In my work, I speak about working deeply with the Queen archetype. It’s the
common thread that runs between my photography, courses, and soon-to-be podcast
and retreats. I realize there are many who may wonder what I mean exactly when
I speak of the Queen so I wanted to start with why.
The Queen archetype is relatively new to me. It was probably two years ago that I was on a call with Pixie Campbell and Maggie Hollinbeck – the topic: money and abundance. They were discussing the triple goddess – Maiden, Mother, and Crone and Pixie mentioned a fourth goddess, the overlooked one, the one who oversees them all, the Queen.
In that moment shivers ran through me and something deep down inside me shifted. I believe I have always felt that a major component missing in my life was guidance when it came to ruling my own life and living my dreams. As a recovering people pleaser and doormat who didn’t have a clue when it came to creating boundaries or standing up for myself, I knew my own Queen needed to be awakened. I immediately began to research the Queen as archetype.
One night shortly afterward after my girls were asleep I drew a bath on a full moon. I filled the bath with gemstones, salts, and intentions – I was going for luxury. During this bath several thoughts about what it means to be Queen began to flow through me – it’s voice so strong that I finally had to grab my phone and voice record everything that was flowing through me surrounded by gemstones and candlelight.
The following day I transcribed everything that I recorded the night before and sat back in awe. There before me were 52 affirmations on what rising ones Queen looked like. I titled it “The Conscious Queen’s Manifesta”
Conscious because I knew the Queen I was referring to wasn’t the Queen made popular through fairy tales and society – the shadow Queen who is ruling over others and demanding that people bow down to her. The one draped in velvet robes and dripping in jewels, weighed down with a heavy crown. The conscious Queen that lives within every woman is in need of redefining. She is not on a pedestal hungry for power - she is finding her voice and devoted to service.
The Queen archetype is relatively new to me. It was probably two years ago that I was on a call with Pixie Campbell and Maggie Hollinbeck – the topic: money and abundance. They were discussing the triple goddess – Maiden, Mother, and Crone and Pixie mentioned a fourth goddess, the overlooked one, the one who oversees them all, the Queen.
In that moment shivers ran through me and something deep down inside me shifted. I believe I have always felt that a major component missing in my life was guidance when it came to ruling my own life and living my dreams. As a recovering people pleaser and doormat who didn’t have a clue when it came to creating boundaries or standing up for myself, I knew my own Queen needed to be awakened. I immediately began to research the Queen as archetype.
One night shortly afterward after my girls were asleep I drew a bath on a full moon. I filled the bath with gemstones, salts, and intentions – I was going for luxury. During this bath several thoughts about what it means to be Queen began to flow through me – it’s voice so strong that I finally had to grab my phone and voice record everything that was flowing through me surrounded by gemstones and candlelight.
The following day I transcribed everything that I recorded the night before and sat back in awe. There before me were 52 affirmations on what rising ones Queen looked like. I titled it “The Conscious Queen’s Manifesta”
Conscious because I knew the Queen I was referring to wasn’t the Queen made popular through fairy tales and society – the shadow Queen who is ruling over others and demanding that people bow down to her. The one draped in velvet robes and dripping in jewels, weighed down with a heavy crown. The conscious Queen that lives within every woman is in need of redefining. She is not on a pedestal hungry for power - she is finding her voice and devoted to service.
She shows up in our lives to show us our highest potential,
discover our purpose, and create our bodies of work – for many of us, though
not all, this often happens during early motherhood. For where there is life and birth, the Queen is
close by making sure shit gets done. And where there is death, meaning what also happens in motherhood when we mourn the woman we were before we became known as Mother for she is now forever changed and gone, the Queen is also close by to rise us into who we are now becoming. The only thing the Queen rules is our own lives
and she inspires other to stand with us, side by side.
I wasn’t introduced to my own Queen until I was in my 40’s and after the birth of my first child, which is how long she lie dormant within me. It’s different in each woman, but the one truth I know for certain is that every woman has an inner Queen who is waiting to rise up and do her work - children or otherwise as there is more than one way to be a mother.
I will admit I had some resistance to the word Queen at first. I had to reframe my own stories I had written about what being a Queen looked like and stood for. But the more I rise her and the more work I create and put into the world, I see how and where she shows up - in the women I photograph and in the work that I am called to do. Once my perspective shifted, I was able to let go of my own preconceived notions and stereotypes that surround the word Queen and as I continue to rise my own Queen, I know I am here to help more women rise their own.
So what makes me an expert on the Queen archetype? Well, not a damn thing really. I certainly don’t have a string of letters after my name or a piece of paper that says I am an expert. My only knowledge lies in being someone who has awakened her own Queen within and consciously practices rising her each day.
I've been told by two channelers that I was a lady-in-waiting in past lives. I was told by a coach to be the Queen in this life. I am one woman rising her Queen, one day at a time. I'm now ruling my own life - on my path to living a life fully expressed, befriending boundaries, and standing in my integrity.
I want no one to bow before me, my aim is to inspire other women to rise their own Queens and stand beside me in sisterhood. And if the adage we teach what we need to learn is true, then this is me, simply showing up to practice what I preach and learn what I teach.
I wasn’t introduced to my own Queen until I was in my 40’s and after the birth of my first child, which is how long she lie dormant within me. It’s different in each woman, but the one truth I know for certain is that every woman has an inner Queen who is waiting to rise up and do her work - children or otherwise as there is more than one way to be a mother.
I will admit I had some resistance to the word Queen at first. I had to reframe my own stories I had written about what being a Queen looked like and stood for. But the more I rise her and the more work I create and put into the world, I see how and where she shows up - in the women I photograph and in the work that I am called to do. Once my perspective shifted, I was able to let go of my own preconceived notions and stereotypes that surround the word Queen and as I continue to rise my own Queen, I know I am here to help more women rise their own.
So what makes me an expert on the Queen archetype? Well, not a damn thing really. I certainly don’t have a string of letters after my name or a piece of paper that says I am an expert. My only knowledge lies in being someone who has awakened her own Queen within and consciously practices rising her each day.
I've been told by two channelers that I was a lady-in-waiting in past lives. I was told by a coach to be the Queen in this life. I am one woman rising her Queen, one day at a time. I'm now ruling my own life - on my path to living a life fully expressed, befriending boundaries, and standing in my integrity.
I want no one to bow before me, my aim is to inspire other women to rise their own Queens and stand beside me in sisterhood. And if the adage we teach what we need to learn is true, then this is me, simply showing up to practice what I preach and learn what I teach.
