The Queen Archetype –
Cultivate Personal Power and Confidence

Ladies and Gentlemen, royalty is in the house – let the Queen Archetype enter the stage! It is time to claim your crown with confidence and grace.

This feminine archetype is a true powerhouse of a woman. As the ultimate embodiment of feminine power, she commands respect and attention wherever she goes, all while being extremely charismatic.

Before we dive deeper into the Queen Archetype, have you already taken the 7 Feminine Archetypes Quiz? It helps you to find out which Feminine Archetype is most present in your personality:

Common Characteristics of the Queen Archetype

While it is quite easy to conjure the image of an idealized queen, there is more to this archetype than what meets the eye. Let’s first get to know the main characteristics of the Queen (or Ruler) archetype.

As one would expect from a queen, this feminine archetype is a natural leader. Taking charge comes naturally to her and she guides those around her with confidence and grace.

Think of the classic ‘Queen B’ – popular, admired and confident. Many women who embody the Queen Archetype are influential figures.

The Queen is constantly busy building her empire – that might be through curating her social circles or growing her career. Being in control of things and overseeing the playing field gives her a sense of power and meaning.

Often equipped with a very social personality, she has a great gift for networking and knows exactly how to get to the right people. Both as a friend and partner, she is incredibly loyal once you gain her trust.

A mature Ruler is ready to take responsibility and take action. Combined with her ambitious instincts, she has great potential for achieving greatness in life.

Setting goals and working for achievements makes this archetype thrive. She is assertive, knows exactly what she wants and is not afraid to go after it!

Queens also tend to enjoy luxury and self-care more than other feminine archetypes. She certainly knows how to have a good time and is not shy to invest in exclusive experiences (or advanced education!) for herself.

The Queen and Relationships

When it comes to love, the Queen Archetype is likely attracted to equally successful men – she wants a partner who can provide her security and who is not intimated by her success.

Naturally, the Queen is rarely found alone – she will spend her free time either being out having fun with her friends or enjoying quality time with her partner.

Seen from a traditional perspective, the Queen Archetype is considered to be strongly drawn to marriage. While nowadays, marriage may not be the ultimate end goal anymore, she still certainly prefers to be in a relationship than alone.

Long-lasting relationships are an absolute priority in a Queen‘s life and she may feel incomplete without a partner.

The Queen Archetype‘s Shadow and Weaknesses

With great power comes great responsibility – we all need to check in on the shadow side of our personality and stay accountable for how we deal with it.

If you are not familiar with the concept, the “shadow” is a term established by Carl Jung to describe the hidden aspects of the human psyche, including our darkest desires, weaknesses, and shame-filled parts of ourselves.

By doing so-called “shadow work,” we can learn to integrate and make peace with these parts of ourselves, rather than repressing them. This can help us become more whole and balanced individuals.

Sometimes, the Queen‘s ambition threatens to overtake her. With a natural tendency towards workaholism, she needs to be careful to not burn herself out. It is important she chooses her projects carefully and learns where to invest her energy.

Socially speaking, the Queen can be prone to arrogance and a sense of entitlement. However, this usually is a protective mechanism that is rooted in insecurity. Looking at her from the outside, it can be hard to believe, but the ruler is often less sure of herself than she seems to be.

Some Queens also tend to be rather judgemental and superficial – when something (or someone) does not shine as brightly as them, they may quickly dismiss it.

In relationships, her tendency to want to be in control can cause problems. The Queen Archetype in her shadow often struggles with jealousy and trust issues, traits that can quickly deteriorate her relationship if she chooses not to work on them.

Since being in a committed relationship has such a high importance for her, she may sometimes jump into relationships too quickly or stay in them longer than what is healthy.

It can be hard for her to admit personal struggles – on the outside, she is always keen to maintain the “picture-perfect” life, career, or relationship.

To step out of these patterns, the Queen Archetype needs to assess her priorities and work on building more self-confidence, rooted in the knowledge of being enough.

For the Ruler to come into the fullest expression of herself, it is important to work on her shadow side. This can be done by working on self-awareness or journaling prompts such as:

• What are my unique strengths?
• How can I use my talents to uplift others?
• Did anyone or anything make me feel like I am not good enough?
• Is there any reason not to trust my partner? Do I trust myself?
• How can I create intimacy without needing to control?
• Do the goals I pursue actually fulfill me?
• Are there relationship patterns I repeat over and over again?
• Do I need success to be happy?

The Queen Workbook

If these prompts resonated with you and you feel called to dive deeper, the Feminine Archetype Workbooks extend the experience, offering an abundance of insightful prompts to guide you further.

Learn more

Queen Archetype Examples

Famous examples of the Queen Archetype are:

• Beyoncé
• Nancy Reagan
• Queen Elizabeth I of England
• Miranda Priestly (from „The Devil Wears Prada“)
• Daenerys (from „Game of Thrones“)
• Elsa (from „Frozen“)

There are many fictional as well as real-life women who embody the image of a powerful leader perfectly.

Not titled Queen B without a reason, Beyoncé is the classic example of the Queen Archetype. She has a shining music career, serves as an idol to millions of young women and is yet incredibly dedicated to her family. Her whole work and life celebrate fierce womanhood and send out an uplifting message of self-worth and confidence.

Nancy Reagan, on the other hand, is the perfect example of a woman who finds most fulfillment through her relationship and alliance with a powerful man.

Another example, yet maybe not one worth striving for: As the character of Miranda Priestly shows, the Queen Archetype can quickly become hell if the shadow is too present. Overworked and arrogant, her strong leadership arouses fear instead of genuine admiration.

Was the Queen Archetype defined by Carl Jung?

Now, correct me if I‘m wrong but according to my research, Carl Jung never personally defined a King or Queen Archetype.

There are some mentions of similar concepts in popular literature though.

For one, ‘The Ruler’ is one of 12 Brand Archetypes – while they take inspiration from Jung‘s work, they have been designed for businesses, not personalities.

Additionally, there is a famous book on Masculine Archetypes that addresses the King Archetype, called King, Warrior, Magician, Lover: Rediscovering the Archetypes of the Mature Masculine by Robert Moore and Douglas Gillette.

So, is the Queen the feminine equivalent of the King Archetype? In some ways, certainly – both archetypes center around leadership, higher aspirations and power.

While the King is often seen as a stand-alone figure, the emphasis of the Queen Archetype lies much more on her relationships with others. Additionally, the King is somewhat defined as ‘the ultimate masculine archetype’ Within the 7 Feminine Archetypes, however, no such hierarchy exists.

While there may be similarities, I would argue that they are not exact mirrors to each other. However, they certainly go well together, as kings and queens do!

The Queen Archetype in Mythology

The mythological foundation of the Queen Archetype is Hera, the Goddess of Marriage. Together with her husband Zeus, they represented the ruling couple among the Olympian gods.

Hera‘s rage, often caused by jealousy of her husband‘s affairs, is one of her most prominent features. Marriage, to her, was sacred and Zeus‘ promiscuous ways, of course, the greatest humiliation she could possibly endure.

One lesson we can learn from this mythological figure certainly is to honor our boundaries within relationships more firmly. Hera-like women tend to stay even in abusive relationships because they honor the sacred bond between husband and wife so deeply.

For the Queen Archetype, it is essential to learn to understand when it is worth staying and when they should go. When confronted with jealousy, the solution is rarely vengeance and rage – learning healthy and mature communication is key to building trust.

Behind the artwork: Powerful symbolism of the Queen Archetype

This was one of my favorite artworks to create in the 7 Feminine Archetypes series. It is a tribute to all women strongly connected to their personal power and ready to feel on top of the world.

Do you recognize yourself in her? She is radiant, committed, and carries the aura of a powerful woman.

As a typical color associated with royalty, I made red the primary color of the painting and contrasted it with the white roses. The rose is not only a classical symbol of love but has also been used to represent several royal houses of England.

This archetype is a beautiful embodiment of the divine feminine. I wanted this artwork to depict a woman who is not afraid to stand in the spotlight and who reigns her realm with calm confidence.

With this archetypal artwork in your home, you‘ll never forget the powerful Queen who lives in you – she is just waiting for her moment to shine.

How to Embody the Queen Archetype

Would you love to have more Queen energy in your life? The following ideas can help you to embody the Queen Archetype more fully and start showing up as the powerful woman you truly are.

If you want to go deeper on your Queen journey, check out these book recommendations for each archetype.

Go on a date

The Queen is always on a mission to find „the one“ – going on dates makes her feel excited and desirable. Already in a relationship? Planning regular dates with your partner does wonders for keeping the spark alive and connecting with your inner Queen.

Start a business

Love the idea of being your own boss? Starting your own business – or freelancing side hustle – is exactly what a Queen would do. Even while being an employee, you can still work on your leadership skills by taking on new projects and collaborating with others.

Treat yourself

The Queen values herself – and enjoys treating herself to special experiences. That can be a fancy dinner, a romantic weekend getaway or a relaxing massage. You earned it!

Stand your ground

Especially when the spotlight is on you, it is important to know how to stand up for yourself. Practice confidence and standing firmly by your values and boundaries.

If you are ready to journey deeper into the expression of the Queen…

…the Feminine Archetype Workbooks are here to guide you! Some topics we explore specifically in the Queen Workbook are how to:

• step closer towards greatness and leverage your natural ability to lead and inspire
• explore how embracing self-care and abundance can lead you to greater success
• unlock the confidence it takes to show up as the Queen you truly are
• start attracting partners you are truly aligned with
• deal with obstacles in your relationships, such as jealousy, envy, and trust issues
• find out what defines you outside of your relationships
• overcome the feeling of powerlessness and challenge yourself to release control for more ease in your life

I hope this post has helped you gain a better understanding of the Queen archetype. Perhaps you even discovered something new about yourself? If so, please share in the comments below. I would love to hear about it!