Strength Tarot Card: Embracing Kindness and Bravery

1. The Basic Meaning of the Strength Tarot Card

Have you ever faced a truly daunting challenge, not with roaring aggression, but with a quiet, steadfast courage that seemed to well up from deep within your soul? That gentle yet unshakeable inner power, that calm resolve in the face of fear, is the first whisper of the Strength tarot card. This card isn’t about brute force or physical might; it’s about the profound power of compassion, patience, and inner resilience.

The Strength card stands as a symbol of courage, fortitude, and the ability to tame wilder impulses – both internal and external – through gentle influence rather than dominance. When this card appears, it often signals a time when you are called to draw upon your inner reserves of bravery, patience, and self-belief. It suggests that true strength lies not in overpowering others, but in mastering oneself and approaching difficulties with a calm and loving heart. It’s an invitation to connect with your inner lion-tamer, the part of you that can face fear with grace.

2. Picture This: Unveiling the Symbols Within Strength

In many familiar tarot images, the Strength card depicts a woman calmly and gently interacting with a lion. She is often shown either closing the lion’s jaws or holding them open, not with force, but with a serene confidence. This powerful image immediately conveys the idea of subduing raw, primal energy through gentle influence rather than physical struggle.

The woman frequently wears a white robe, symbolizing purity of spirit and a higher nature. Above her head, the symbol of infinity (the lemniscate) often appears, the same symbol seen above The Magician’s head. Here, it can signify infinite spiritual power, eternal life, or the enduring nature of true inner strength and courage. She may also be adorned with a garland of flowers around her waist or in her hair, emphasizing her connection to nature, beauty, and the gentle, organic unfolding of power.

The lion itself represents our primal instincts, raw passions, courage, animalistic desires, or challenges that appear fierce and untamed. The fact that the woman is not fighting the lion, but rather calming it or harmonizing with it, is key. It suggests an integration of these powerful energies, rather than their suppression or violent overthrow. The landscape around them is often peaceful and green, suggesting that this inner harmony leads to outer peace and vitality. The overall scene speaks of a quiet, internal victory, where love and compassion prove stronger than brute force.

3. The Heart of the Matter: What Strength Means When Upright

When the Strength card appears upright in a reading, it is a deeply empowering sign of inner courage, resilience, patience, and the ability to overcome challenges through gentle yet firm resolve. It brings a message of self-mastery and the power of a compassionate heart.

Core Upright Meanings:

The central message of the Strength card is one of inner fortitude, courage, and the gentle application of power. It signifies that you possess the inner resources to face any fears, difficulties, or overwhelming emotions with grace and composure. This card often appears when you are being called to be brave, to persevere through a trying situation, or to manage a powerful impulse or desire with patience and self-control. Key themes for Strength include courage, compassion, patience, self-discipline, influence, and the taming of base instincts. It encourages you to approach challenges not with aggression, but with understanding, kindness, and a quiet determination.

Strength indicates that you can influence situations and people through gentle persuasion and heartfelt connection rather than by force. It speaks of the power of love, forgiveness, and empathy to heal and to overcome negativity. This is not a passive strength; it is an active, engaged fortitude that comes from a deep well of inner conviction and spiritual power. It’s about knowing your own power but choosing to wield it with gentleness and wisdom.

The Number’s Voice (Numerology Connection for 8):

The Strength card is commonly numbered 8 (though in some older systems or different deck traditions, it can be 11, swapping with Justice). Assuming the common Rider-Waite-Smith lineage numbering where Strength is 8, we look to the number 8. In numerology, the number 8 is powerfully associated with themes of material mastery, personal power, abundance, authority, and self-reliance. It is the number of karma (as you sow, so shall you reap), efficiency, and achieving worldly success through discipline and hard work. Your numerology resources highlight that the number 8 is about leadership, organization, and the ability to manifest large-scale achievements. It represents a balance between the material and spiritual worlds, understanding that true power involves both.

Connecting this to the Strength card, the number 8 underscores the theme of personal power, but Strength redefines it. While 8 can relate to outward authority and control (like The Emperor), the Strength card shows this power manifested through inner mastery and gentle influence. The lion represents the powerful, raw energies (perhaps even worldly ambitions or challenges signified by 8) that the figure on the card masterfully and gently controls. The 8 here speaks to the immense power that is being handled – the power of passion, instinct, and even worldly difficulties – but it is managed with an inner strength that is spiritual and compassionate, leading to a different kind of “mastery” and “success” than mere material gain. It’s about the power over oneself which then leads to a powerful influence over one’s circumstances. The balance inherent in the number 8 is also reflected in the harmonious relationship between the woman and the lion.

Bringing Meanings to Life:

Imagine you are facing a situation that triggers strong emotions like anger or fear. Instead of reacting impulsively, you take a deep breath, acknowledge the feeling, and choose to respond with calm and understanding. That ability to manage your inner state and choose a constructive response is the essence of the Strength card. Or perhaps you are working patiently towards a long-term goal, facing setbacks with resilience and maintaining your self-belief even when things get tough. That quiet determination is Strength.

It might also appear when you are supporting someone else through a difficult time, offering them compassion and encouragement, helping them find their own inner courage. It’s about being a gentle, steady force for good. When I feel that deep inner resolve to face something difficult with kindness, or when I successfully calm a volatile situation with patience rather than force – that feels like embodying the true power of the Strength card. It reminds us that the greatest power often comes not from a loud roar, but from a quiet, loving, and steadfast heart.

4. The Strength Tarot Card When Reversed

When the Strength card appears reversed, its energy of inner courage, patience, and gentle control can become distorted, leading to feelings of weakness, self-doubt, or an imbalance in how personal power is expressed.

One common interpretation of Strength reversed is that it can point to a lack of self-confidence, fear, or feeling overwhelmed by circumstances. You might be doubting your ability to handle challenges, or you may be giving in to anxieties or base desires rather than mastering them. There could be a feeling of inner weakness or a lack of resilience in the face of adversity.

Another perspective is that Strength reversed can indicate that you are trying to exert force or control in an aggressive or impatient way, rather than through gentle influence. This “brute force” approach may be ineffective or create more resistance. Conversely, it could signify a complete lack of self-discipline or an inability to manage your impulses, leading to regrettable actions or a scattering of your vital energy.

Sometimes, Strength reversed can also suggest that you are suppressing your true feelings or passions too much, leading to a lack of vitality or joy. The “lion” within might be overly caged, resulting in a diminished sense of self. Or, perhaps you are giving your power away to others or to external circumstances, forgetting the immense strength that resides within you. There might be a need to reconnect with your inner courage and self-belief.

The reversed Strength card is an invitation to look honestly at your relationship with your inner power and your fears. Are you underestimating your own capabilities? Are you approaching challenges with too much force or too little resolve? Are you nurturing your inner spirit, or are you allowing fear to dominate? It’s a call to find that gentle yet powerful inner core of courage and to cultivate self-compassion.

5. Seeing It in Your World: Strength in Your Daily Life

The qualities of courage and gentle power embodied by the Strength card, whether flowing effortlessly upright or highlighting areas for inner work when reversed, can be seen in many everyday experiences.

When Strength’s upright energy is active, you might find yourself calmly handling a stressful work situation, patiently teaching someone a new skill, or bravely speaking your truth in a difficult conversation, all while maintaining compassion. You might successfully resist an old unhealthy habit through sheer inner resolve or find the courage to pursue a dream despite your fears. It’s a time when you feel internally strong, resilient, and able to meet challenges with grace.

If the lessons of the reversed Strength card are more apparent, you might find yourself lashing out in anger when frustrated, instead of managing your emotions constructively. You might feel easily discouraged by setbacks or plagued by self-doubt when trying something new. Perhaps you are avoiding a necessary confrontation because you fear the outcome, or you find yourself struggling with a lack of discipline in an area where you need it. It could also manifest as feeling emotionally exhausted because you are not taking the time to nurture your own inner well-being.

A couple of questions to reflect on when Strength’s energy is present:

“What inner fears or challenges am I being called to face with courage and compassion right now?”
“How can I access my gentle inner power to influence this situation positively, rather than resorting to force or giving up?”

6. Echoes and Connections: Strength Among Other Cards

The Strength card, whether placed as Card 8 or 11, marks a crucial development in self-mastery on The Fool’s journey. It often follows or precedes cards dealing with external action or societal structures (like The Chariot or Justice), highlighting that true effectiveness in the world requires not just outer skill but profound inner fortitude.

It offers a different kind of power than The Magician (Card 1), who uses focused will and tools for external creation. Strength’s power is internal, a quality of character. It also contrasts with the raw ambition of The Chariot (Card 7); where The Chariot controls external forces through willpower, Strength tames internal (and thus influences external) forces through compassion and resilience.

The lion in the Strength card can be seen as a primal force, perhaps related to the instinctual energies that might also be encountered in cards like The Devil (Card 15), but Strength shows the healthy integration and gentle mastery of these energies, whereas The Devil might represent being enslaved by them. The compassion inherent in Strength also links it to the nurturing qualities of The Empress and the healing aspects often associated with Temperance.

7. The Wisdom of Strength: Your Gentle Takeaway Message

The deepest wisdom of the Strength card is the profound truth that true power comes from within, rooted in courage, compassion, patience, and self-mastery. This card reminds you that you possess an incredible inner resilience that allows you to face life’s challenges not with aggression or fear, but with a calm and loving heart. It teaches that gentleness can be more powerful than force, and that patience can overcome the most formidable obstacles.

Strength encourages you to connect with your inner core of bravery, to trust in your ability to endure and to influence situations through your quiet resolve and heartfelt understanding. It emphasizes that managing your own inner world – your fears, your impulses, your passions – is the key to navigating the outer world effectively and with integrity. It’s about finding the courage to be vulnerable, the patience to persevere, and the compassion to heal yourself and others.

Think of the Strength card as representing your own indomitable spirit, your capacity for immense love, and your ability to meet any lion in your path with grace. This card invites you to cultivate these qualities, to believe in your quiet power, and to understand that your gentle heart holds your greatest fortitude. It’s a call to be brave in your kindness, strong in your patience, and powerful in your love.

8. Quick Questions About Strength

Here are a couple of common questions people have about the Strength card:

Q1: Does the Strength card mean I have to be physically strong?A: No, the Strength card primarily refers to inner strength – mental, emotional, and spiritual fortitude. It’s about courage, resilience, patience, and self-control, rather than physical prowess. While physical health can support inner strength, the card’s main message is about the power of your character and spirit.
Q2: If I get Strength, does it mean I will overcome my problems easily?A: Strength indicates that you have the capacity to overcome your problems, but it doesn’t necessarily mean it will be easy or quick. It often implies a need for patience, perseverance, and sustained inner effort. The victory it promises is one earned through your enduring inner qualities.
Q3: Is Strength only about taming negative things like fear or anger?A: While Strength certainly helps in managing challenging emotions and fears, it’s also about positively harnessing your passions and vital energies. The “lion” can represent any powerful force within you – creativity, ambition, desire. Strength is about channeling these potent energies constructively and with self-awareness, not just suppressing negativity.

The Fool • The Magician • The High Priestess • The Empress • The Emperor • The Hierophant • The Lovers • The Chariot • Strength • The Hermit • Wheel of Fortune • Justice • The Hanged Man • Death • Temperance • The Devil • The Tower • The Star • The Moon • The Sun • Judgement • The World

Strength – Card 8: Your In-Depth Guide to Courage and Inner Power

Contents