The Meaning of
the "Strength" Tarot Card

On The Strength tarot card, a graceful and patient woman holds the jaws of a lion shut.

The woman's posture and facial expression seem remarkably calm considering the danger she would seem to be in.

Still, despite her modest size and feminine clothes, she seems to maintain complete dominion over the lion.

despite her modest size and feminine clothes, she seems to maintain complete dominion over the lion.

Her white dress symbolizes a purity of purpose, and the garlands of flowers in her hair reveal a natural vitality to her spirit. The look on her face is one of calm confdence — she knows she will succeed. She is manifesting her success through strength of will.

Above the woman's head floats a mysterious infinity symbol representing the limitless power of the mind. A similar infinity symbol can also be found on The Magician card.

The lion's tail is tucked between its legs in a sign of submission — accepting and acknowledging the woman's dominance over it.

NOTE: In this deck of tarot cards, Strength is the 8th card of the Major Arcana, while in some other decks Strength is the 11th card and Justice is number 8. This switch was made more than a century ago by the Golden Dawn group of mystics. It was their hope to create a more orderly, unified approach which incorporated all fields of divination and spiritualism (tarot, numerology, astrology, etc.) into single, organized system. Whether or not they succeeded is a subject of never ending debate, Here on iFate, we're in the "Strength is card number 8" club — but don't be surprised to find the numbers of the Justice and Strength cards switched in some other tarot decks.

Rather than symbolizing raw, muscular strength, the Strength card represents inner strength, conviction and personal fortitude.

It is the strength that survives a test of will, or defines our ability to resist temptation.

... reality is what we make it, through force of will and personal resolve.

It may represent the strength needed to stay on a diet, or to quit smoking. It may be the type of strength that keeps us working at at a job when part of us wants to quit every day. Or it may be the type of strength that keeps us committed to personal promises that we have made.

In other cases, the appearance of the card in a reading may refer to a specific person who exhibits these qualities — or who is currently being tested.

When the Strength card appears in a reading, it's a sign that what is at issue is really someone's willpower. We often forget that reality is what we make it, through force of will and personal resolve. The card is a reminder that willpower and resolve are what define us.

If the card is referencing a past event, it may point to a time when inner fortitude and intense loyalty is what was most important. If it is referring to an upcoming or future event, it may indicate a coming test of inner resolve, willpower, loyalty or conviction.

When we have made up our minds to do something, courage and physical strength will follow naturally.

The appearance of the reversed Strength card is often a sign that self confidence or personal resolve are lacking.

We all sometimes forget that reality is something that we manifest through our own outlook and our own approach to situations. When the inverted Strength card appears in a reading, it's often an indication that what is at issue is a failure to project confidence or strength of will.

... someone is suffering a crisis of confidence or a crisis in their own willpower to continue with something.

The card may serve as a gentle warning that someone is suffering a crisis of confidence or a crisis in their own willpower to continue with something.

Another possible meaning of the reversed Strength card is that physical energy is taking the place of mental energy. Or that outbursts and displays of emotion are replacing focused willpoewr and organized thoughts.

When the Strength card appears inverted in a reading, it's often a call to assess a situation rationally and then decide, with 100% conviction, to take a position and stick to it. Without mental clarity and conviction, we can only externalize weakness and manifest failure.