Strength
The Strength card heralds the awakening of sacred power within - not the power that conquers, but the power that transforms through love's alchemy.
Like the Star's serene confidence, the maiden stands unafraid before raw force incarnate. Though the lion could easily overwhelm her physical form, his fierce nature yields to her gentle spirit. The infinity symbol crowning her brow, like the Magician's sacred sign, speaks of endless resources flowing from spirit's eternal spring.
The lion embodies our deepest passions, fears and desires - those primal forces that the Chariot seeks to control through will alone. Yet Strength reveals a higher path: not the subjugation of our inner beast, but its transformation through love's patient wisdom. Like the Temperance angel blending opposing forces, she understands that true power lies in harmony between higher and lower selves.
Sacred Meanings
When Strength appears upright, it speaks of inner resources vast as the Star's endless light. This is not the absence of fear, but the courage to move forward despite it - like the Fool stepping faithfully into the unknown. Your inner power grows strong enough to face life's challenges with grace rather than force.
Divine Union
In matters of heart, Strength promises relationships founded on mutual respect and understanding. Like the Two of Cups' sacred marriage, these bonds thrive through honest communication and shared vulnerability. Neither partner seeks to control or be controlled, for true intimacy blooms only in freedom's garden.
Strength Reversed
When inverted, Strength speaks of divine power temporarily obscured. Like the Moon's dark phase, inner resources seem to wane. You may seek outer control to compensate for inner uncertainty, or retreat into false security like the Four of Pentacles' miser clutching earthly treasure. Yet remember: like the Wheel of Fortune's turning, this too shall pass as you rediscover the endless wellspring within.