The Strength Tarot Card is all about resilience and sticking with the plan. It is number 8 in my tarot deck, right after the Chariot. In a nutshell, this card symbolizes strength, being determined and overcoming life's challenges with grace.
For most people, the Strength card will be encouraging. The card wants you to understand your feelings and emotions so you can get over those challenges you are facing. After you do this, you will have peace.
While the card shows a person in control of a lion, suggesting physical strength, I always think about how the person figures out how to put her fear aside so she can control the lion. It takes a lot of inner strength and planning to do that!
Exploring the Major Arcana in Tarot
When we are reading tarot cards there are two parts to the deck we need to be aware of, the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana. The Strength card is in the Major Arcana.
Understanding the Major Arcana Cards
The Major Arcana is made up of 22 cards, and each card has a theme. These themes represent parts of life that everyone goes through. As we go through life, we encounter each theme in order to grow as a person.
Why Learn About The Major Arcana?
The Major Arcana has so much to offer about life, why wouldn't you want to learn about it? Here are some other reasons to learn about the Major Arcana.
- Self-Reflection- studying and learning about these cards can help you understand your own life and personal growth.
- Understanding Themes- since each card has a theme, you can use the Major Arcana to help you understand the parts of life you are in. A few months ago I did a reading for myself and the Strength card showed up. Shortly after that, I ended up going through some things at work which led me to leaving my job. It was one of the hardest things I had to do, but I knew I had to have the courage to do it.
- Improves Intuition- as you do more Tarot readings, you begin to trust yourself and the messages the cards are trying to give you.
- Spiritual Growth- a lot of people use Tarot cards in a spiritual way. Learning to look at the symbols on the card will help you understand your spirituality.
Understanding the Strength Tarot Card
If we want to learn what the Strength card is all about, we need to look at it from a bunch of different angles. We will look at some symbols of this card, as well as a short history of the card, and look into the numerology of the card.
Symbolism of the Strength Tarot Card
I like to tell stories about the symbols of the cards to help me remember what they are and what they mean. This is the story I created for the this particular card:
There is a woman wearing a white robe taming a lion, she is closing the lions mouth because she has the inner strength to overcome hard challenges. The lion is acting brave because he is being brave by letting a human come next to it. The flowers are there to show her connection to nature, while the mountains represent challenges she has overcome (taming the lion) and challenges that are still to come. The infinity symbol shows us that strength is always available to us as long as we choose to use it.
Maybe not the most interesting story, but it helps me remember what the card looks like and what all the symbols mean.
Historical Evolution of the Strength Tarot Card
Did you know that The Strength card used to be called “Fortitude?” Over time it has changed. The original meaning of the card was about having moral strength and it has morphed into the meaning it has now.
The card also used to symbolize physical strength, but now we think of it as overcoming obstacles and spiritual growth.
Interpreting the Strength Card in Tarot Readings
When the Strength card shows up in a reading, it is suggesting that you may be coming into a time where you need to have inner strength. There may be a challenge that is coming up soon. The card wants to remind you that you have the inner strength to meet the problem head on, and with confidence. It is telling you that even though you don't like the situation, you can meet the challenge with grace and perseverance.
The card also shows there might be a time of personal growth coming in the near future. Remember that you have the ability to face your fears. I like to think of it as being forced out of my comfort zone. Once you overcome that challenge, you have a new understanding of what you are capable of. You might even surprise yourself.
Strength Card Reversed
There are some people, like me, who don't read cards in reverse. There is nothing wrong with that, it really is personal preference. Each card does have a reverse meaning, however. When it is reversed, it indicates that you might be feeling full of doubt or have a lot of things going on in your mind. You might have be feeling like you don't have the abilities to overcome your challenge.
If the Strength card is reversed in your reading, please make sure to be kind to yourself. Spend more time for self-care, like journaling or meditating. I want you to know that you do have everything already inside you to meet your challenges head on!
Also, don't forget that there are other cards in your card spread that will influence each other. Use those cards to help you understand what your particular challenge might be about and how to resolve the conflict. Your interpretation will also be based on your own background experiences.
Exploring Self-Development with the Strength Tarot Card
Now that we have explored the symbols, history, and both the upright and reversed meaning, it's time to take that information and apply it to your life. There are different ways that you can use your reading to help with your self-growth.
Journaling with the Strength Card
I love journaling, especially with the tarot cards. I always feel better when I am done, and I usually discover some little nugget about myself I didn't know before.
A couple of weeks ago, I pulled the 6 of Cups from the Light Seer's Deck. While the card typically has something to do with nostalgia, the picture took me somewhere else. I started reflecting on the journey I have taken with my dog, who is 17. I didn't really want the dog, but we fell in love and we have had quite a life together.
I know it is getting close to the time when Pepi will be leaving me, but as I did this reflection, I realized the growth I have made by having him in my life. I understand a lot more now about what it feels like to have a dog coming to the end.
In the past, I haven't been the most sympathetic when my friends animals have passed on. Now I understand how it is so hard at the end, and I can relate to their feelings about their animals.
I digressed a bit there, but I wanted to show you the power of journaling about your tarot cards.
So when the Strength card shows up in a reading, here are some journal prompts you can think about during your reading:
- Think about a time when you bounced back after a tough time.
- Write about a time when you felt strong and managed to stay cool, calm, and collected.
- How can you be kinder to yourself and build up your inner strength every day?
Empowering Practices with the Strength Card
Incorporating the Strength Tarot card into your daily practices can help you cultivate inner resilience and self-awareness. Try these empowering exercises:
- Visualization Exercise: Just close your eyes and imagine you are the person in the Strength card. Picture yourself as brave, kind, and confident.
- Affirmations: Give yourself a little pep talk, Tell yourself things like “I'm tough and I bounce back,” or “I handle tough situations with grace.”
Applying Strength Card Lessons in Daily Life
The teachings of the Strength Tarot card can be integrated into your daily routine to foster personal growth and emotional resilience:
- Finding Courage– when a challenge comes your way, remember the courage from the Strength card. Remember that you can be calm and balances, as well as courageous.
- Self-Compassion: -recognize that you have strengths and weaknesses. Embrace your strengths, but also remember to be kind to yourself if you aren't feeling strong.
- Setting Boundaries: In order for the girl in the card to tame the lion, she had to set boundaries with him. You need to set boundaries in your relationships as well. Make sure you are making yourself your number one priority.
By journaling, practicing self-empowerment and using the lessons of the Strength card, you can grow your self-awareness and resilience. This energy will help you on your journey!
FAQs
The Strength card is about having the inner strength to overcome any problems or conflicts you are facing.
It is associated with inner strength. When you are struggling with a challenge or problem, it takes strength to look at the situation and figure out how you fit into that situation.
The Strength card shows that in order to grow, you need to have courage, discipline, compassion, resilience, embracing your own power, and reflection on how you have grown and changed over time.
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