Let’s be honest: life is very hard sometimes. We all face many challenges and difficult situations daily, so don’t forget you aren’t alone in your struggles. Don’t underestimate your inner strength, either—you can overcome all obstacles and achieve much more than you think.
That’s the main message of the Strength, the eight Major Arcana card. This card reminds you how strong, powerful, and capable you are. If you see it in your tarot spreads, you shouldn’t ignore it. This article can be your tarot guide and tell you everything you need to know about the Strength card, so keep reading!
The Strength Tarot Keywords
Upright card (keywords)
Courage, confidence, inner strength, resilience, compassion, fortitude, calm
Reversed card (keywords)
Fear, self-doubt, lack of confidence, vulnerability, weakness, inability to persevere
The Strength Tarot Card Description
As usual, we will describe this card using the depiction of the Rider-Waite tarot deck. On this card, we see a female figure dressed in a white dress. She is grabbing the jaws of a lion (or another wild beast). Above the woman’s head, there is an infinity symbol. The woman is wearing a flower crown with multiple flowers on her dress.
This is an interesting combination—a female figure adorned with flowers but using brute force to subdue such a ferocious beast. The older versions of this card showed a woman breaking a stone pillar, but in both versions, we see the same combination of femininity and strength. Interestingly, this card was also known under a different name—Fortitude. Together with the Temperance and Justice cards, it represented the cardinal virtues.
The Strength Upright Meaning
The general meanings of the upright Strength card are rather positive. This card represents your self-confidence, self-control, and inner power. It shows that you are a person who cares for the greater good and that you’re willing to stand up for what you think is right. It is also the card of personal growth, courage, and honor. In the health context, this card represents good health and physical strength.
Another very interesting interpretation of this card comes straight from its description. Above, we mentioned how interesting it is to see a female figure adorned with flowers subduing a lion. This is a powerful reminder that we must be steady and careful with our power. Even when we are strong and powerful, we shouldn’t abuse this—we still need to remain gentle, cautious, compassionate, and gracious.
Love Meaning
If you are interested in a love tarot reading and get this card, you are probably in a strong relationship or will soon start one. In the former case, you’re having a great time with your partner. Your relationship is intense and passionate but healthy. Both you and your partner are balanced people, and you have to be—otherwise, this intense relationship could quickly turn sour due to jealousy or resentment.
Career Meaning
This is a positive card for those who want to advance in their careers, and seeing it is a sign that you will be able to show your strengths, skills, and abilities. This will open up many new possibilities for you and bring positive changes to your career—you just need to find your inner strength and let it shine. In other words, don’t be afraid to show what you can do.
Finances Meaning
Your career success is also a good indicator of your financial status. As you get promoted, you will start to earn noticeably more money. However, try to be balanced and wise with your spending habits. Otherwise, your salary will not be enough for you—but we probably don’t have to tell you that! You are someone who has probably already endured a difficult financial situation, and if needed, you could endure it again—but of course, it’s best to avoid this.
The Strength Reversed Card Meaning
What about the Strength tarot card reversed? In the reversed position, this card can symbolize some unresolved self-esteem issues and a fear of failure. It can also represent the lack of courage or self-control, vanity, and hedonism. People with these traits might seem confident or even arrogant on the outside, but they are full of self-doubt on the inside. Health-wise, the reversed Strength card is an omen for underlying health issues.
Love Meaning
If you suffer from low self-esteem, it will show in your love life. People with low self-esteem are more prone to get into bad relationships. They are often victims of abusive partners because they don’t see their worth, so they allow others to abuse them. This is also a card of raw emotions—you don’t stop and think before you react and let your emotions dominate your behavior. This affects your romantic relationships. Even when your partner tries to talk to you and discuss your issues, you see it as a personal attack and may become defensive.
Career Meaning
Your lack of confidence is also affecting your professional life. A reversed Strength tarot card shows that you aren’t thriving in your career due to two potential reasons. First, you may be unaware of your skills and potential or are repressing them. Second, you might be aware of your skills and strengths, but you aren’t using them wisely, and you come off as too intense in situations where a little subtlety would get you much further. Both situations are far from optimal, so try to find a balance, be aware of your skills, and not be afraid to show them—just don’t overdo it.
Finances Meaning
Your financial situation isn’t great, and you are going through some tough times. Unfortunately, you will struggle with money forever if you don’t change your habits. It is completely fine and normal that you want to enjoy life and pamper yourself, but you can’t always do that. Sometimes, the best thing you can do for yourself isn’t the most pleasant one. In your situation, the best thing you can do is to take a close look at your finances, especially your spending. Find the things that aren’t really important and stop throwing your money at them.
Other Cards With The Strength Card
If you want to know more about what the Strength card means, observe it when it’s in your tarot spreads. The interaction with other cards often influences the tarot meanings of individual cards. When you see two or more cards with similar meanings together, it highlights their meanings and makes them more intense, whilst cards with opposing meanings will complement each other and remind you to have a more balanced approach. Let’s see how the Strength card interacts with certain tarot cards.
The Strength and The High Priestess
As you probably already know, the High Priestess is the card of inner wisdom and intuition. Given that Strength is the card of inner strength and inner power, it is easy to see how these two cards have similar meanings. Together, they remind you that you are a powerful and strong person—you just need to acknowledge that. Also, these two cards may symbolize hidden wounds in your soul. Your emotions are running wild, and you must heal these wounds to regain control.
The Strength and The Wheel of Fortune
The Wheel of Fortune is a card that reminds us that everything changes. Nothing in this life is permanent, including life itself. There are some unexpected and sudden changes in front of you, but you shouldn’t be worried—you are strong and capable enough to transform these changes into opportunities. At first, they might be frightening and intimidating, but these changes will allow you to reach your full potential and become a stronger and better version of yourself. Don’t resist the changes—use them to improve yourself and your life.
The Strength and The Ace of Pentacles
The Ace of Pentacles is a card of new beginnings and opportunities. Since pentacles represent material wealth, the Ace of Pentacles represents the opportunities to earn significant money or advance your career. On the other hand, the Strength card represents your skills and abilities. Together, these two cards show that you can make the most of your opportunities.
The Strength and The Hermit
The Hermit is the ninth Major Arcana card, representing the importance of self-reflection and introspection. The Hermit symbolizes your path to inner growth, while the Strength card represents your inner powers. Again, this combination suggests that your happiness and success can only start from within. You need to reach within yourself to find what you need to live the life of your dreams. In other words, everything depends on you, the maker of your own destiny.
The Strength Card and Its Astrological Sign
When it comes to the astrological associations of the Strength card, the most significant association is with the Leo star sign. Like the Strength card, this zodiac sign is bold, powerful, and regal. The Sun is the ruling planet for the Leo sign and the Strength card.
Interestingly, this astrological connection has influenced the position of the Strength card within the tarot deck. Originally, the strength was the eleventh major Arcana card, and the Justice card was in eighth place. However, the creators of the Rider-Waite tarot deck decided to switch their positions to align them more with the Golden Dawn’s astrological teachings.
Conclusion
We have written this article to help you learn some key meanings of the Strength card and provide helpful advice to improve your life. Tarot is not just about figuring out the meanings of the cards; it’s about using these meanings as your guide. Try our online psychic chat or free tarot readings today and get the guidance you need!
