Long Live the Queen

by Alison A. Armstrong

This article is dedicated to the Queen in you. It is the last in a series of three articles about the power and effects of femininity. The first two articles, The Temptress Fire, Don't Extinguish It and Gather Round the Mother Hearth, discuss the playful and nurturing aspects of every woman’s makeup.

At PAX, we think of femininity as qualities inherent in every woman. Whether or not a woman develops and expresses these qualities is up to her. To more easily gain access to these qualities we group them in archetypes; making them easier to see. The archetypes are “Temptress,” “Mother” and “Queen.”

The Queen – generous and serene

The Queen includes the qualities of vision and purpose for her life. She is generous and serene. She is concerned with empowerment – the ability to give power while losing none. She has a unique ability to understand other people. Perhaps most importantly, she has an enormous capacity to receive. She is influential and powerful in a uniquely feminine way.

While the Mother focuses on an individual, the Queen focuses on everyone in a group. We call the group her Realm. It is very important for a woman to define her Realm. If she doesn’t, she will attempt to give her greatness to everyone in her path and become exhausted.

The Queen’s Noble Purpose

In contrast to the Mother, who focuses on what people need, the Queen is paying attention to the future or quality of life for her Realm. You could call this her “vision.” We call it the Queen’s Noble Purpose. To discover your Noble Purpose, think of the qualities about which you are most passionate. What is it that you passionately want people to have in their lives? Is it freedom? Self-expression? Vitality? Integrity? The possibilities are too numerous to list. Your Noble Purpose may be made up of several excellent qualities.

As you can see, the Queen’s existence is far above the normal, everyday scratching out of survival. Her life serves a loftier purpose, which is why others serve her. Both men and women will naturally find themselves trying to serve a woman with Queenly qualities. The Queen also inspires respect and admiration. Hers are those feminine qualities that make a man strive to be the best man he can be (think of Jack Nicholson in “As Good As It Gets”). The Queen’s recognition empowers him, giving him the energy and daring to attempt ever-larger feats.

Men want to provide for their Queen

The best way to think about how men respond to the Queen is with the word “provide.” She inspires men to provide for her. Men are natural providers and many are looking for someone worthy and able to receive their gifts. There are many things men seek to provide for the Queen. If able, they will provide whatever they perceive she needs. They will do what they think will make her happy. They will support her purpose and, if an opportunity arises, help her realize her vision.

Beware: Because the Queen inspires men to provide, many women strive to be her all the time. If you do this, your results will disappoint you. Men need all aspects of femininity. They provide for the Queen, but they participate with the Temptress, and get the nurturing they need from the Mother. While the Queen embodies the greatness of women, we are all more complex and delightful than she. It is our ability to be the Temptress, the Mother and the Queen that continues to mystify men.

How to nurture the Queen you were born to be

First, Define your Realm. We do this in Being Extraordinary as a Woman, but to get you started think about those who are nearest and dearest to you. Then think about the people you want to influence or to whom you want to contribute. These two groups would make up your Realm.

Second, Work less and rest more. It is difficult, if not impossible, to be feminine and exhausted at the same time. As you’ve read in our other articles, rest is a critical element in rejuvenating all aspects of our femininity.

Third, develop your ability to receive. Start with the two most important aspects: Breathing and Noticing. Breathing is a physical act of receiving. When presented with a gift or contribution, consciously take a deep breath and accept the gift within yourself. Noticing is the heart of receiving. Notice the details of the gift, whether it is a compliment, an object, or a meal. Notice the spirit of the gift; the feeling and caring with which it is given. Notice the contribution of the gift to your life; how it changes that moment or day or particular experience. Then speak what you notice.

Finally, consider a different type of resolution. Instead of losing weight or making more money, resolve to take better care of yourself, or to be the kind of person you admire, or to give your Realm the best of you, instead of what is left over.

The Queen Course