DESCRIPTION

We see a woman and a gown of white who gently holds the head of a lion and appears to be taming him. The scenery is out in nature, with the mountains of the great work in the background, and the lion has become her faithful companion. This lion is a symbol of Leo as well as the fiery solar energy from which we draw our life force. The Strength key represents a kind of marriage between the feminine (woman) and the masculine (lion). The lion symbolizes the passions, while the woman represents the spiritualized self that governs them rather than being controlled by them. A green lion in alchemy is about the raw energy of nature before we’ve applied our will to it, a red lion (such as the one depicted in this card) represents the natural forces under perfect control after many changes have already taken place through the alchemical process, and an gold lion represents the purified consciousness that is achieved through the great work. The infinity sign, which resembles a solar analemma, symbolizes unencumbered agency. The woman’s white gown signifies purity of intention, and her garland and crown of red roses become a symbol of well-governed passions. Arthur Waite, in his interpretation of the Strength card, refers to it as fortitude, representing one of the cardinal virtues with the others being Justice, Temperance, and the World.  Strength means moral purity and physical vigor.

The main color is yellow, representing the element of air, as well as a harmony and balance within nature. The Magician points to a garden of flowers, and now we see that this garden grows on the wreath of Strength. The garden represents a sense of organic growth and the roses represent desire. As a feminine, Strength represents the subconscious side of us. She’s taking in what the Magician or consciousness has actively focused on, and she’s now embodying it. The chain of flowers represents Divine Law when embraced in one’s heart. We’ve reached a place where our subconscious is more aligned with our conscious pursuit of personal evolution. Strength also represents befriending an ally or a companion on the path, but we must show our strength in order to win this being’s loyalty and friendship.

The woman handles the lion like a loved pet, and this shows that we should love and appreciate all parts of ourselves, even our baser instincts. This key shows that we should be kind and loving yet firm with ourselves. Taming our ego is like taming a pet. We need consistency, clarity, positive reinforcement, reward, love, and boundaries. A regular practice of meditation brings us greater self-awareness. This archetype stimulates the development of true grace. It’s about facing and overcoming our doubts and fears, which can rise up from the ego and lower self, and it teaches us to overcome any sort of indecision, and to move forward with confidence. The Strength archetype is about programing our subconscious pattern with an empowered and meaningful outlook to achieve mastery. One example of Strength manifesting is through overcoming a direct challenge or test such as Hercules wrestling the lion, or Daniel when he was thrown into the Den of Lions. In modern day life, we can also look to people who have really mastered themselves and are at the top of their game such as Olympic and professional athletes, leaders who tend to be in the spotlight a lot, and performing artists who live a life where they shine on stage or get to express their passion and creativity. The people of Strength have serious dedication, discipline, and creative vision.