The Strength tarot card is the ninth Major Arcana card of the tarot deck and represents many qualities other than being strong.
In the past, Strength was termed fortitude, and it’s meaning is quite clear in both illustration and title. Having a gallant spirit, maintaining composure while under pressure, and working with others while forgiving imperfection is all a part of strength.
When this card shows up in your reading, it is certainly a message that having stamina and patience is required for some challenges in your love life, career, or relationships. Are you prepared to step out with a cloak of strength?
Strength Tarot Card Key Words
Before diving deeper into the upright- and reversed Strength card meaning, and its connection to love, work, and life, below a quick overview of the most important words connected to this Major Arcana card.
Upright: strength, courage, compassion, focus, persuasion, influence
Reversed: self-doubt, weakness, insecurity, low energy, raw emotion
Strength Tarot Card Description
The Strength tarot card shows a woman in a white robe. She holds a fully grown lion and gently caresses its forehead and jaws.
Even though it is known for its ferociousness, the woman is able to tame the lion through compassion, love, patience, and cunning. There is virtually no effort involved.
The lion symbolizes raw emotions and is related to our consciousness on the instinctive level. The woman, on the other hand, is a representative of our higher spiritual energy. She has managed to gain control over the intrinsic urges. As such, this card illustrates that the feminine powers of gentleness and self-control can tame our lower and more violent animal natures.
The woman wears a white robe, showing her purity of spirit. The belt and crown of yellow flowers and roses represent the fullest, most beautiful expression of nature.
Above the woman’s head, we see the same symbol that also can be found in the Magician tarot card — the sign of infinity and unlimited potential. Just like the magician, she has the ability to manifest what she desires with her newfound power.
Strength Tarot Meaning
The upright Strength tarot card represents – as the name already suggests – strength, passion, persuasion, and power. It tells you that you have the power and strength to overcome any obstacle – just like the Chariot.
However, while the Chariot represents external will and power, the Strength card encourages you to succeed through your inner strength.
The card also tells you that you have the capacity to stay positive and calm and think logically in stressful situations that test your patience and strength.
Be it through compassion, cunning, or understanding, Strength signifies that you can obtain true control of a situation, and not simply the power to forcefully impose your will.
The Strength card tells you that you have the power and strength to overcome any obstacle– just like the Chariot.
The Strength card indicates that you are a very persevering person and that you can achieve anything you set your mind to. You’re confident and do not have problems being yourself and speaking up.
You are committed to what you need to do, and you go about it in a very balanced and mature way. Keep behaving this way and you will be successful in anything you want to accomplish.
Career and Money Meaning
Strength in a financial or work reading is representative of a key to success. If this card has appeared in your reading, you have all of the ingredients you need to create the perfect recipe for success for yourself. If you’re wanting a raise at work, hope to grow relationships with colleagues, or get a new contract, you’ll need to show that you’re confident and in control.
One way to really demonstrate strength in the workplace is to be of service to others. Try volunteering, making yourself available for extra projects, or picking up the extra load. If you’re looking for work, volunteering is still a good option as it can help you connect with the right people.
Love and Relationships Meaning
The Strength tarot card in a love context often appears when you’re having relationship trouble, either with family, a friend, or your lover. This isn’t a bad thing, though. This card represents your ability to accept others as they are, practice patience, and demonstrate the strength of love.
What can you do to be more open and loving? Are there hurts from the past you need to forgive? Avoid the tendency to shut down when faced with hurt. Find ways to open your heart even more during these times. Meditation, volunteer work, and spending time doing things you love are all great options.
Health & Spirituality Meaning
Are you going through a turbulent time? Are you feeling physically sick, tired, or stressed? If so, the Strength card tells you -especially in a health context – to be conscious of your instinctual urges and gut reactions. In these times its completely human that you’re feeling sad, angry, or maybe even ashamed.
Yet, don’t let these emotions guide you! Instead, tame your animal instincts, regain the power within yourself and approach your situation with compassion and love. You know that you have the qualities to overcome these hard times.
Strength Tarot Card Meaning Reversed
A reversed Strength card in a tarot reading can indicate that you are showing explosive behavior or that you can easily become furious. If so, let the Strength card be a reminder that you need to learn how to channel your raw emotions. Otherwise, you may act without thinking or say things you’ll regret later.
The reversed Strength card can also be a sign that you are lacking the inner strength that this card usually embodies. It might be that everyone seems to be blissful or topping in each area of their lives, while you feel like you are stuck in a rut.
Stop comparing yourself to others and focus on your own journey. Learn to get back on your feet, and just remember that you have the inner power and strength to overcome any obstacle. Try to reconnect with this power and get back that conviction you once had. You can always seek a professional to help you with this.
Let the Strength card be a reminder that you need to learn how to channel your raw emotions.
Furthermore, the reversed Strength card is an indication that you may have forgotten all that spark of joy, happiness, and fulfillment that you felt when you were doing things with passion and love. As a result, the positive vibes and happiness in your life are fading away.
Feeling this way could greatly affect your overall health and daily activities. Therefore this card encourages you to rest for some time, take care of yourself and regain energy.
Strength in a Yes or No Reading
The Strength card tells you that you can obtain true control of a situation through inner strength. You don’t need outside forces to change things, but your own power. Therefore, the Strength card in a Yes or No – Tarot reading almost always represents a yes. Use your intuition, love, and feminine powers to overcome the situation.
Strength Tarot Card Art
The Rider-Waite deck is the most common deck in tarot. However, there are so many beautiful tarot deck designs and cards and I can browse for hours. Just because I can, here is an inspirational tarot card list, with my favorite Strength tarot cards. If you designed a card yourself, and want to share this, I would love to hear from you!
Important Card Combinations
The Strength card represents powerful connections. Although the images on different versions of the card vary, most include a feminine woman and a lion. At first glance, these two creatures are very different in nature, but together, they create an unshakable resolve.
When you see the Strength card paired with other cards, it can shed light on an otherwise confusing situation. Here are four of the most common tarot card combinations that appear in readings.
Strength and the Hanged Man
One common misconception that people share when it comes to strength, in general, is that being strong means having to fight a battle aggressively. This is not true. If you’ve ever watched a boxing match, then you know that fighters have to be very careful about how they use their strength. If all of their energy is expelled in the first round, they will quickly tire and lose the match.
When Strength and the Hanged Man join forces, the message is one of patience, not action. Now isn’t the time to make hasty decisions. Instead, take time to assess the situation and make a plan for moving forward.
Strength and the Chariot
The Chariot and Strength are two of the most powerful cards in the entire deck. The Chariot deals with pushing forward, often in a warrior or aggressive way, while Strength represents using inner fortitude to ride out the waves of any difficulty you might be facing. When paired together, they represent the power to overcome any obstacle with dignity. Whatever challenge you are facing will soon be a distant memory.
Strength and the Eight of Cups or Six of Swords
Are you feeling totally drained and unable to move forward? The Strength card carries a very literal meaning when connected with the Eight of Cups or the Six of Swords: it is time to find your inner strength and overcome your present situation.
When you are ill, dealing with heartbreak, or going through any type of disappointment or loss, it can feel like life is over. The strength card urges you to take heart despite setbacks and soldier on patiently. You will soon move past your troubles and embrace a new lease on life.
What do you think of the Strength Card?
That’s all for the Strength tarot card meaning! If you have pulled this card in your tarot spread, did the meaning make sense to your situation in life? Just remember that when this card shows up in your reading, it is a sign that you have the power and strength to overcome any obstacle. You can do this!
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