Strength (VIII)

Major Arcana - Card VIII

Strength represents the gentle power of inner courage, patience, and spiritual fortitude. This card teaches us that true strength comes not from domination or force, but from compassion, understanding, and the mastery of our primal instincts.

Upright Meaning

When Strength appears upright in a reading, it signifies a time of inner courage and gentle mastery. You are being called to face challenges with patience and compassion rather than aggression. This card suggests that you have the inner resources to overcome obstacles through understanding and gentle persistence.

Key Themes:

• Inner courage and moral strength
• Patience and gentle persistence
• Compassion and understanding
• Mastery of instincts and emotions
• The power of love over force

Practical Applications: In matters of the heart, Strength suggests approaching conflicts with empathy and understanding. In career situations, it indicates that steady, patient effort will yield better results than aggressive tactics. For personal growth, this card encourages the development of emotional intelligence and self-control.

Reversed Meaning

When reversed, Strength can indicate weakness, self-doubt, or the misuse of power. You may be struggling with inner conflicts, feeling overwhelmed by your emotions, or using force when gentleness would be more effective.

Key Themes:

• Self-doubt and insecurity
• Lack of confidence or willpower
• Impatience or aggression
• Emotional volatility
• Abuse of power

Shadow Work: The reversed Strength calls for examining where you may be avoiding necessary confrontations or where you might be using excessive force. It may indicate a need to develop greater self-compassion and patience with your own limitations.

Symbolism and Imagery

The Rider-Waite-Smith depiction of Strength shows a serene woman in a white robe adorned with flowers, symbolizing purity and spiritual grace. She wears a garland of roses and a belt of flowers, representing the spiritual victory over material concerns. A lemniscate (infinity symbol) hovers above her head, indicating the infinite nature of spiritual strength and the cyclical nature of inner growth.

The Lion: The lion represents our primal instincts, passions, and the raw power of the unconscious mind. The woman’s ability to calmly open the lion’s jaws demonstrates the triumph of higher consciousness over base instincts. The lion’s tongue, often depicted as being gently held, symbolizes the need to temper our words and control our aggressive impulses.

The Colors:

• White robe: Purity, spiritual strength, and divine grace
• Red roses: Passion, desire, and the life force that must be channeled
• Yellow background: Intellectual clarity and spiritual illumination
• Green hills: Hope, growth, and the fertile ground of inner development

Symbolic Elements:

• Open jaws: The need for gentle confrontation and the courage to face fears
• Flower crown: Spiritual authority and the victory of love over force
• Infinity symbol: Eternal nature of inner strength and spiritual growth

Historical Context

Strength has undergone significant evolution in tarot’s history. In early tarot decks like the Marseille Tarot, this card was numbered XI and was called “Fortitude.” It typically depicted a man breaking a stone pillar or clubbing a lion, emphasizing physical rather than spiritual strength.

The Rider-Waite-Smith tradition, following the Golden Dawn teachings, renumbered it as VIII and transformed its meaning to emphasize spiritual strength, compassion, and the gentle mastery of instincts. This reflects the esoteric understanding that true power comes from spiritual alignment rather than physical domination.

Card Combinations and Interactions

With The Magician: Indicates the perfect balance of will and compassion, suggesting that your intentions are supported by inner strength.

With The Chariot: Suggests that your determination and willpower are being tested, calling for patience and gentle persistence.

With The Lovers: Indicates that relationship challenges require compassion and understanding rather than force.

With The Tower: Suggests that inner strength will be crucial in navigating sudden changes or upheavals.

With Temperance: Creates a powerful combination emphasizing balance, patience, and the middle way.

Astrological and Elemental Correspondences

Astrological Sign: Leo - The sign of courage, creativity, and heart-centered strength. Leo’s association with the sun brings warmth, generosity, and the courage to shine brightly.

Element: Fire - Representing passion, creativity, and the transformative power of inner strength. The fire element in Strength is refined and controlled, much like a gentle flame rather than a raging inferno.

Planet: The Sun - Symbolizing vitality, confidence, and the illuminating power of consciousness. The Sun’s association emphasizes the radiant nature of true inner strength.

Hebrew Letter: Teth (ט) - Meaning “serpent,” representing the coiled potential energy and the transformative power that comes from gentle mastery rather than domination.

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