Strength card

Find the strength within.

Supporting / Blocking Tarot Card

support

A supporting card: The querent is in the right place at the right time concerning the matter at hand. They have found their inner strength and power and are acting from that place. The querent possesses inner self-control, which stems from self-confidence in their own strengths and abilities. Every solution to the querent’s question lies within them, as does every blockage. To resolve the issue, they must believe in themselves and their capabilities. This is also a card of sexuality.

Relationships

Career

Finances

Relationships

Career

Finances

The Meaning of The Card

The Strength card represents courage, one of the four cardinal virtues in Christianity, with roots in Greek philosophy. Justice and temperance will appear later in the Fool’s journey, and prudence is embedded in all the cards. Facing a lion symbolizes a confrontation of strength and power; Samson, David, and Daniel, all mentioned in the Bible, metaphorically faced a lion, with the outcomes representing a confrontation between the physical and spiritual sides. The card represents life situations where a person overcomes challenges and achieves success in their life.

Strength card: The Meaning of The Symbols

Card Symbols	Symbol Meaning
Infinity Symbol	Amplifies, enhances.
Wreath of Flowers	The wreath reflects delicacy, teaching that strength comes from within, from self-confidence rather than physical power. It symbolizes a circle, completeness, infinity, harmony, victory, new beginnings and endings, health, beauty.
Forward-Leaning Body Posture	The woman’s forward lean symbolizes compassion, help, acceptance, and attention. The woman does not fight the lion but respectfully acknowledges its strength.
White Robe	Authority, power, grandeur, magic, innocence, purity.
Lion	Leadership, courage, confidence, the ability to lead, balance between physical strength and power, responsibility, primal instincts.
Mountains	Challenges, power, mystery, obstacles.
Yellow Background	The yellow color symbolizes the sun, its light, and radiates spiritual energy. The neutral background symbolizes inner strength that is not bound by social conventions but by internal power and freedom alone.
Green Field	Nourishment, rest, abundance.

Mythology

The Strength card is represented by Apollo, the Sun God. Apollo’s qualities are strength, self-awareness, and the ability to channel impulses and passions into creativity. Apollo is a god who seeks balance, order, and moderation. He also represents will, thought, truth, and wisdom. Apollo is wise enough to find an intelligent solution to challenges, rather than relying on ego and emotion. The animals associated with Apollo reflect different aspects of his personality: the white swans represent the illuminated and pure aspect, the wolf embodies primal instincts, the snake symbolizes the power of the earth, and the black raven represents magic and witchcraft.

Representation of the Card in a Reading

The Strength card represents a situation where the querent is on the right path in their life. To maintain strength, they must connect with their inner faith and self-confidence. Strength lies in balance. The querent possesses both mental and physical strength, along with leadership qualities. Events in their life are unfolding positively. The querent knows how to control their impulses and anger, which will enable them to achieve their goal. The card teaches that the querent has a strong personality, self-confidence, humility, and respect. There is a resemblance to the Magician card—the symbol of infinity, the white garment, and the wreath of flowers all symbolize inner harmony. In the Magician card, harmony exists between the conscious and unconscious, whereas in the Strength card, harmony is between the primal animal force of the lion and the creative power of the human spirit. Suppressing the instinctual drive will suppress the life force and vitality. Their combination transforms into strength. Strength is the source of a person’s energy, from which everything flows. Strength is the power with which one controls the path of life. When a person consciously accumulates strength, they gain the ability to create. To create and use strength, one must examine the external aspects of their life—the rules and interactions with the world—how they perceive and interpret the external world. They must also examine the internal aspects related to the ego and how they respond to the rules and interactions with the world. In situations of imposed change, a person may perceive the external world as a threat and react accordingly. The ego goes to battle, but mastering strength requires a long journey of training and self-control over the ego. The correct response is to assess the situation and determine whether the threat is real or imagined, and only then respond. The Fool sees himself as equal among equals. He takes nothing for granted, observes, and learns from every event in his life, thus developing and learning to use the strength within him.

It is important to remember that this is a card from the Major Arcana, representing the spiritual realm. The querent’s soul is in a place of strength and power, but to achieve it, they must recognize the power within them, strengthen their self-confidence, and confront their ego. True strength is not external and is not measured by success in relationships, career, or wealth. The strength lies within, and with it, one can fulfill their desires in the world.