Tarot Card Interpretation

for the Tarot Card - Strength

A woman dressed in white and adorned with flowers is soothing and placating a lion, which appears to be licking her hand.

These two characters dominate the card for their story is both an important and a simple one.

It probably wouldn’t be difficult to guess that this card falls under the influence of Leo.

The card shows us two types of strength. We have the animal strength- that is, the power of ego, of personal magnetism and force.

It could also be called the outgoing / masculine principle at work.

Then we have the other form of strength- that is, the civilizing, receptive strength that leads by example and works patiently and subtly.

This, we could call the incoming/ feminine principle. And naturally, both approaches can be assigned to either gender!

One phrase that sums up this card is ‘music calms the savage beast’, but this is much more than an apocryphal tale.

It is the application of spiritual principle (the music) over the base nature (the beast) to achieve a transformation of consciousness.

On a mundane level, this tarot card interpretation is someone triumphing over adversity and difficult circumstances, not by confrontation, but by applying the principles and values they have already developed.

Values, such as kindness, compassion and truth.

On an inner level this is about self-transformation- that inner journey we must all some day make.

For in order to lead, we must have overcome the need to be led.

The woman may remind us a little of The Empress by her gown and flowers. And above her head is the symbol of infinity which we saw overshadowing The Magician.

Also, might the blue mountain to the left remind us a little of the red mountain which featured in The Lovers?

As we progress more in understanding the tarot, we may see more correlations of symbolism and these all make for very interesting further study.

Strength is not about chaining up or constraining our energy, enthusiasm or passions.

It is about the appropriateness of the situation.

And the card reminds us that there can only be one aspect of ourselves that can make decisions at any one time.

In a reading, this tarot card interpretation can indicate a volatile relationship or even a specific person around us (especially when appearing in association with one of the court cards).

It can relate to our own anger or desire and any feelings of guilt associated with them.

And ultimately, if you get the Strength card in your tarot layouts it assures us that with the right application of ethics and behavior, it is possible to navigate our lives between the seemingly opposing forces of ego related indulgence or denial.

Because really, we need both aspects of ourselves to be fully human.

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