Baba Yaga, and of Kali Ma. She is both Life and Death. The Divine Paradox. She is pure transformation.

This feminine archetype embodies terrifying, shapeshifting, illuminating, compassionate wisdom. In other words, wisdom in all its forms. One does not put her in a box, unless of course, they would like to see that box go up in flames.

Should we be afraid?

I would be worried if you weren’t.

Should we embrace her?

ABSOLUTELY. Not only does she personify what we come from but also what is within us.

She doesn’t ask for respect. She demands it.

Science can show that these sleep paralysis experiences occur most often during times of stress. That makes sense. At some point, this energy must step forward and alert the dreamer. What needs to be destroyed? What needs to be transformed?

It is she who draws the line in the sand and says, “No. No more. It ends here. It ends with me.”

And therefore, that is also where it begins.

A REpression of this powerful feminine energy can result in a feeling of COMpression: hard to move, hard to breathe, being stuck in some pattern. That is when the old hag steps forward, to show us where to begin.

She knows where to dig the holes. She knows where the bodies are buried.

That means shadow work, bringing the unconscious parts of ourselves into conscious awareness, which is a notable metaphor for the night hag herself. She pops out of an unconscious dream and right there into the bedroom before our very eyes.

Her appearance is both an invitation and an initiation into the darkness. Into stillness. Into mindfulness. Into a place where we can listen to and reconnect with our spirits. A place to reclaim what we thought was lost, a place to heal what we didn’t realize was broken. And a place to release what no longer serves.

So, yes, maybe she does have to scare us. That way, we pay attention.

For some of us, the traumas and shadow aspects that are buried within are extremely heavy, perhaps extremely violent, and overwhelming. If this feels like something you cannot do alone, then don’t. I would seek a professional who can guide you safely through the process. Trust your intuition and know when to seek help.

I won’t say to not fear the old hag. That would be ludicrous. She’s most certainly terrifying, and she has earned that respect. However, I would encourage that we ask ourselves, why her? Why now?

Take the experience as a point of inquiry.

I would begin by journaling. I would record everything I remember about the dream (if I can recall it), the experience itself, and what I think it symbolizes on a first-impression basis. If you’re artistically inclined (or just inclined), paint her. Paint the experience. Make the process your own; don’t try to make it pretty—it’s not pretty. Just make sure it’s a safe process.

Tarot cards are another useful tool for clarification. You can ask questions like, “What does the old hag represent?” “What is her message for me?”

Dream re-entry can be another method for obtaining clarity. I personally prefer to do this the following day while in a trance meditative state. Others are able to re-enter the nightmare shortly after its occurrence using “wake-back-to-bed” techniques, inducing a lucid state while falling back asleep into the dream. The trance meditation is, in my opinion, more beginner friendly. And less intimidating. I begin by reading my dream journal entry and doing a simple 10 or 15-minute meditation to calm the nervous system. I then progress to the trance state by lying down on my back, placing an eye pillow over my eyes, and listening to a shamanic journey drumming track on headphones. I visualize myself re-entering the dream. From there, I can ask questions and allow the messages to come through. Afterwards, I record everything in a journal.

When we hold space for ourselves, for the nightmares and old hag, we can learn so much. We strengthen our intuition, and we deepen our inner wisdom. I believe there is a reason she is a tale as old as time.

Not all is revealed under the light of the sun. Our roots grow deep inside, from the darker places. Sometimes it takes an old hag in the middle of the night to remind us of that.