What does the Strength Card mean?

In Tarot, the strength card is a majestic card full of encouragement, empowerment, and, well, strength. 

If the strength card appears in a reading, it's often a positive sign, much like a word of encouragement reminding you what you're capable of. 

If you're searching for self-confidence, self-esteem, or inner strength, the strength card may appear to shine its bright light into all of these qualities that already exist deep within you. 

Strength Card Associations:

Element

Fire

Zodiac

Leo

Planet

Sun

Keywords

Inner strength, courage, empowerment, success, lack of confidence, and low self-esteem. 

Imagery

The strength card is often associated with the lion.

Lions are the king of the jungle; they embody power, authority, strength, and fearlessness.

The strength card in the Rider Waite Smith deck has been replicated quite frequently, becoming the most recognized symbol for this card. 

Strength Tarot card meanings are derived from the carefully constructed visuals of the lion, woman, and scenery.

The card depicts strength as a woman wearing a white gown covered in flowers. She is sometimes compared to the Empress earlier in the Fool’s Journey.

She also has flowers in her hair, and like a halo, an infinity symbol hovers over her head. 

The woman is petting a wild lion, who seems to be enjoying himself. 

The two look at each other in harmony, treating each other as equals and expressing their unconditional love for life and nature. 

Behind them is a single mountain, signifying a challenge either in her past or a challenge in her future. 

Luckily, the big, beautiful sky dropped behind her glows as yellow as the sun, symbolizing the happiness and joy that will soon be hers. 

How the Strength Tarot Card Meaning is derived from its imagery

In Tarot, the strength card is a beautiful expression of one's own ability to take control over their life in some way.

Strength comes when you lose hope in yourself, encouraging you to continue forward. 

In the imagery, the lion represents the wild beast that exists within all of us. 

This beast can be both positive and negative, depending on how much control you have or don't have over it. 

The strength card shows the woman expressing her control over the beast, but with love and peace rather than force. 

The interaction between the lion and the women express the strength and empowerment that comes from overcoming your animalistic self. 

Every person has the tendency to live in fight or flight mode, lose ourselves in our minds and our emotions, or become victims to the external world. 

When you allow yourself to lose control of that animalistic self, you lose your empowerment. 

This Tarot card reminds you that the animalistic aspects of you can be utilized and tapped into in order to gain confidence and awaken your core strength. 

But, in order to properly express this strength, you must tame the beast in which it comes. 

The infinity sign that hovers above her head represents the cycles one must go through in order to awaken to their divine power. 

There must be highs and lows in order to learn, grow, and expand into the truth of who you are.

Strength Upright

When the strength card appears upright in a Tarot reading, it's an encouraging sign. You are entering a new stage in life in which you will learn to further cultivate your inner strength. Your self-confidence and self-belief will blossom, driving out any self-doubt that holds you back.

As a major arcana card, the strength Tarot card appears after the wheel of fortune, which governs new life cycles and lessons. 

You've likely gone through an experience charged with raw emotions, self-doubt, or self-belief, but instead of falling, you've managed to tap into your animal instincts and draw out your inner fortitude. 

The strength upright also indicates learning to master your desires.

If you're someone who acts impulsive or is controlled by your vices, strength appears just as you are learning to finally overcome these issues. 

You are fearless, as you've experienced rock bottom, and no longer have a fear of failure looming over your head. 

You understand that life happens in cycles, and gaining control over your internal state is the key to remaining balanced and stable no matter what the external circumstances present to you. 

Strength in Reverse

The reversed strength Tarot meaning relates to a period of weakness. 

You've likely gone through one of the phases of the wheel of fortune and were left feeling defeated or vulnerable. 

Vulnerability isn't a sign of weakness, it's a sign of honesty and authenticity. 

Sometimes we fail, sometimes, we're afraid, and sometimes the external circumstances are too much to take on by ourselves. 

Even when the strength Tarot card is in reverse, it still carries loving energy that can help guide you in stressful situations. 

The strength in reverse shows you may have become lost in your instinctual urges, allowing yourself to lose any sense of self-control. 

The card could be a warning, urging you to learn to control the inner beast within you in order to avoid any damages it may cause you. 

If you've recently had explosive behavior, low energy, bad habits, or simply acting on your gut reactions, the strength card in reverse asks you to take a step back, look within, and find the strength to overcome this. 

Your Personal Interpretation

Tarot card meanings are not set in stone. They touch on a variety of aspects of an experience or attitude, so there's room for interpretation.

Let your intuition speak to you. What do you see in the Strength Tarot card? What is significant about its place in the Fool's Journey?

Take some time to sit with the card and meditate on its imagery. Consider the emotions it evokes within you.

You may notice some patterns across readings with this (or any) Tarot card. If there's a certain scenario or happening that it tends to emerge in association with, you can use that as a special meaning for you.

Awaken Your Inner Lion

The universe knows exactly what lessons you must learn, what challenges you must face, and what circumstances must transpire in order for you to evolve and grow into your highest self. 

The journey of self discovery isn't an easy one, it's full of highs and lows, suns and moons, light and darkness, and yet the fool's journey continues on. 

The strength card appears at a time when you might need a reminder of your own divinity. 

Reflect back on all of the negativity and challenges you've faced in your life. 

If you're still here, reading this message, you're already much stronger than you think. 

Life is a powerful experience. Nobody makes it through without soul-crushing defeats, dark valleys, and heartbreaks.

But, it is through overcoming our tribulations that we grow as people.

Each person has their own unique power, something inside of them that allows them to continue on even in the face of adversity. 

The next time you're feeling fearful, weak, or out of control, quiet your mind and listen to the lion's call.

With each steady roar, it jumps to the surface, ready to help you conquer these challenges.

Be ready to meet it with loving energy, acceptance, and authority. 

You have what it takes, your vulnerability is your strength, and you are in control.