Strength Tarot Card Meanings

Major Arcana Tarot

Strength Tarot Card Meanings

Upright Card Meaning

True strength does not thunder through the world on conquering chariots, but slowly influences people from within. Just like a gentle influence can tame the lion, inner strength wielded properly can tame all of life’s demons.
Strength is formed by looking within one’s self and confronting the ugliest part of one’s soul, by taming the ego and fighting inner doubts. It manifests as courage, compassion (because it takes true strength to remain open to the suffering of others in a world that encourages cynicism), and focus on one’s goals. People with true strength have an almost palpable manifestation of inner energy and strength.
In a reading, this card is reassuring you that you have what it takes to get what you want. Perhaps you are not used to thinking of yourself as a strong person because you are too used to thinking of strength as a brute force, but the card is encouraging you to look within. Strength encourages you to fight your ego and your doubts, for wrestling with your shadow self is the hardest match of them all. If you are victorious here, you can conquer anything.

Major Arcana Tarot

Strength Tarot Card Meanings

Reversed Card Meaning

The path of true inner strength is as narrow as a hair, so do not feel too discouraged if you are finding it hard to follow. Strength reversed symbolizes inner weakness in a myriad of forms. Weakness can manifest as pessimism and a lack of will or energy. It is easier to avoid trying at something because you’ve decided it does not matter, than to face the possibility of failure if you make a serious effort.
Other forms of weakness are not as easy to identify. A person could cling to power with all their strength and abuse it, but every despot knows deep down that the foundation of their strength lies on shaky grounds. Additionally, a person who flies into rages and lets their passions and emotions rule them is also demonstrating weakness. They may be able to frighten others with their bluster, but how can they achieve true strength without mastering the self first?
Strength Reversed is reminding you that in order to conquer your goals, you must start from within. The work of mastering one’s emotions and manifesting inner energy is difficult, but without this strong foundation all your endeavors will be shaky at best.