To Step Up Or Step Down | Katie Todd TV

To Step Up or Down

Posted on 05. Oct, 2009 by Katie Todd in Personal Development

To Step Up or Down? – That Is The Question

My Queen (an archetype), has dominated much of my life, as it does for all King/Queens. She is a courageous leader who longs to make the world a better place for all, especially those in her ‘royal court’. At various times my Queen has been executed, by that I mean, excluded by others in a publicly humiliating way. Throughout history Queens were literally executed and all King/Queens fear being misunderstood and experiencing a death in some metaphysical form or other. My Queen in her shadow is arrogant, bossy, never wrong, critical, impatient and refuses to reveal her insecurities or vulnerabilities. These qualities, not surprisingly, attract the very thing I fear. At her best, (her light) my Queen is incredibly loving, sensitive, generous, brave, wise, loyal, responsible and committed to her causes.

Courage To Step Up I have learnt that when sticking my neck out to lead my Queen gets anxious. I have recurring neck pain and can have dreams of being literally executed. Over the last two weeks my neck has been awful. When I stopped to ask why, I realised my Queen (one of my 13 archetypes), was feeling extremely vulnerable.

I have just emerged from time spent in self imposed exile, to write and teach on my new blog about archetypes, relationships and life issues. I love this work, but now I’m choosing to step up I’ve contracted internally. When any of us step up in life we inevitably contract for a period of time. We can interpret this confusion as a sign not to continue, and let fears and doubts paralyse our actions.

Fortunately I’ve learnt this is merely another moment of vulnerability for my Queen, and respond appropriately. Instead of agonising over whether to step up or step down, I reassure myself. One step at a time, one day at a time, serving as I can where I can, nurturing myself as I go. This means avoiding self execution! Simple – now that it is recognised! For years when faced with these unnamed inner fears and feelings I stepped down and missed out.

Queens who step down are abdicating Queens. When without purpose we all become toxic. My ongoing choice today is to step up and be self loving in the process, thereby short cutting all angst. My Queen now knows that sticking her neck out is essential to her happiness!