The Gentle Tamer
🌟 Power Through Compassion
The Strength card shows a woman gently closing the jaws of a lion—not through force, but through calm, patient compassion. She wears white robes of purity and a garland of flowers, symbols of the gentle nature that tames the beast. Above her head floats the lemniscate (∞), the same infinity symbol that crowns The Magician, indicating mastery—but here it is mastery of the inner world rather than the outer.
This is not the strength of muscles and force; this is the strength of patience, compassion, and unwavering inner resolve. The lion represents our primal instincts, fears, and raw emotions. The woman shows us that these powerful forces within us need not be suppressed or destroyed—they can be befriended and guided through love.
Note: In the Tarot de Marseille tradition, this card is numbered XI and called La Force. The Rider-Waite deck swapped the positions of Strength and Justice.
💖 Love & Relationships
When Strength appears in matters of the heart, it speaks to the power of patience and emotional resilience in relationships. This card suggests that the situation calls not for dramatic action but for quiet, steady compassion—both toward your partner and yourself.
Strength in love means having the courage to be vulnerable, the patience to work through difficulties, and the wisdom to know that true connection requires gentleness. If you're facing relationship challenges, this card encourages you to lead with your heart rather than your defenses.
Questions to ask: Am I approaching this situation with compassion? Do I have the patience to let love unfold naturally? Can I be gentle with both myself and my partner?
💼 Career & Life Path
In career readings, Strength indicates that success will come through quiet confidence rather than aggressive competition. This card favors those who lead by example, who demonstrate resilience in the face of challenges, and who maintain their composure under pressure.
Strength asks: Can you hold your ground without losing your temper? Can you influence others through patience rather than force? The workplace lions—difficult colleagues, stressful deadlines, challenging clients—can be tamed through the same gentle power that the woman shows in this card.
Career guidance: Trust in your abilities even when others doubt you. Persist through difficulties with grace. Your quiet confidence will ultimately prove more effective than any show of force.
🌌 Spiritual Significance
Spiritually, Strength represents the integration of our animal nature with our higher self. The lion is not killed or caged—it is befriended. This is the path of true spiritual development: not the rejection of our instincts and emotions, but their transformation through love and awareness.
The infinity symbol above the woman's head connects this card to The Magician, suggesting that the conscious direction of will (The Magician) must be complemented by the mastery of the unconscious (Strength). Together, they represent complete spiritual power.
The woman's gentle touch on the lion teaches us that our fears and shadows are not enemies to be conquered, but aspects of ourselves to be understood and integrated.
⚡ The Shadow Side
Reversed or challenged, Strength can indicate a loss of faith in yourself—the inner critic drowning out your confidence. Perhaps you've been too hard on yourself, or perhaps you've let fear convince you that you're not capable of handling what lies ahead.
The shadow of Strength can also manifest as its opposite: aggression, loss of temper, or trying to force outcomes through will rather than wisdom. Remember that the woman in the card doesn't overpower the lion—she doesn't need to. True strength never requires proof.