Hello all you Magickal Beings out there! Welcome to the Coaching Corner with Cards, where we explore the Tarot in a spiritual and life coaching context. But you know this Gemini… I love starting with a good story…

The Story of Miss Columbus Gay Pride 2014

At the beginning of the month, I committed to something outside of my comfort zone: I signed up for a drag pageant, Ms. Volusia Pride.

Now… I’ve only held one title in my entire life, and that was back in 2014 as Miss Columbus Gay Pride (a preliminary to Miss Ohio Gay Pride).

Having a crown on my head was an incredible experience in marketing, PR, social media — and personal boundaries.

You see, winning Miss Columbus Gay Pride was just the first step. Those of us who won various city preliminaries across the state of Ohio would go on to compete for the title of Miss Ohio Gay Pride.

But even winning at any level was only the beginning.

There was preparation for the state pageant that included investing in a formal evening wear look with a creative element, rhinestoning, talent rehearsals, talent costumes, and hair for formal updos…

You’d be surprised how much five pounds of hair molded onto a human head can cost.

Suffice it to say, pageantry is expensive.

Between gowns, rhinestoning, talent rehearsals, costumes, travel, and hair — yes, human-hair updos can cost a shocking amount — building a competitive pageant package can easily run upwards of $7,000.

Me being the entrepreneurial and industrious queen that I am did what I always do: I worked for it.

I booked every show I could reasonably handle while working a full-time corporate job. I saved aggressively. I invested when I could. Little by little, I built the package.

Lessons Learned & Support Systems

That's not to say you are undertaking this venture alone. Each pageant is owned by a promoter who is there to hopefully guide you along the way. Mind you I said ... hopefully. I'm sure you can see where this is going...

Sadly, my promoter had many personal things happening at the time. The result? I saw them the night I won Miss Columbus Gay Pride... and then not again until the second night of the three-night weekend that is Miss Ohio Gay Pride. While it was frustrating at the time, the experience taught me resiliency, leadership, grit, and how to watch out for both others and myself simultaneously.

And even though I placed squarely in the middle of the pack — 11th out of 21 contestants — some incredible things came from that experience, including meeting one of my closest friends.

Since that time I competed for other more local titles in Columbus but for the most part I had determined that pageantry was something that didn't really have the appeal to me.

So ... why now after almost 12 years am I competing again?

The Transformative Power of Pageantry

I don’t make any bones about it: I find transformation in just about anything. If you can live it, you can transform through it.

What I love about pageantry is this: the moment you say yes—the application, the fee, the commitment—the transformation begins.

For me, pageantry is less about competing with others and more about competing with myself. It’s about how far I can push beyond what I originally thought was possible.

Take, for example, the part that gives me the most anxiety: talent.

In the past, I’ve felt more comfortable with ensemble pieces—having a cast on stage to help carry the story. I’ve performed as Sue Sylvester from Glee, staged luau-themed numbers, and embodied Norma Desmond wrapped in black brocade.

But what I rarely did was perform solo.

The one time I did perform solo—at the state pageant mentioned earlier—I wore a Victorian hoop skirt and sang opera. The judges were not especially pleased.

One told me, “We know you can sing, but I wanted more. Don’t be a one-trick pony.”

That stayed with me.

So when I almost defaulted to another ensemble piece for Miss Volusia Pride, I made a different choice: I would perform solo again.

This time, a spoof of a Chicago number—leaning into my strengths in comedy, storytelling, and a little awkwardness on stage.

That decision changed everything.

It freed me from logistical overwhelm and allowed me to focus on content, rehearsal, and presence.

This is one example of how I’ve learned to make life easier by focusing less on the package and more on how I show up.

Because wearing a crown isn’t just an achievement—it’s an acknowledgment of visibility, responsibility, and leadership.

The Ten of Wands

Throughout my experience with Miss Volusia Pride, I’ve had plenty of ups and downs — missed communications, chasing designers, and learning to rely on what I already have.

I built backups for almost everything. And the blessing in that has been this: I didn’t need to work harder — I needed to work smarter.

Of the four categories I’m competing in — Interview, Creative Presentation, Talent, and Evening Gown — I already had most of the core elements secured. Even my backups were in place just in case the originals fell through.

And that comes from something very simple: a steady income stream that allows me to invest in my art.

What could have easily become a Ten of Wands situation — constant output, uphill battles, and heavy burden — instead became the upside of the Ten of Wands: planning and preparation transformed into productivity rather than pressure.

And for someone who is a recovering workaholic… that’s no small thing.

It’s interesting, isn’t it? A suit so connected to passion, inspiration, and creativity can so easily tip into overexertion and burnout.

But what I’ve learned through this process is how to stay surprisingly — or perhaps unsurprisingly — calm in the midst of preparation.

This pageant won’t make or break my career. That’s an illusion performers often carry.

I’ll still book readings. I’ll still step on stages around Florida. I’ll still compete in future endeavors… (not saying I will, not saying I won’t — but I never thought I’d be here either).

The real lesson of the Wands is this: creativity is meant to move through you, not consume you.

So I want to leave you with this reflection as we move into summer:

Where are you burning yourself out unnecessarily?

Summer is already hot enough — no need to add to it.

Where can you release pressure? Where can you allow rest?

And most importantly: is your creative fire a forge… or a wildfire?

Are you mastering your creative energy — or is it mastering you?

That’s it for today’s Coaching Corner with Cards.

And before you go, I’ve got some new offerings available — and a 15% discount on Tarot readings extended through June. Just use the code STELLATURNS15 at checkout

Make it a magickal day. — Stella B.