She’s the quintessential “Q,” a primary archetype and a woman who, as Carolyn Myss writes in her book Archetypes: Who Are You?, “knows privilege.” Is this Q you? Or perhaps you are a Princess? Regardless the size of your royal title, for you it’s not all “let them eat cake,” tiaras and capes, served on a silver platter.

With great privilege, after all, comes great responsibility. And you don’t shy away from the obligation; you earn and keep your subjects’ loyalty and trust. Whether you are Queen via blood (poor Mary of Scots had the title foisted upon her as a six-day-old infant), marriage, creativity, leadership, or Executive position, you thrive on having power — but that doesn’t make you a control freak. In any event, if you are an archetypal Queen it’s from birth, so you have a lifetime to find your kingdoms, discover your authentic purpose, and hold on to your head!

Long live the Queen! Here are a few of my favorites:

THE BENEVOLENT QUEEN – QUEEN OPRAH
This Queen/Creative/Performer born with hardly a spoon to put in her mouth turned her personal struggles into a universal conversation and was declared “Queen of Daytime Television.” True to archetypal profile, Oprah thrives on using her gifts of power and generosity to open doors and possibilities for a new life for others. From Oprah come these words of affirmation and inspiration: “Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another stepping-stone to greatness.” Love you, Queen Oprah. I follow you stepping-stone by stepping-stone.

THE QUEEN OF MEAN – LEONA HELMSLEY
The media-ordained “Queen of Mean,” this brilliant Queen/Executive insisted that each guest at her hotels be treated in a royal fashion, yet declared that “taxes were just for the little people.” Leona was challenged, as is many a monarch, to discover the difference between power and illusion. And she found her reality in a prison cell. Thank you, Leona, for reminding us all, in a bigger-than-life way, to never forget the little people. And we’re all the little people.

THE QUEEN OF HEARTS – PRINCESS DIANA
The beautiful Princess/Advocate and Caregiver told us “I think the biggest disease the world suffers from in this day and age is the disease of people feeling unloved. I know that I can give love for a minute, for half an hour, for a day, for a month, but I can give. I am very happy to do that, I want to do that.” Then, true to her archetype, she did. For far too short a time. Rest in Peace. You are forever beloved.

QUEEN LEADER – MARGARET THATCHER
The first and only woman to lead a major Western democracy for two decades, the Prime Minister summed up her power as such: “Any woman who understands the problems of running a home will be nearer to understanding the problems of running a country.” And she did both. Do you relate? She was The Iron Lady — and a true lady.

QUEEN BEYONCÉ/CREATIVE/PERFORMER
Vogue put her on its cover and ordained her Queen Beyoncé. If the Queen/Creative/Performer is you, center stage is where you need to be and you’ve got your kingdom of five or five million agreeing. And like all us “little people,” each born into our unique archetypal portraits, Beyoncé has her moments of doubt: “There’s plenty of days when I’m like ‘Oh God, why?’ But that’s just life. It’s every job, not just mine. But then, when I’m onstage where I’m supposed to be, it feels incredible.”

Do you know your true purpose? “The stage” that by birth you were meant to occupy? Discover yours by taking the fun and easy quiz on Archetypes.com. And let us all rock on!

With grace and gratitude,
Cristina

Cristina Carlino is the founder of Archetypes, Inc. Each week she will reveal a new letter of the Alphabet of Archetypes. Stop back often to discover aspects of yourself you didn’t know existed.