Hello,
I have been stuck on the garbage mine for hours, making little to no progress.
I discovered what the totems do, and got to Gladys, but when I try to zap her with the magic wand (As Mathilda said to) It just zaps me back and kills me. I haven't figured out how to raise any of the portculli. Help please?

Same problem for me. Yet, I accidentally dropped the pink idol in frot of the tiki guys, thinking it would keep them from flaming in general. It's stuck there and I haw no idea what to do next either. Did you ever figure it out?

The book on "Secret Items" on the top floor of Xartan's castle gives a hint on defeating the garbadge boss. I didn't read the book until later though, I just made sure to avoid anything the gladys shoots out before electrocuting her.

And you can buy another pink idol at the shop if you lose it.