The Strength tarot card is the ninth Major Arcana card of the tarot deck. As the name implies, it represents the quality of being strong, along with many other positive traits.
In the past, Strength was termed fortitude, and its meaning is quite clear in both illustration and title.
Being brave, staying calm during tough times, and cooperating with others while forgiving their imperfection is what makes a person strong.
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.
Strength Tarot Card: Key Facts
Before we explore the key meanings of the Strength tarot card in both upright and reversed positions, let’s take a quick look at the most important terms associated with it.
| Upright | Strength, courage, compassion, focus, persuasion, influence |
| Reversed | Self-doubt, weakness, insecurity, low energy, raw emotion |
| Yes or No | Yes |
| Numerology | 8 |
| Element | Fire |
| Planet | Sun |
| Astrological Sign | Leo |
Strength Tarot Card Description
To better understand the meaning of the Strength tarot card, let’s start by looking at its illustrations, colors, and symbolism.
The Strength tarot card shows a woman in a white robe. She holds a fully-grown lion and gently pets its forehead and jaws.
Even though the lion is known for its ferociousness, the woman is able to tame it 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 her intrinsic urges.
As such, this card illustrates that the feminine powers of gentleness and self-control can tame violent animal natures, even if they’re present in humans.
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 Card Upright Meaning
As mentioned already, the upright Strength tarot card represents strength, courage, persuasion, and patience. It tells you that you have the power and strength to overcome any obstacle in life, just like the Chariot.
However, while the Chariot represents external will and power, the Strength tarot card encourages you to succeed through your inner strength. You will need to act with grace and sensitivity, rather than just using brutal force.
The card also tells you that you can stay positive and calm. You can 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 tarot 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. But it’s important to make sure that you keep behaving this way. It’ll allow you to be successful in anything you want to accomplish.
Money and Career Meaning
The Strength tarot card 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.
It’s a good card for leadership and it shows that you are ready to take on a challenge and that you will persevere. This may lead to resistance, but staying consistent and holding your ground will generate desired results.
If you’re wanting a raise at work, hope to grow relationships with colleagues, get a new contract, or even start your own business, 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.
So, in terms of money and career, the key points to keep in mind are:
- You have all that it takes to become successful
- Stay consistent and show confidence
- Be of service to others
Love and Relationship Meaning
The Strength tarot card in a love context usually appears when you’re having relationship trouble, either with family, a friend, or your lover.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, though. That’s because this card represents your ability to accept others as they are. You just need to practice patience and demonstrate the strength of love.
Take some time to figure out what you can do to be more open and loving. You might be carrying past hurts that you need to forgive. In any case, just 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.
Here are some important points that you need to remember if the Strength Tarot card appears in a love Tarot reading.
- You’re having relationship trouble
- Demonstrate the strength of love
- Find ways to open your heart
Health and Spirituality Meaning
Are you going through a tough time? Are you feeling physically sick, tired, or stressed? If that’s the case, the Strength tarot card, in a health context, tells you to be conscious of your instinctual urges and gut reactions.
In these times it’s completely human that you’re feeling sad, angry, or maybe even ashamed.
Yet, don’t let these emotions guide you! Instead, tame your inner animal instincts, regain the power within yourself, and approach your situation with compassion and love.
Additionally, always remember that you have the qualities to overcome these hard times. So, the key points to remember in the health and spirituality context are:
- Listen to your intuition
- Don’t be guided by negative emotions
- Approach your situation with love
Strength Tarot Card Reversed Meaning
The meaning of the Strength Tarot Card in the reversed form changes dramatically. Before getting into more details, let’s have a look at the reversed illustration of this card.
A reversed Strength tarot card in a reading can indicate that you are showing explosive behavior or that you can easily become furious.
You should consider the appearance of this card 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.
It 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.
Furthermore, the reversed Strength tarot 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.
Money and Career Meaning
When the Strength tarot card appears in reverse in the context of money and career, it emphasizes the need for bravery and self-confidence to progress in your professional life.
However, it suggests that fear and anxiety may have been holding you back. Let go of self-doubt and believe in your abilities. By gaining confidence, you will find more direction and focus, and others will notice your positive changes.
In terms of finances, the reversed form of this card advises against impulsive decisions. While you may currently have a good financial situation, it’s important to be wise and manage your money responsibly.
Love and Relationship Meaning
The reversed Strength card suggests that impulsive choices or unresolved self-esteem issues are causing you to attract unhealthy relationships.
It is important to address these issues, tap into your inner strength and confidence, and believe that you deserve better.
You need to avoid letting anxiety or fear create unnecessary problems in your relationship.
Health and Spirituality Meaning
The Strength Tarot card in reverse suggests that you’re developing unhealthy habits due to a lack of inner self-control. You need to take small steps to break these bad habits one at a time to improve your well-being.
Additionally, the Strength card in reverse can also indicate that your emotional anxieties are hindering your ability to sense your connection to the spiritual realm. It suggests that you should release your worries and self-doubts before continuing your spiritual journey.
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 tarot 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 and Numerology
Strength is numbered Eight, which represents infinity because of its shape. It reminds you that everything comes full circle. This is also depicted in the Strength tarot card by the infinity sign.
Eight is associated with abundance and expansion, stability, and securing your foundation. It is a number of harvest times and to some, the fall of the year.
Strength Tarot Card and Astrology
Strength is often associated with Leo because of the depiction of the lion. This is a card about showing your power without dominating others. It’s about determination, courage, and patience.
Leo is ruled by the Sun and shows our ability to shine and express our true gifts and confidence. Both Leo and the Sun are associated with the fire element.
Strength Tarot Card Designs
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!
The Strength tarot 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.
Strength Tarot Card Combinations
When you see the Strength tarot card paired with other cards, it can shed light on an otherwise confusing situation.
Here are some 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 Tower
The Tower is the card of chaos and total destruction. Combined with the Strength tarot card it signifies that even in situations full of sudden changes and upheaval, you’re able to master things around.
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 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 reminds you that it’s 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 tarot 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.
Strength and the Queen of Cups
Water is the element of the suit of cups and it symbolizes imagination, intuition, and inner feelings, and as such, this suit is all about emotions. The Queen of Cups combines this energy, with an inward focus and calmness, just like the Strength card.
It encourages you to use your inner strength and calmness to overcome any situation you encounter.
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!
Our community loves to hear about spot-on readings so please take a minute to let us know what you think about the Strength card in the comments below!
Sean says
Great post. helped bring some clarity and understanding to a situation. thank you.
Wille says
Thank you ????
Laricka L. says
Thank you so much for this clarification I’ve always knew I was powerful childhood trauma was blocking me from a lot so again thank you I’m awaking ????????❤️
Blessings to the Almighty ????????????
Lucinda says
I enjoyed this but how do I save the card? How do I send you a message?
Thank you
Wille says
Hi Lucinda, Thank you so much! If you subscribed to my newsletter, you can reply to that email or you can click here to send me an email. Have a great day!
Usha says
Gained new insights. The right perspective was brought
Willemijn says
Thanks so much!