During a recent job interview, I said something that stunned my kid. “I am a PTSA Vice President and will need the time to attend a meeting every month. Is that feasible?” Why would I jeopardize my likelihood of getting this job? Setting a boundary and holding firm is the essence of this week’s card. Every week, we explore a Tarot card because Tarot is rich in symbology and helps us tap into our intuition.
Card of the Week: The Queen of Wands
A Queen sits on a throne carved with lions and sunflowers, holding a large budding staff in one hand and a sunflower in the other. Her trusty black cat sits at her feet, ready to walk into any bathroom with her.
The Pattern It Reveals
This Queen is unafraid of taking up space. She sits with her feet wide apart, comfortable with herself and her leadership. She is unafraid of leading and remains nurturing.
We often shrink ourselves to be more palatable. When we do that, what do our children learn? These are the choices we face as parents: how to balance work and life. During the interview, I set an example by choosing life first and asking for what I needed to succeed.
The Question Worth Asking
Are you taking up the space you need?
We lead our families. Our kids are more likely to follow what we do versus what we say. I love all the sunflowers in this card, and I even have a sunflower tattoo because they can detoxify their environment. They can draw in toxins and store them in their stems and leaves.
Unlike actual sunflowers, which then become hazardous waste and need to be disposed of, we must be careful not to become human shock absorbers. As parents, absorbing all the toxic moods and chaos does not serve us. Gift your kids with your presence. Release what we absorb by fully embracing our power to transform undesirable behavior by holding firm but gentle boundaries.
One Small Experiment to Try This Week
Amy Cuddy did a TED Talk about Power Poses. My colleagues and I tried it out and honestly felt more confident as we took up more space. Power poses can help us stop being shock absorbers. They train our physical bodies to take up space, thus strengthening our mental and emotional muscles. A classic power pose is to stand with your hands on your hips and your feet wide apart, like Wonder Woman. Try it out and hold for a minute or two.
During the interview, I remember opening up my arms and asking for what I needed. Remember your power as the Queen of Wands: stand tall and keep open body language. You can lead with compassion by claiming your full power. Advocate for your wants and needs because that is an important lesson to teach your kids.
Ready to lead? Taking up space takes practice. I will be hosting a Back to School Webinar exploring the Stop, Start, Continue tool. We can Stop being the family shock absorber, Start taking up space, and Continue being loving and compassionate parents. It will be on Tuesday, August 4th, and you have access through my Skool Community. Join today and save the date.
About The Author
Hi, friends 👋🏽. I’m Stacy Casson, a Lean Six Sigma certified mom of five. I used to hold a PhD in creating chaos. Now, I help other busy, overwhelmed parents have peaceful evenings and avoid dramatic mornings.
