Does any of this sound familiar to you yet? Have you truly reached the level of Queen or are you just poking around? You may think you learned these skills while in training with the Knights, but the Knights’ range of influence is small compared to the world that the Queens open up for you. Think about everything you have learned thus far and multiply it by fifty, because that is the growth that happens at this stage. You could say that it is in the court of Queens that you are finally stripped bare of all your foolish and childish ways and now dress in the regal robes of confidence, grace, power, and honor.
The Queen of Swords is no stranger to quiet, stillness, and alone time. One’s best thinking is done in these simple moments, without distraction and constant interruption. This Queen knows the importance of space and is not at all afraid to let others know when they have had enough of people for the day. This Queen understands that the space inside their head is the most important space they have, and is very mindful of the thoughts, beliefs, and ideas that take up occupancy inside the mind. The Queen of Swords understands how easily you can allow limiting voices the opportunity to grab the mic in your brain. The Queen knows that if you are not vigilant, these scared, frightened parts of the ego mind can end up derailing you from the part you now play in the bigger, broader world around you. The Queen knows that you have not come this far or worked this hard to be so easily misled. Through meditation, the Queen will guide you on how to pluck these nagging doubts and inner critic voices from your mind to free up space for more empowering and life-fulfilling thoughts and ideas. This then allows people, places, and things to line up with ease and grace, as you have stilled the ego monster and paved the way for miracles to happen. The Queen of Swords learned back in training as a Knight that everything starts in the mind. Every hope, every dream, every doubt, and every fear—all seed in the mind. The more attention you give them the faster they sprout. In order for the Queen of Swords to rule, hold court, and be of service, they must constantly be weeding out anything that does not serve their higher calling. Pathwork with this Queen will teach you to do the same.
The Queen of Wands is like no other muse you will ever come across. This Queen is delightful, playful, desirable, and will literally set your world on fire. The Queen of Wands has gotten slightly better at standing still, though it is still their least preferred option. They have learned that sometimes even fire needs time to burn down and smolder for a while. Burning brightly all the time is exhausting, so this Queen has gotten more comfortable with kicking back and taking some downtime, as long as there is plenty of pleasure involved. Being pleasured is one of the Queen of Wands favorite pastimes, and they expect others to want to please them whenever and wherever they command. The ability to receive pleasure is not an easy skill to learn, as most of us are more eager to give than receive. This is why working with this particular Queen is so beneficial. I mean, what good is desire if you never allow it to bring you any pleasure? What is the point of all that manifesting, goal grabbing, and dream achieving if you don’t take time to bask in its afterglow? At this stage in the game, the Queen of Wands has learned how beneficial it is to take a breath, or two or three, in between conquests. The Queen of Wands allows time in the day to truly marvel at what they have created. The Queen also spends time thinking about what others would like to create, for their creations will end up becoming part of the Queen’s own experience. This is why this Queen wants others to use their creative talents wisely. You could say that at this phase of the journey, the Queen of Wands is learning to seek the pleasure found in the joy of others. The muse connects us all with an infectious and wildly spreading spark. There is no getting away from the creative energy that pumps through us all. It seems only right that we should allow it to bring us pleasure as well.
The Queen of Cups is not afraid to show their feelings. In fact, this Queen will wave them about like a badge of honor. The Queen of Cups doesn’t care if you like this sort of emotional display or not, because this is how the Queen engages with the world and that is all there is to it. Flowing, intuitive, and heart-centered, the Queen of Cups doesn’t have time for people who are too busy trying to mask, hide, and conceal who they truly are. The world is full of so many people pretending to be someone they are not and denying themselves feelings they are desperate to explore. But not this Queen. This Queen knows there is something liberating about throwing off all the masks and just being your authentic, messy, complicated self. The Queen of Cups knows how liberating it is to be fully engaged with people, places, and situations when you are not so busy trying to force your emotions to behave. When this Queen is feeling something, they show it. This does not make the Queen of Cups weak, or fickle, or even manic—quite the opposite. When people come to the Queen of Cups, they will always know what they are going to get. However, don’t be fooled into thinking that this Queen wears a heart on their sleeve and does not have a brain between their ears. For the Queen of Cups sees you, all of you. They know what you think, how you feel, and how you respond under pressure. The Queen of Cups knows your strengths and your weaknesses and is not above exploiting both of them. A feeling Queen is a powerful Queen, and a powerful Queen is honored, loved, and, above all, respected. The Queen of Cups, like all the Queens in the tarot empire, has an expansive network and social circle. Pass the emotional tests this Queen has laid out for you and the Queen’s world will open to you and grant you all your heart’s desires. Fail the test and you could be locked out forever.
The Queen of Pentacles brings us back down to earth, oftentimes with a thud, especially if we have had our head in the clouds for longer than we should. This Queen is more of a doer than a dreamer and enjoys putting things together, tending to them as they grow, and gathering the fruits of long and constant hard work. This Queen prefers to be outdoors in the open air, as this is where their true magic lies: in the world of material things. Money and health are both equally important to this Queen, for they understand that one without the other is a futile and shortsighted pursuit. This is why this Queen will show you how to have a healthy relationship with both your body and your money, which makes the Queen of Pentacles a particularly helpful guide for the self-
employed or the entrepreneur. Home based businesses are, of course, this Queen’s speciality, for there is a true freedom to dictating your own hours, your own income streams, and your own way of creating the life that you wish to experience. A lot of times these things are overlooked in the pursuit of money, which is why the Queen of Pentacles brings us back to center, reminding us that money is useless when we have sick and suffering bodies.
The Queen of Pentacles wants to show you how to balance what you need with what you want. This Queen wants to show you how to create a life that is self-sustaining, beneficial to all, and, most importantly, secure and stable. Don’t bother bringing your excuses to this Queen, because there will be no interest in what you have to say. The Queen of Pentacles will, however, be more than happy to show you how to create a life that you can enjoy, a life that you want to engage in each day, and a life that won’t leave you with regrets or wondering “What if ?” Just understand that all of this takes time, and the Queen of Pentacles is never in a hurry. You can’t rush divine creation. It comes in its own time, in its own way, and on its own terms. But the Queen of Pentacles promises that when it does arrive, it will be more than you could ever have hoped and dreamed for.
Pathwork
Intentional
Queens are networkers. They gather people, entertain people, and introduce people. They know who is who and what is what. They have a vested interest in all those they meet and are able to make recommendations and connections just by snapping their fingers. My mother used to tell me all the time: “It’s not what you know, but who you know.” A powerful Queen is not made overnight. They are strategic with their growth, and right now that is exactly what you need to be. Pick one of the four tarot Queens you wish to be or see yourself becoming, and start making the so
rt of connections this Queen would make. Act like your Queen would act, and move in the sort of circles you think your tarot Queen would move in. Perhaps your tarot Queen would throw a dinner party or even a fundraiser. Maybe the Queen you have selected would do charity work or seek out like-minded people through meet-ups and social events. Once you have decided on the Queen you want to be, sit with the card and allow yourself to visualize becoming that Queen—walking in that Queen’s shoes; speaking the words you imagine they would speak; standing, sitting, and behaving the way you would expect your tarot Queen to. As you watch the scene play out, just be aware of anything in particular that stands out, as you may want to copy this later when your visualization is complete. Take as much time with your visualization as you feel you need. Do it as many times as you need to. And by all means, journal about how it feels to step into your tarot Queen’s shoes. Keep in mind that you do not have to be an extrovert to excel at this. The online world is perfect for introverts, and it is just as capable of opening doors and connecting you with new and amazing people if you are intentional, joining online communities, courses, networks, and social groups. There is a tarot Queen for everyone. All you need to do is step into their shoes and place their crown on your head.
Intuitive
Do you ever think about your current circle of influence? This is the circle or collection of people that currently surround you and influence your decisions, whose opinions sway your actions, thoughts, and beliefs The Queens of the tarot know exactly how important this group of people is, for they have seen how kingdoms have risen and fallen based on the impact of those closest to their leaders.
For this exercise, you need one of the four tarot Queens, preferably the one that you feel is the closest personality match to yourself. Think about how you process and interact with people. Do you do it emotionally, intellectually, materially, or spiritually? One of these connects you to the one of the four Queens. Select one, and then place that Queen faceup in front of you. Now, let’s take a look at the people or influences that surround your current Queen, as they will tell you a lot about what energy is molding your current vortex of manifestation.
Shuffle your deck and place one card above the Queen. This card represents the blessings in your current circle of influence. Now place another card below your queen. This is someone or something that is blocking you within your current circle of influence. Now place one card to your Queen’s right. This card is for where your circle supports you. And lastly, place another card on her left. This is the card that shows the person in your circle who opposes your growth and success. You should have five cards in total—four cards surrounding your Queen of choice, who is in the middle of the cross-like spread. Turn them all over so every card is now faceup. Pull out your journal and start digging deeper through the influences you see around your Queen.
Wandering
In your life, you probably know the odd tarot Queen. Heck you might even know all four of them—your social circle may be made up of a mixture of all four tarot Queens. Being able to see the four Queens out in the world is a fabulous thing, because it makes it so much easier to find the one you need at the moment you need them. Which of your tarot Queens do you need right now? Which one has the connections, the list, and the contacts that will assist you in whatever task, goal, or project you are currently working on? If you can’t find the four Queens in your social circle, expand your search, because I guarantee you have them in your world right now. Maybe it is someone you work with, someone who rides the bus with you, someone at your spiritual center, or even another parent at your kids’ school. Somewhere in your life, the tarot Queens are playing their parts, just waiting to extend their knowledge and expertise to you. But you have to ask. You have to let them know this is something you want and need from them. Don’t sit around waiting for the contacts you require or hoping the connections might just fall into your lap. You have to be proactive along this part of the path. You have to speak up, raise your voice, be clear and precise with your communication, and ask. The very worst that can happen is someone will say no, and that is not even a bad thing. It just means you have not asked the right Queen, or you have not asked the right question. Queens connect; it is what they are groomed to do. So keep moving through your world, seeking out the Queens, then ask, ask, and ask again.
Kings
Welcome to the top of the pile, to the place where you will have to work harder then you ever have before, because now you are King and everyone wants your crown. It is true that there will be many who have no interest in being where you are once they see how much hard work and responsibility is involved, since they have no desire to work that hard. However, there will always be a handful of vultures just sitting and waiting to see how and when you will slip up, show signs of weakness, or falter on your path to self-mastery. For some, this stage is better than anything they could ever have imagined, as there are more amazing opportunities, more ways to show up and be of service, and even more ways to work with all the skills, habits, and gifts you have fostered in the last three stages. For others, the role of King will feel like a self-built prison from which there seems to be no escape. Not everyone is cut out to be King, but like it or not, this is where you are, so it’s time to dig deep and look at all that you have learned.
Although it may seem like you have the choice to go back to life as you knew it, the reality is that you can’t. You don’t think the same way, you don’t engage with your emotions and feelings the same way, you don’t react or act the same way, and, above all, the material and physical world looks different to you now. You might be able to give back the crown, but you will never again be the person you used to be. You shed your skin back in the Knights. You were reborn and lovingly groomed with the Queens, and now you are a more aware, more aligned, more in-tune version of yourself. You are someone who is no longer capable of living life through the lens of all of those old fears, doubts, and limitations. This is the catch-22 of becoming King: you can’t go back, even if you decide you don’t want the crown, the glory, or even the fortune. You can only go deeper.
When you reflect on others who have reached this stage, what do you think about them? How you see people in places of power will influence how you work with the Kings during the pathwork exercises. Do you admire leaders in your field? Are you inspired by thought leaders and change agents in your community? Do you put famous people on a pedestal, or do you think their influence is all bullshit? Your answers will show where you hold bias toward power, leadership, expertise, and influence. Just remember, there is nothing wrong with having bias; we all have it in one form or another. There is, however, something wrong with hanging on to biases to our own detriment, for when you allow your biases to limit your experiences, you are the one who loses out.
The King of Swords has become a master of the mind. Thoughts, beliefs, and ideas are all carefully crafted and then released without an ounce of attachment. There is no plotting or scheming with this King. This allows for quick, flexible, and in the moment decision-making without doubt and anxiety. There is no need to be right when you can make all your decisions the right ones. There is no constant chatter in the mind that slows this King down or makes them second guess a course of action. This King has learned how to open up the mind and let it flow without the limitations of fear, regret, and anger. This allows the King of Swords to manifest quickly and easily, as if somehow everything just falls into place magically. The King of Swords practices meditation every chance they get, for a still, clear, calm mind really is this King’s superpower. At this stage of the game, you will find that you will be able to make almost intuitive choices, as if you don’t even have to think at all. You instinctively know what will work for you and what will not. You no longer waste your time on limiting ideas or mind traps that keep you from obtaining your goals, hopes, and dreams. As you engage in pathworking with this King, think about how, at this level, it is not about going further, but going deeper to f
ind the stillness, the center, the core of your soul path. You have learned some amazing tricks to get you to the top of the hill, but how quickly you adapt and evolve will dictate how long you stay at the top.
The King of Wands can be volatile; there is no getting around it. When you play with fire for long enough, you start to wonder who and what it can burn the fastest. This King is forever needing to fuel their flames, which means they are always on the lookout for something to burn. Creative energy can be addicting and fire can only stay lit for so long. Unlike the other elements, fire is not something that can be maintained indefinitely, as it requires feeding. Constantly feeding a fire is hard and grueling work, and by now you have learned when to best harness and release this energy. You know when to stoke the flames and when to let the embers just burn in waiting. You have also learned that fire is an unpredictable energy and, as skilled as you are, you can’t always guarantee safety and protection to those who come into your domain. At this point, people know to come to you at their own risk, which might make your time at the top feel a bit lonely. Even though people are drawn to your energy and flock to see you do your flaming parlor tricks, very few want to get too close to you. The King of Wands knows how to spot authenticity and integrity a mile away, and this also limits the amount of people who become part of this King’s inner circle. As entertaining as the King of Wands is, nobody is quick to forget that they are also dangerous. Perhaps you like the thought of being dangerous, and this excites and thrills you. Deep down there may very well be a piece of you that craves the fear other people carry when they think of you. Or perhaps this bothers you and stops you from truly fulfilling your divine destiny, whatever that may be. This particular throne is only for those who can stand the heat, pardon the pun.
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