Major Arcana 11 Tarot Strength

Description: The card depicts a woman and a lion. The woman is dressed in a light white dress, belted with flowers, and above her head is the sign of infinity. The woman is playing with the lion, who, recognizing her dominance, tucked his tail between his legs.

The main meanings of the card in the upright position:

1. The feminine principle as a source of energy.
2. The triumph of spiritual intuition over brute force;
3. Courage and perseverance;
4. The highest creative upsurge;
5. Work «not out of fear, but out of conscience»;
6. Passion, hot temperament;
7. Inner strength;
8. Self-confidence;
9. Patience, wisdom;
10. Power of conviction;
11. Healing, good health;
12. Trust in yourself.

Main meanings of the card in the inverted position:

1. Mastery of worldly matters, but lack of love and intuition;
2. Intimidation;
3. Self-doubt, timidity;
4. Fear, danger;
5. Lack of self-discipline;
6. Anxiety, self-flagellation;
7. Dependency;
8. Ignorance, impudence;
9. Abuse of power, despotism;
10. Vanity;
11. Rebellion;
12. Fanaticism;
13. Fatigue, physical weakness, illness;
14. Inability to act softly.

The Strength card (VIII), one of the four Aristotelian virtues, occupies the XI place in some sets: then the eighth is the card of Justice.

The Strength card, also called the (Tamed) Lion card, depicts a woman playing with a lion. On her head is a wreath of flowers, another wreath forms a belt. Above the woman's head is often placed a «lying eight», a symbol of infinity. The lion is also playing: he is in a calm mood, his tail is tucked in, although all four paws are firmly resting on the ground.

This card represents strength, but a soft, feminine strength. It is the woman who helps the lion to truly feel like a lion. Although the card depicts two opposites, they exist separately, not merging with each other, but preserving their original nature. This card is reminiscent of Tantra — the teaching of the feminine principle as the source of world and individual energy.

Other names for this card: Strength, Power, Daughter of the Flaming Sword.

SPIRITUAL EXPLANATION: This Tarot path crosses the Tree of Life horizontally and occupies a position equivalent to that of the Leaning Tower, but is located just above it. If the Leaning Tower separates the personality based on it from the true spiritual self, then Strength represents the gap between individuality and universality. The woman’s ease in taming the lion shows the triumph of spiritual intuition over brute force. This symbolizes dominance over any manifestations of the animal soul that still remains in the individual consciousness.

MEANING IN THE TAROT LAYOUT: This card tells us that courage and perseverance (stubbornness) will help us cope with problems and that the power of love and intuition is stronger and more durable than hatred, brute force and enmity. Drawing this card from the deck means that you have overcome the fears you have had in the past and are now gathering your strength and energy for the next phase of your life's journey. However, it may also indicate that although you have achieved much in the past through persistence and determination, you can still succeed in the future with less effort if you bring more love and care to your daily affairs.

REVERSED MEANING: You are able to demonstrate mastery over worldly and material matters, but you lack love and intuition in your relationships with others. You are not coping with the situation, and your personal and emotional affairs are in conflict. You have lost sight of the spiritual side of life.

SELF-DEVELOPMENT LESSON:You are able to transform your physical, mental and sexual energies into spiritual power that will lead you to new areas of intuitive understanding.

WORK: This card means that we give our all to the cause and work «not out of fear, but out of conscience.» When we are in good physical shape, we take on the task with courage and enthusiasm, and, having achieved success, we are happy to discover that our strength has only increased. Thus, the Strength card corresponds to a period of the highest creative upsurge, a burning desire to work, and thus both joy and success.

CONSCIOUSNESS: At this level, the card indicates the onset of significant changes, which can be understood with the help of the alchemical symbolism depicted on it. The red lion in alchemy means the means by which various lower substances are transformed into gold. In relation to man, this means the task before us: not to reject or suppress in ourselves the forces so often called «lower instincts,» but to «remove» the hostility between our civilized consciousness and animal nature. Moreover, «remove» in a threefold sense: 1) remove this enmity as a problem from the agenda; 2) «remove» these forces in the sense of «hiring» them, making them your workers; and, 3) as dialectic teaches, «remove» them as opposites at this level in order to transfer them to another, higher one, where they will stop fighting with each other, but will unite into a new, irresistible force.

PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS: This is, first of all, passion. It manifests itself in relationships characterized by liveliness, hot temperament, and sometimes dramatic skirmishes. Such unions are an inexhaustible source of energy and strength that we need in everyday life, although there are cases when these skirmishes have tragic consequences — take Carmen and Don José from the famous opera by Georges Bizet.

Names in other languages: La Forza, La Forze, The Strength, Die Kraft.

Astrological correspondences: Leo and the Sun.

Kabbalistic meaning of the Arcana: Strength.

Occult meaning of the Arcana: a tightly clenched fist.

Physical meaning of the Arcana: human strength.

Places: parliament; places associated with power, police station; military headquarters.

Upright

Key words and phrases: Self-confidence. Inner strength. Action. Persuasive power. Patience. Wisdom. Standing up for one's own interests. Gentle use of force. Ability to overcome obstacles through willpower. Strong stance. Self-discipline. Belief in one's abilities. Heroism, heroism. Defense. Non-violent action/Courage. Energy. Strength. Courage. Healing. Good health. Recovering from illness. Potential. Empowerment. Self-trust. Gentleness. Fortitude. Taming the «beast within». Taming instinctive desires. Channeling the libido. Reconciliation. Diplomacy. Tact. Beauty and the Beast. Patience is the greatest asset.

Situation and advice: You need to trust your inner strength, patience and gentleness, this will help you successfully solve all problems. Now is the time to gain faith in yourself. At the moment, you are in a strong position and are able to resist the one who puts pressure on you. You can direct your base passions in the right direction, this will help you become healthy and achieve success. If your question concerned health, then expect healing and restoration of vitality.

People: Athletes. Weightlifters. Gymnasts. Those whose professional activities are related to animals. Healers. People with healthy beliefs. Arbiters. People who control their sexual and instinctive desires. Those who have managed to tame the dark side of their personality.

Inverted position

Keywords and phrases: Impotence. Intimidation. Self-doubt. Fear. Depression. Lack of self-confidence. Timidity. Danger. Yielding. Submissiveness. Inability to cope. Uncertain behavior. Unhappiness. Susceptibility to fears. Lack of self-discipline. Anxiety. Dependency. Self-flagellation. A domineering attitude. Ignorance. Insolence. Abuse of power. Despotism. Vanity. Chauvinism. Deceptive strength. Lack of conviction. A parody of inner strength. Alienation. Rebellion. Fanaticism. Anarchy. Conflicting interests. Feeling exhausted. Immunodeficiency.

Situation and advice: You may feel weak, sick, vulnerable, depressed: most likely, you are too absorbed in current events. Now is not the time to rush the issue. The Strength card in the inverted position may indicate the need to tame your «inner demons». Perhaps excessive dependence on other people or on bad habits (alcohol, drugs) prevents you from managing your own life. Maybe someone provokes you or puts pressure on you. You need to trust your inner strength more, then you will feel more stable and confident. Now you should reconsider the situation: perhaps you are trying to achieve a goal that is beyond your capabilities at the moment. To succeed, you need to overcome guilt, your doubts and fears. The Strength card in the inverted position can mean fatigue, physical weakness, illness. It can also signal that you need to take better care of your health. Perhaps you are communicating with sick people at this time. The card advises the questioner not to go ahead, because blind rage will inevitably lead to an explosion (defeat).

People: Fragile or weak people. Disabled people. Sick people. People with weak immune systems. Dependent people. People who allow their base passions to prevail. People dependent on the material world. Cowards. Bores. People whose behavior is based on subconscious, uncontrollable fears.

The inner meaning of the Strength card

Do not think that the mind is the main part of your personality. Do not forget about your body, about its desires. Take care of it, let it accumulate enough energy to support the mind, and then the mind will be able to overcome the doubts that overcome it and give vent to the subconscious, which alone, perhaps, is able to show you the right path forward.

In the layout, it denotes the opportunity to achieve success and advice to act softly, unobtrusively. It also advises women to behave more intelligently in relationships with a partner, answering everything: «Yes, dear, of course,» and doing it their own way, and not getting into unnecessary arguments. For men — find a woman who will help them become self-confident.

For people who are too keen on spiritual quests, asceticism, or just armchair scientists, she recommends remembering their physical body, which needs to be exercised, fed and pampered with other joys of life.

Inverted, it means the inability or inability to act softly, to find a way to coexist harmoniously with another person, hence the high probability of failure of the planned enterprise.

For people who are carried away by the joys of life, it reminds of the need for spiritual quests and/or serious scientific work.

A businessman who is in danger should unite as quickly as possible or at least agree on joint actions with some large company, perhaps even with a competitor.

You are facing a test of endurance. If your will is stronger than the will of your opponent, you will survive and win. If not, your dreams are over. Strength of spirit is your key to victory. Do not give in to despair. The battle will not be easy, but you can win if you show perseverance. You will lose only by deciding to give up.

The Strength Tarot card signifies the inner strength needed to overcome the obstacles that stand in your way. Brute force is not defeated by brute force, rather, the strength of the spirit overcomes physical force. In almost all legends about people who defeated a formidable monster, be it a lion, a dragon or someone else, the victory was won by righteousness, inner fortitude and faith in God, and not by power.

The beast on the Strength tarot card symbolizes external obstacles that have stood in the way of your spiritual development. Perhaps this is a symbol of the beast within you, a symbol of your own fears, passions and other qualities that may be stronger than you. But you can change and tame them if you firmly believe that you are stronger. The lion symbolizes a strong enemy that can be defeated if you have self-confidence and the will to win. (Only one Grimer: everyone who has quit smoking or gone on a strict diet has already defeated such a beast). The allegory here, as already said, is in the struggle between the physical and the spiritual. You are on the path of spiritual improvement. To reach the distant future, you must overcome or tame the base passions and force them to surrender.

Type of person in the upright position: a person who loves physical labor; an athlete; a bodybuilder; a person who cares about his shape; a person who strives to achieve a high position by his own efforts.

Type of person in the inverted position: one who allows himself violence; a villain; a criminal; a person who cares excessively about his physical shape; a person seized by a thirst for power.

Psychological meaning of the Strength arcana: do not think that the main thing in you is your mind. To use it correctly, you need good health, an obedient body. Do not forget about its needs, try to understand what it wants from you, and try to satisfy its demands. Give it the opportunity to accumulate the necessary amount of energy so that it can ensure the work of your mind. And then it will be able to overcome its doubts and find contact with the subconscious — because only it will give you the most reliable advice on how to live on. It will also help you to reveal previously undiscovered abilities and talents, to become a more creative and active person. Only harmonious development will allow you to gain integrity, that is, to unite body, soul and mind and live a long and happy life.

The Strength card is in a certain sense akin to the Magician card. Just like in it, the extraordinary power of this Arcanum is based on deep inner harmony. If the power of the Magician is the result of the harmonious interaction of consciousness and subconsciousness, then the vitality, courage and passion of this card are an expression of the balance that civilized man finds with his animal nature. This is reflected in myths, for example, about the friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu, who was initially his implacable enemy. This card clearly shows that our goal is not to learn to hide our instincts under the cloak of pale virtue, the sometimes archaic, frightening forces that live in us, but to learn to tame them with love, gentleness and persistence. In this way, we will gain control not only over these wild natural forces, but also over those reserves of energy that we have had to spend until now on suppressing these forces.

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