The Meaning of
the "Strength" Tarot Card

Tarot Quick Info
What is the inverted meaning of
the "Strength" card?
The Meaning of the "Strength"
Tarot Card
The Symbolism of the Strength 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.
How to Interpret the Strength Card
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 Strength Card Inverted
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.
Common Symbols Found On the Strength Card
Tarot cards often use a symbolic or iconographic language to convey information about the cards. The Strength contains at least six common, repeating Tarot symbols. Each of these symbols can add greater dimensions of interpretation to the card.
The symbols which appear on the Strength card are:
Infinity Symbols
Infinity symbols symbolism appears on the Strength card:
In the most general terms, infinity symbols symbolize skill without limits. These figure-8 symbols remind us of the infinite potential within every one of us — and our infinite capacity to exercise the power of the mind over the physical world. At a simpler level, infinity symbols remind us to question anything which seems impossible. They push us to step forward and to try, even when a nagging voice may be trying to convince us that success lies beyond our physical ability or means.
NOTE: The infinity symbol above the woman's head on the Strength Tarot card indicates an infinite amount of strength — but it is not a physical strength of muscles represented here, but an inner strength born of experience and willpower.
Read more about the symbolism of "Infinity Symbols" in Tarot
Lions
Lions symbolism appears on the Strength card:
Lions in a general sense represent courage and strength, however the way lions are depicted on Tarot cards isn't always the same, and their symbolic meaning depends upon the exact card where each lion appears. As well as being the central theme of the Major Arcana Strength Tarot card, lions are a recurring symbol on several other cards across the Tarot deck.
Roses
Roses symbolism appears on the Strength card:
Roses are some of the most important repeating symbols in the iconic Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot deck. What can sometimes make interpreting roses difficult, is that there are a few different varieties of roses which make an appearance on different cards. Each of these varieties and colors carries a different meaning.
NOTE: In the Strength card, a beautiful female dons a garland of red roses. Roses in general terms suggest male energies, but in this card the roses adorn an extremely female figure. This duality helps to accentuate the confidence and strength exhibited effortlessly by the woman in the white dress.
Mountains
Mountains symbolism appears on the Strength card:
Mountains in the background are some of the most ubiquitous symbols appearing in the Tarot. In broad strokes, mountains symbolize trials which must be passed, and hardships which must be overcome. Depending on the specific Tarot card, these challenges may either reference future issues which lie along the current path, or they may represent past challenges and contests which have already been encountered before arriving at the current state of things.
NOTE: The mountains in the Strength card serve as a reminder that this woman's seemingly effortless display of strength and confidence comes from prior challenges which were successfully completed. The woman shown on the card isn't strong because she is gifted with superhuman physical strength. She is strong because of the hardships and challenges she has endured in her past.
Green Fields
Green fields symbolism appears on the Strength card:
Green fields in Rider-Waite Tarot symbolism typically represent possibility, prosperity, wholesomeness and health. Although lush green fields are generally linked to positivity, they are sometimes included on cards which have an overall negative message to show a contrast between negative and positive themes — as shown in the background and foreground of the card.
Garlands
Garlands symbolism appears on the Strength card:
The symbolism of garlands and rings of flowers is used frequently throughout the classic Rider Waite deck. Garlands of flowers, leaves and fruit indicate festivity, plenty and our unbreakable connection to nature. In other cases, the appearance of garlands may also point to a ceremony or some official recognition.
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