Major Arcana · VIII
Strength
Conquer difficulties through love and understanding


Related Legend
The Strength card depicts a gentle woman caressing a lion. This card symbolizes that true strength comes from inner courage, patience, and love, not violence or force. The infinity symbol above the woman's head represents eternal spiritual power, and she tames the beast through gentleness and understanding, showing that wisdom triumphs over brute force. In ancient mythology, this echoes the story of Hercules taming the Nemean Lion in his twelve labors, but the tarot's Strength emphasizes inner spiritual power rather than physical strength.
Upright
Upright Meaning: Inner Strength
General Meaning
Strength upright represents the triumph of inner strength, courage, and patience. This card indicates that you possess the inner resources to overcome any challenge, but you need to achieve your goals through gentleness and understanding rather than force. Now is the time to show your true strength, which comes from confidence, compassion, and inner peace.
Love & Relationships
In relationships, Strength symbolizes maintaining relationships through patience, understanding, and unconditional love. If you're experiencing relationship difficulties, this card suggests resolving issues with gentleness rather than arguments. For singles, it indicates you're developing inner confidence and charm that will attract true love. Real love requires gentle strength and emotional maturity.
Career & Finance
Career-wise, Strength indicates achieving success through persistence, patience, and inner confidence. You may face challenges, but you have the ability to handle them with grace and wisdom. Avoid using forceful or aggressive methods; instead, demonstrate your leadership abilities and emotional intelligence. This is a time for building long-term success. Financially, Strength indicates building a stable financial foundation through self-discipline and patience. Avoid impulsive investment decisions; instead, create long-term financial plans. You have the ability to control spending and make wise financial choices.
Health & Spirituality
Health-wise, Strength suggests improving your health through gentle and consistent methods. Focus on mind-body balance, strengthening your constitution through meditation, yoga, or other gentle practices. Your body is recovering strength, but it needs patience and continuous care.
Reversed
Reversed Meaning: Imbalanced Strength
General Meaning
Strength reversed may indicate lack of confidence, inner conflict, or excessive use of force. You might be struggling with your own fears and insecurities, or acting too aggressively or controlling in certain situations. This card reminds you to rediscover inner balance and true sources of strength.
Love & Relationships
In relationships, Strength reversed may indicate lack of patience, over-control, or emotional immaturity. You might be too dominant in relationships or conversely too passive. You need to learn to find balance between giving and receiving, cultivating more empathy and understanding. There may be issues with jealousy, possessiveness, or lack of confidence.
Career & Personal Growth
Career-wise, you may lack the inner strength and confidence needed to advance projects. There might be power struggles with colleagues or supervisors, or you feel overwhelmed when facing challenges. You need to rebuild confidence and learn to handle workplace relationships in a gentler but firmer way. Avoid being overly aggressive or completely withdrawing.
Action Advice
- • Develop confidence and inner strength
- • Learn gentle yet firm communication
- • Avoid excessive use of force
- • Find inner balance and harmony
- • Practice patience and self-control
- • Resolve conflicts through love and understanding
Symbolism
Symbolism: Deep Symbol Interpretation
Visual Elements
- • Gentle Woman: Symbol of inner strength and compassion
- • Lion: Primal force and instincts that need to be tamed
- • Infinity Symbol: Eternal spiritual power and wisdom
- • White Robe: Purity and spiritual nobility
- • Flower Garland: Symbol of victory and achievement
- • Mountain Background: Stable and enduring strength
Correspondences
- • Chakra: Heart Chakra - Related to love, courage, and emotional balance
- • Element: Fire - Represents passion, courage, and vitality
- • Planet: Sun - Symbolizes vitality, courage, and confidence
- • Zodiac: Leo - Represents courage, leadership, and generosity
- • Numerology: 8 - Represents strength, achievement, and material success
Advice
Practical Advice: How to Use Strength Energy
Develop Inner Strength
True strength comes from inner peace and confidence. Develop your inner strength through meditation, self-reflection, and spiritual practice, learning to stay calm in the face of difficulties.
Gentle Strength
Learn to solve problems with gentleness and understanding rather than force or violence. Gentle strength is often more effective than brute force and can truly change hearts.
Patience & Persistence
Cultivate patience and trust in the power of time. True achievements require time and persistence, don't rush for quick results, maintain steady effort.
Emotional Control
Learn to control your emotions and impulses, especially anger and fear. Maintain emotional balance through deep breathing, meditation, and mindfulness practices.
Courage & Compassion
Combine courage with compassion. True courage is not fearlessness, but choosing to do the right thing in the face of fear while maintaining compassion for others.
Daily Practice
Daily Life Applications
At Work
- • Handle work conflicts with patience and understanding
- • Stay calm when facing work pressure
- • Complete difficult tasks through persistence and perseverance
- • Lead by example and show leadership
In Relationships
- • Resolve relationship conflicts with love and understanding
- • Maintain emotional stability and gentle attitude
- • Provide support and encouragement to others
- • Build deep relationships based on trust
Personal Growth
- • Practice meditation and mindfulness techniques
- • Develop self-control and emotional management
- • Develop empathy and compassion
- • Learn to gain strength from setbacks
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