This card usually features a lion or other strong/dangerous-looking animal being kept at bay by a young woman. Many deck designers will also include the infinity symbol in the card’s design.
Strength doesn’t have to be about who is physically the strongest or who yells the loudest. There’s a quiet confidence in real strength, that doesn’t need to make any noise to prove it. There’s also wisdom in knowing when and how to apply strength so that everyone involved can benefit. In The Sound of Music, when Maria used patience, understanding, and fun to win over the Von Trapp children instead of trying to be controlling she was expressing the energy of this card.
Strength Tarot Upright Keywords: Patience, Power with not power over, quiet authority, grace, strategic use of strength
If the strength displayed in the upright position of this card comes from a place of steadiness, and self-knowledge, the energy of Strength reversed speaks to a lack of confidence or lack of a feeling of wholeness within oneself. That perceived sense of weakness (conscious or unconscious) can be terrifying and cause us to lash out or put up a show of force to keep people far away from our tender spots. The scene in The Wizard of Oz where the Cowardly Lion first tried to intimidate Dorothy, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Man is an excellent example of that reversed Strength energy.
Strength Reversed Keywords: bluster, all bark but no bite, verbally abusive, irresponsible use of force
