I’ve decided to start a series where I pull an archetype card and spend time contemplating about what it means for me. I’ll take as much time as I need—whether it’s a day, a week, or more—to really understand the message. This feels like a chance to learn more about myself, uncover new ideas, and see what each archetype can teach me.
November 16, 2024, Saturday, around 2:30 PM
Full Moon in Taurus
THE KING
The colors: blood red, tangerine, lemon yellow. The zodiac sign Leo came to mind right off the bat. Why wouldn’t it? The lion is the king of the jungle—and Leo, the king of the zodiac.
It reminds me of my South Node in Leo in the 11th house, and how, for some reason, I’m surrounded by Leos in my life. My dad is a Leo sun. My sister is a Leo rising. Her husband is a Leo sun. My boyfriend is a Leo sun, moon, and Mercury. Yet I’ve always been triggered by arrogance, attention-seeking, and leadership. I’ve always hated the yabang in other people. This is something I’ve been working to heal. But why is it coming up now?
I recently learned that our South Nodes represent the gifts and natural talents we’ve been given in this lifetime. They aren’t necessarily something we need to overcome or veer away from; instead, they’re tools we can use to reach our destiny and potential, as reflected in the North Node.
The hand in the image is a right hand. What stands out to me is the pinky finger—it’s as long as the pointer! There’s also a small golden orb nestled between the middle and ring fingers, and a red wax seal on the palm. The red, orange, and yellow rays emanating from the hand are striking.
This image just radiates MASCULINITY in all caps. A quick search on the archetype tells me that The King is the most important of the four mature masculine archetypes, the others being the Warrior, Magician, and Lover. I feel resistant to this card. Why masculinity? I’d rather be reading about the Divine Feminine right now.
Ah, but perhaps I’ve been too much in flow.
He is centered.
He is decisive.
He lives with integrity.
He protects his realm.
He provides order.
He creates and inspires creativity in others.
As I reflect on this, I’m reminded that both the masculine and feminine are essential for creation. To create, one cannot remain entirely in flow. Discipline and structure are also required. For ideas to come to life, action is needed.
He blesses the lives of others.
“That is the effect of blessing; it heals and makes whole. That’s what happens when we are seen, valued, and concretely rewarded for our legitimate talents and abilities.”
Robert Moore
But what if we bless ourselves and our own lives first? What if we see, value, and reward ourselves for our own talents and abilities?
He leaves a legacy.
I’ve always felt an aversion to the idea of legacy. It seems to depend too much on recognition and validation. Or maybe, in its purest sense, it’s simply about the long-lasting impact of something—not for the sake of being recognized and remembered after you’re gone, but to leave Earth a little better than when you arrived.
Lily Magick 