Strength in brief
In the Rider-Waite tradition, Strength stands for inner strength, courage and patience, the kind of power that works through gentleness rather than force. Modern readers often take it as a sign of calm resilience and compassion under pressure, while the reversed card points to self-doubt, low energy or raw emotion breaking loose.
Waite called the card Strength, or Fortitude, one of the cardinal virtues. Waite also moved it to number VIII and gave Justice the number XI, a swap he made “for reasons which satisfy myself” and chose not to explain.
The card’s picture
The card shows a woman closing the jaws of a lion, with the same symbol of life, the figure 8 on its side, hovering over her head as over The Magician. The one point where Waite’s design differs from older cards is that her “beneficent fortitude” has already subdued the lion, which is now being led by a chain of flowers.
The chain of flowers represents “the sweet yoke and the light burden” of divine law taken into the heart. In one sense, the lion stands for the passions, and the woman for the higher nature in its freedom. One earlier version showed the woman opening the lion’s mouth, and closing it is the better symbol.
Modern guides read the same details. The lion represents raw passions and desires, tamed by her calming, loving energy without force or coercion. Her white robe represents purity of spirit, and her belt and crown of flowers represent the fullest expression of nature. Her calm control of the lion represents courage, love and compassion, and the blue sky over the mountains represents stability.
Upright meaning
The upright card’s divinatory meanings are power, energy, action, courage and magnanimity, and also complete success and honors. The card has nothing to do with self-confidence in the ordinary sense and is linked to the strength which resides in contemplation.
Upright Strength represents inner strength and fortitude in moments of danger and distress, and the ability to stay calm and strong through struggle. Upright Strength also represents compassion, patience and the fearlessness to speak one’s mind.
The Chariot is outer strength and will, while Strength is inner strength and the human spirit’s ability to overcome obstacles. Strength represents quiet influence and persuasion rather than control of others, and stamina and persistence balanced by patience and inner calm. Strength also represents a call to tame raw emotions such as anger, and to channel them with forgiveness, love and compassion.
Reversed meaning
Reversed Strength represents despotism, abuse of power, weakness, discord and sometimes even disgrace.
Reversed Strength represents a lack of the inner strength the card usually shows, with fear and a loss of confidence in one’s own abilities. Reversed Strength also represents forgetting one’s passions and the joy of doing what one loves, and a call to rebuild confidence.
Reversed Strength is a prompt to check one’s levels of inner strength and self-belief, and a setback can leave a person vulnerable. Reversed Strength also represents low energy that calls for rest and a short withdrawal, and in its shadow form represents explosive behavior and lashing out, where the work is to channel emotion rather than repress it.
Strength in love
In love, upright Strength represents a passionate, fiery romance, strong but sometimes prone to anger or jealousy. In love, upright Strength also represents compassion, empathy and inner strength drawing partners closer, with patience and gentleness in heated moments.
Reversed Strength represents some codependency rooted in insecurity, and serves as a reminder that two full lives bring more to a partnership. Reversed Strength also represents force and power becoming themes in a relationship, with one partner growing domineering.
Strength in career
For work, upright Strength represents drive and passion channeled into big steps, rather than allowed to take over. Upright Strength is also a sign that the talent and skill are there and only courage is needed for bold moves.
Reversed Strength represents fear and self-doubt standing in the way of career hopes, with constant second-guessing. Reversed Strength is a reminder that a person may be more capable than they believe.
Strength and money
Upright Strength in money questions represents self-control, with impulsive spending kept in check.
Reversed Strength represents compulsive spending, or the opposite, a hesitancy to spend on useful things. Reversed Strength also represents a feeling of insecurity about money whatever the real situation.
Strength as feelings
As feelings, upright Strength represents admiration and respect for another person’s resilience, courage and compassion, with feelings anchored in trust. Upright Strength also represents one’s own self-confidence and emotional steadiness.
Reversed Strength represents someone who lacks confidence in expressing emotions and holds back out of self-doubt. Reversed Strength also represents one’s own inner battle with insecurity.
Questions to reflect on
- Where is gentleness proving stronger than force?
- Which strong emotion is asking to be channeled rather than pushed down?
- What past challenge shows a strength easy to forget?
- Is rest needed before the next effort?