STRENGTH – Tarot Card Meaning

General Overview

The Strength card is the eighth Major Arcana card in the tarot deck. It typically depicts a woman calmly and gently taming a lion, symbolizing courage, inner strength, patience, and compassion. Unlike cards that focus on external power or aggression, Strength emphasizes the mastery of one's inner impulses, emotional balance, and moral courage. It reflects the ability to face challenges with grace, confidence, and quiet determination.

Strength often appears when you need to trust your inner resilience, show compassion toward yourself and others, and act with patience rather than force. It highlights the importance of self-discipline and emotional intelligence in achieving personal and spiritual growth.

Upright Meaning

When Strength appears upright, it signifies:

1. Inner Strength and Courage

The card represents confidence, patience, and resilience. It encourages facing challenges with calm determination, relying on inner strength rather than brute force or external validation. It’s a reminder that true power comes from within.

2. Compassion and Patience

Strength encourages a gentle approach to life and relationships. By showing compassion and understanding toward yourself and others, you can achieve better outcomes and maintain harmony in difficult situations.

3. Control of Emotions

The card symbolizes mastery over impulses, fears, and doubts. It highlights the ability to remain calm, balanced, and composed even in stressful circumstances.

4. Personal Growth and Confidence

Strength signals personal growth, self-confidence, and moral courage. It suggests that you are developing the inner fortitude to overcome obstacles and make wise, conscious decisions.

5. Positive Influence and Leadership

Upright Strength also represents leading by example, inspiring others through patience, empathy, and resilience. It emphasizes the power of persuasion, understanding, and calm guidance rather than force.

Reversed Meaning

When Strength is reversed, it indicates inner challenges and imbalance:

1. Self-Doubt and Weakness

The reversed card may signal feelings of insecurity, low self-esteem, or lack of confidence. You may be struggling to trust your abilities or feeling overwhelmed by challenges.

2. Impatience and Anger

Reversed Strength can indicate impulsiveness, frustration, or a tendency to act aggressively rather than with calm patience. Emotional control may be lacking.

3. Abuse of Power

It may suggest misuse of strength or authority—either your own or someone else’s. This could manifest as manipulation, forceful behavior, or dominating situations without empathy.

4. Resistance to Inner Growth

The reversed card warns against ignoring lessons of patience, resilience, and compassion. Avoiding inner work can prevent personal and spiritual growth.

5. Emotional Imbalance

Reversed Strength can indicate emotional instability, fear, or vulnerability. It’s a reminder to seek balance, self-care, and inner harmony.

Key Symbols

• The Woman: Represents calmness, compassion, and inner control over instincts and emotions.
• The Lion: Symbolizes raw instincts, courage, and untamed power that must be balanced with wisdom.
• Infinity Symbol Above Head: Indicates infinite potential, spiritual growth, and mastery over oneself.
• Flowers: Represent gentleness, patience, and the beauty of approaching challenges with love rather than force.

Summary

The Strength card highlights courage, patience, and inner resilience. Upright, it encourages self-confidence, compassion, and emotional mastery, reminding you to face challenges with calm determination. Reversed, it warns of self-doubt, impatience, or imbalance, urging introspection and self-care. Strength ultimately teaches that true power comes from mastering your emotions, acting with empathy, and cultivating patience and perseverance.