In most traditional decks, the card is numbered XI. Waite places it as VIII, swapping it with Justice. We have chosen to keep it in the XI position, partly because the lesson of Strength, as presented in the Tarot, is subtle and requires significant spiritual maturity. Justice delivers a more apparent lesson (though not necessarily a simpler one).
Strength – General Meaning in a Tarot Spread
This Arcana is considered positive, containing a significant amount of energy, and calls for courage and determination in facing life’s challenges. Strength heralds a test of endurance and speaks of the need for patience and bravery.
In a reading, Strength signifies that the querent has been on the right path so far, and now faces a test of mindset and resilience.
It is a card of inner strength, essential for overcoming obstacles and remaining steadfast in the face of difficult circumstances. This need to be strong, whether for others or oneself, often involves taming one’s emotions, be it passion, sorrow, or disappointment. A challenge has been presented, and there is no room for weakness or indecision now! What lies ahead must be faced calmly, patiently, and with unshaken self-confidence. Achieving emotional maturity is the most crucial task at this moment. This cannot be accomplished by raging or indulging in self-pity. Strength often appears when one feels they are in a perilous situation, where they must metaphorically “enter the lion’s den” armed only with their convictions (bringing to mind biblical prophets and the lives of saints).
The traditional meaning of Strength is positive: overcoming obstacles (through the display of inner strength), triumphing over unforeseen circumstances. It is a card of willpower, energy, resilience, and victory. Its function is to provide the strength to subdue an external or internal foe (such as overcoming personal weaknesses). In a reading, it indicates the possibility of success and advises acting gently and unobtrusively while remaining fearless. If the reading concerns a crisis situation, Strength clearly points out that the querent has the power to do what is necessary and overcome the challenge, with ease and confidence. The key is to never doubt their ability to succeed, even for a second!
In most cases, the card indicates success and good fortune, though with negative Arcanas it may change its meaning.
The card vividly illustrates that true Strength is more a matter of spirit than of the body. It speaks of victories achieved through integrity, inner resilience, and steadfast belief in one’s values, rather than brute force. The lesson of this Arcana is that with genuine inner strength, the need to exert external force is minimal.
Through the power of convictions, one can gain control over even the toughest situations, armed with nothing but willpower, moral superiority, fearlessness, and determination. For those familiar with the series Diversant, the Eleventh Arcana aligns with the operation “Bare Hands.” It echoes the Czech’s words: “Millions of people are armed to the teeth; they seem invincible, but they lose all their combat skills when faced with the unarmed because the unarmed have no choice. Think about that.” Strength of spirit is the key to victory; show weakness, and you’ll face defeat. This is the card of walking on water: the stronger your faith, the further you go. If you do not doubt or waver within yourself, you’ll achieve what seems impossible.
Strength in the Tarot is far removed from cruelty and violence, and this is the most important thing to remember about it.
Strength – Personal State
“A Person in Their Prime.”
Moral (and often physical!) strength, powerful energy, courage, and bravery up to the point of heroism (especially when faced with a challenge). Vital energy and determination. Passion and fearlessness. Self-confidence, influence, power, and a strong personal magnetism (charisma, the ability to influence others). Emotional resilience. The ability to control oneself (and others), not through authoritative pressure, but through firm principles, great inner consistency, and courage. Generosity, gentleness, tolerance, and humanity.
A distinguishing feature of Strength is its great consistency, confidence in one’s righteousness, and clarity of purpose (“I know what I want”).
Strength is also an indicator of extraordinary innate abilities (the nature of these abilities can be revealed by other cards). The card can describe the state of a person leading a very active life or someone overcoming a bad habit, such as quitting smoking. The state of mind described by this Arcana corresponds to the Nine of Wands – a determination to never give in, to resist fear entirely, and to overcome the temptation to give up. It represents a test of inner endurance and fidelity to one’s higher knowledge and decisions. If the will is strong, you will triumph; if you surrender, it’s the end of your dreams. Strength of spirit is the key to victory. Strength says, “You will only lose if you choose to give up. If you don’t, you will emerge victorious.”
This is, in any case, the image of a solitary figure triumphing through resilience and determination. The card signifies the drive to endure, even if it causes pain.
Another aspect of Strength is the enthusiasm and passionate enjoyment of life, the sense of its fullness. It symbolizes the path of joyous existence, fiery passion, vitality, and energy. Among its traditional meanings are affirmation of life, pride, passion, the joys of living, and love for physical pleasures. The person is so captivated by their emotions and thirst for pleasure that these qualities inevitably make them stand out from their surroundings, inspiring admiration in some and envy in others.
It is often said that among the court cards, Strength most closely aligns with the fiery Queen of Wands.
Strength – On a Deeper Level
This stage in spiritual development requires an individual to gain inner strength to overcome both external and internal obstacles and develop the ability and determination to govern oneself and one’s instincts.
Through Strength, fears, aggression, and desires are gently, lovingly, yet firmly tamed – not by force but by the inner strength of spirit. This card essentially describes the mechanism of self-control: the ability to manage one’s strongest and most impulsive desires. The cooperation between the conscious and subconscious mind creates a person of immense power who moves through life leaving almost no trace.
The wisdom of Strength lies in acting with steadfastness, kindness, and faith – not destroying but mastering. Most traditional depictions of Strength portray a young woman subduing a lion with her bare hands. Somehow, she compels the lion to act according to her will – a feat that seems logically impossible. Yet above her head is the lemniscate, the symbol of infinity and higher knowledge. She triumphs through this vibration alone, without anyone’s help. Her sole “weapon” is a higher plane of consciousness. The core teaching of this card is that the higher always triumphs over the lower – but only the very highest. The central idea of the card is the supremacy of higher vibrations over lower ones, achieved without violence, simply by the nature of their essence. Their mere presence is enough. Just as medieval knights (wild beasts by nature) revered the Heavenly Lady, so does the card illustrate that taming is not achieved through brute force. The woman’s white garment and the symbol of infinity above her head highlight the nature of the required strength. The lion, whose mouth the woman gently closes, symbolizes her own passionate nature, subdued through the strength of spirit and Divine love. It is telling that the astrological sign of Leo also symbolizes love and will. According to Waite, Strength represents deeply faithful people who overcome life’s difficulties and dangers through trust in God, humility, and love. Gentleness can achieve what brute force never could.
Many tarot practitioners suggest that if someone struggles with habits they cannot change despite their efforts, they should focus their imagination on the imagery of Strength. Picture oneself in the role of the figure subduing the lion. Mentally place one’s weakness, unwanted trait, or bad habit in the role of the lion. Feel one’s inner strength, determination, gentleness, and authority over the problem (not denial of it). However, if someone doesn’t truly wish to let go of a weakness, even if they know they should, meditating on the Hanged Man (XII) might be more appropriate. The lion symbolizes external obstacles to spiritual growth. It also represents the beast within us – the fears and passions that could overpower us and tear our lives apart. Entering into battle with this beast would be a grave mistake, as would completely surrendering to it. Suppressing this primal nature dictatorially can provoke a rebellion of uncontrolled impulses, potentially destroying the personality. The higher wisdom of this card lies in understanding that this beast can and must be conquered by walking the path of spiritual self-improvement.
Through Strength, one encounters the shadow – accepting even the least noble desires as natural parts of oneself – and lovingly, without tension or fear, subdues it (not by suppressing or destroying it). This process integrates the shadow, not by harsh struggle, but through recognition of its power and the presence of an even greater and higher power. The pressure must be minimal. Yes, the shadow, instincts, and passions may seem far stronger than the willpower we have to resist them. Yet this card poses the question: do you have something within you that vibrates at a higher level? If you do, it is stronger. Victory is achieved not through aggression but through inner righteousness. What is most astonishing about the card, aside from the woman’s fearlessness? The transformation of the lion!
In Papus’s treatise, Strength is associated with this statement: “Remember! To be able to, you must believe you can. Go forward, armed with faith – obstacles are mere illusions. To become strong, silence the weaknesses of the heart.” This primarily concerns inner enemies: on the path of spiritual growth, one must gain the strength to tame lower passions. It’s time to learn to subdue one’s lower self with one’s higher self-gently, lovingly (not harshly and without anesthesia), but firmly.
Ideally, human culture should interact with the wild forces of nature not through brute force but through the power of love and gentleness, as symbolized by this card.
As for the placement of Strength as either VIII or XI, opinions can vary. Strength can indeed be seen as the next step after the lesson of the Chariot. While the Chariot masters external control, Strength masters inner control. Furthermore, the lemniscate symbol suggests that Strength fits naturally in the second row of the Major Arcana beneath the Magician. Both cards demonstrate calmness and steadfast intentions without aggression. Like the Magician, the immense power of Strength stems from deep inner harmony. If the Magician’s might is the result of a harmonious interplay between the conscious and subconscious, the life force, courage, and passion of Strength represent the equilibrium that a civilized individual achieves with their primal nature. This theme is reflected in myths such as the friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu, who was initially his fierce opponent. The card vividly illustrates that our goal is not to learn to hide the sometimes archaic and intimidating forces within us but to tame them with love, gentleness, and perseverance. This allows us to gain control not only over these wild natural forces but also over the energy reserves we previously expended to suppress them.
Strength can be viewed as the feminine embodiment of the Magician.
Strength – Career and Profession
Great zeal and diligence in work.
Energetic actions aimed at achieving results.
Bringing plans to life.
Conducting affairs on a grand scale.
Outstanding talents and diverse creativity.
Strong self-motivation and a willingness to take risks. The individual is ready to fully dedicate themselves to a task or the development of a project. Enormous creative energy helps to dismantle outdated structures and reach new levels. Issues related to work require maximum concentration of effort.
Sometimes, Strength advises quickly joining forces or at least negotiating collaboration with a large company.
Professions that, in one way or another, require physical strength and good physical fitness. Sports. The military. Strength promises success and achievements (including in situations involving challenges or even significant danger). Additionally, the work might involve interaction with a potentially risky group of people and require a solid understanding of the unconscious, instinctive sides of the psyche. This could be relevant across a wide range of professions, from the role of a sports coach to the world’s oldest profession.
Strength – Financial and Housing Situation
Achieving financial well-being through personal effort and the development of innate talents.
Strength – Personal Relationships and Love Life
This Major Arcana describes strong and vibrant relationships where attraction plays a crucial role.
In love, Strength represents a tenderly taming yet simultaneously conquering influence. One partner neutralizes the other’s Animus and reaches the vulnerable Anima within the soul (regardless of gender). One partner, through gentleness and affection, gradually tames the other, sometimes teaching them self-control, including over their sexuality, and guiding them to accept and integrate the energy of passion and instincts. In this case, they act with infinite patience, softness, and care, gradually instilling calmness and the ability to fully embrace love and physical connection. The card often describes a physically strong and highly passionate partner, though whether they play the role of the nurturer of feelings or the one being nurtured is unknown.
Regarding Strength, interpretations often have dual emphases: the “Waite” and “Crowley” perspectives. Since Aleister Crowley transformed this Arcana, some authors focus on lust, primal instincts, and the animalistic nature of relationships. While this interpretation can hold true—Strength does indeed point to an intense sexual energy, surprising in its primal nature—the card’s original meaning of deep tenderness, softness, and spiritual love can sometimes be overlooked.
Strength is undoubtedly not part of the “platonic” Arcana group. However, it signifies an imbalance between partners, with one clearly superior in development, wisdom, and emotional depth.
In Crowley’s tradition, the woman descends to the beast, releasing her animalistic nature. In Waite’s tradition, she “humanizes” the beast, elevating it to her level and distancing it from its wild manifestations. This process can be described as “the fire of passion cultivates the heart.” The card symbolizes complete and conscious self-surrender in love, where diverse and contradictory aspects of personality merge into a unified experience. There is no need to suppress or fight anything because the one, the unity, has been found. Through Strength, every interaction between partners becomes a tantric experience; consciousness immerses itself in the fullness of each moment, accepting every emotional expression wholly without rejection, transforming the art of feeling into the art of being.
Strength is a very reassuring card when addressing conflicts or problems in relationships. It symbolizes the triumph of love over hatred and human traits over inhumanity.
It is a sign of the vitality of the relationship in question and of great inner strength – whether from the querent or their partner – fighting to create or preserve the relationship, no matter the obstacles, such as an uncooperative partner or hostile relatives. If paired with the Magician, it suggests “no pasaran” – victory is assured, and relentless efforts will be richly rewarded. However, sometimes strength is also required to break free from burdensome bonds and draw a definitive line (as always, the context of the situation must be considered).
The card also indicates sexual fervor, strong desires, exceptional enthusiasm in bed, and intense, vivid reactions, sometimes to extremes.
Strength generally describes relationships to which one gives themselves wholeheartedly but which demand great wisdom. They bring pleasure but also test one’s emotional maturity; without this maturity, the joy of excitement and union with a loved one can devolve into mere indulgence of hedonistic instincts – intense but empty. Strength can also symbolize sexual transformation and initiation (when paired with corresponding Minor Arcana).
For women, Strength advises a wiser approach to relationships, responding with “Yes, dear, of course” and quietly doing what needs to be done, avoiding fruitless arguments about who thinks what and why. For men, Strength suggests finding a woman who can help them gain confidence. In any case, the relationship will require transforming personal weaknesses (which could include aggression, fears, or prejudices) along the way.
Strength – Health and Well-Being
A significant reserve of life energy. Robust health, a responsive body, natural instincts, and excellent physical fitness. If the person is unwell, Strength indicates vitality, resilience, recovery, and a restoration of strength.
For those overly engrossed in spiritual pursuits, asceticism, or simply academic work, it serves as a reminder to pay attention to their physical body, which also needs exercise, nourishment, and the pleasures of life.
The moral of this card: “A healthy mind in a healthy body.” It highlights the connection between a well-energized body and an active, courageous mind capable of overcoming doubts and solving problems. These aspects are deeply interconnected. The body is not merely an appendage of the mind; it requires proper care and attention. The card advises not to neglect the body’s needs and to strive to meet its healthy demands.
The reversed card signifies physical and spiritual weakness. It is a poor indicator for health.
Strength – Reversed
Of course, reversed Strength signifies weakness – or more precisely, powerlessness. A traditional interpretation of reversed Strength is “suffering at the hands of those in power.” And what can be done in such a case? The card points to dependence on circumstances and suggests that external forces often interfere in a person’s destiny.
Another meaning is the misuse of strength – despotism, tyranny, or the belief that being gentle equates to being weak. It reflects fear of losing control and the notion that control can only be maintained through harshness. It also denotes an inability to manage one’s power effectively, loss of self-control, inner discord, and a situation where a person feels incapable of managing themselves (or believes they cannot).
The shared theme across these interpretations is failure, disgrace, or downfall.
This card signifies an inability to withstand exhaustion or weakness, spinelessness, self-doubt, fear, and anxiety. The person abandons their plans, deterred by challenges. It reflects a crisis of faith, apathy, pessimism, and mistrust of oneself and others.
It also represents the inability or failure to act gently or to find a harmonious way to coexist with others, leading to a high likelihood of failure in an endeavour. Disputes and a lack of harmony may arise.
Sometimes, reversed Strength serves as a reminder to those overly indulging in life’s pleasures that the body is not eternal, nor are its resources. It might be time to turn attention toward spiritual matters.
Strength – Manifestation of the Card in Combinations
In the presence of negative Arcana: Indicates the misuse of strength or power.
With The Fool: The person is anxious about the situation they are in, but obstacles and dangers will be successfully overcome.
With The Hierophant: The individual has outgrown their mentors and struggles to find an authority figure they can respect.
With The Lovers: Strong passion, irresistible attraction. However, it may also indicate rivalry or a clash of differing (if not opposing) value systems—often, both meanings apply simultaneously.
With The Chariot: Strict control.
With The Hanged Man: Gaining time, patience, and waiting.
With Death: A turning point in life, a radical change in thinking and lifestyle (usually for the better).
With The Devil: Clearly points to the presence of temptations that require resolve and firm resistance. Do not give in!
With the Five of Wands: Searching for reserves to achieve victory.
With the Nine of Wands: Resilience and strength.
With the Eight of Cups: Fatigue, lack of energy. This combination is considered to weaken the influence of Strength.
With the Ten of Swords or The Hanged Man: A readiness to renounce or sacrifice something precious in the name of a higher cause.
Reversed, with the Knight of Swords: Indicates winning a battle.
Strength – Archetypal Correspondences
Strength – Mythological
- Hercules and the Nemean Lion: Symbolising physical and inner courage to overcome challenges.
- Samson and Delilah: A tale of strength, vulnerability, and the balance of power.
- Androcles and the Lion: Compassion taming ferocity.
- Gilgamesh and Enkidu: The journey from wildness to civilisation, symbolising inner harmony.
Strength – Astrological
- Leo: Associated with courage, passion, leadership, and the energy of the heart.
- Sun: The source of vitality, self-expression, and radiant energy.
Strength – Kabbalistic
- Path between Chesed (Mercy) and Geburah (Severity): Balancing divine compassion and discipline to achieve harmony.
Strength – Numerological
- Eleven (XI): Spiritual awakening, intuition, and mastery over dualities.
- Eight (VIII): Power, abundance, and the infinity of cycles and balance (per Waite’s placement).
Strength – Psychological
- Carl Jung’s Shadow Integration: Taming the beast within and balancing instinctual drives with higher consciousness.
- Inner resilience: The capacity to endure challenges with poise, maintaining both control and compassion.
Strength – Alchemical
- Sublimation: Transforming raw instinct into refined energy.
- Taming the Red Lion: Symbolising the mastery of primal forces and passions.
Strength – Symbolic
- Lion: Primal instincts, strength, courage, and the energy of the Sun.
- Infinity Symbol: Spiritual balance, eternal flow, and mastery over the finite and infinite.
Strength – Cultural
- Knightly Ideals: Courtesy, restraint, and strength tempered with compassion.
- Renaissance Virtues: Strength depicted as a virtue of both the body and spirit, harmonising force with gentleness.
Strength – Modern Archetypes
- The Protector: A figure who safeguards others with unwavering strength and compassion.
- The Rebel with a Cause: Harnessing inner power to challenge oppression and bring about change.
Strength invites us to balance our primal instincts with higher awareness, embracing courage and compassion to face life’s challenges gracefully.
Over to you…
Now, let me know in the comments: Do you have any personal observations about Strength Major Arcana? How does it typically manifest in your tarot readings?
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