Strength Tarot card: meaning of the 8th arcana, interpretation in fortune telling, combination with other cards

An extremely positive card that carries powerful energy and considerable meaning. The Major 8th Arcana tarot card Strength says that the questioner is in for trials, he needs to be patient and courageous. In this article, we will consider the description and meaning in relationships of the direct and inverted card, interpretation and combination with other cards in layouts for love, health, career and work. The Strength card says that a person is on his own path, but now he is in for trials of strength, as well as a test of sincerity in desires and goals.

Contents

Archetypes and Analogues

Common names for this card: 8th Arcana, Strength, Test of the Path, World Energy, Lust.

Daughter of the Flaming Sword.
Human Strength, Lion Tamer.
Path 19, Tet (from Geburah to Hesed, from Strength to Kindness), Letter Kaf.
Venus in the sign of Leo, which embodies life’s creativity and perfection of individuality.
Occult meaning – power.
Greek nymph Cyrene taming lions without weapons.
Goddesses who are depicted naked, riding a lion: Hebe, Ishtar.
Samson, shorn by Delilah.
Archetypes of many of Dumas’s favorite heroes, from Bussy to Buckingham.
The image of Bella from the famous vampire saga “Twilight” partially corresponds to this Arcanum.
Gallery of tarot cards Strength from 50 different decks.

Graphic symbols of the map

Strength – is the personification of inner strength, filled with positive emotions. However, it is this card that casts doubt on which principle will win in a person: his animal instincts or, after all, the voice of reason. You should not follow the lead of instincts, by controlling them a person will gain freedom and will be able to release those forces that he did not even suspect.

Classic image. The Strength tarot card depicts a girl in white robes, decorated with flowers and a wreath on her head. She strokes a lion, which bends submissively under her hands. There is no noose or chains on it, only a garland of wild flowers and herbs. The animal is tamed, but there is always a chance that instincts will take over.

Young maiden – is the personification of the spiritual principle and deep knowledge of man. This is a spark of God’s power, which is given to man at birth and which leaves his body with his last breath.
The girl’s white clothes – speak of her innocence and spiritual purity.
Flowers in a wreath and decorations – indicate the supremacy of a person’s good aspirations over the base aspirations of the flesh.
Leo – is the physical shell of a person. The personification of his vital forces, the ability to cope with difficulties, but also what draws him to debauchery. Crimes, loss of spirituality.
The animal’s red color – represents its physical activity, power and ability to overcome obstacles in its path.
The blue mountain in the background – is the presence of the divine principle, a sign that God is watching over man.

General meaning of the map

The meaning of the upright and inverted card

Direct Strength card.

Obstacles. The Strength Tarot card indicates the inner strength needed to overcome obstacles on the way, to withstand difficult circumstances. A person needs to curb his feelings, passions, melancholy and disappointment. Fate has thrown down a challenge, so you should gather all your will into a fist and move forward. The main task is to achieve moral maturity, self-pity is inappropriate. The questioner will have a serious fight with life’s obstacles.
Victory. At the same time, the Power of Tarot carries a positive meaning, overcoming obstacles, victory over circumstances. The questioner has a chance to succeed, but his actions must be verified and soft. If there is a crisis situation in life, then the card indicates the forces that will help to cope with it easily and quickly.

Reversed Strength card.

Resources. The Tarot card Strength indicates the misuse of power and the mismanagement of resources. The questioner uses methods of tyranny and despotism, since softness in his understanding will not lead to anything good. He is characterized by abuse of power and the inability to control his emotions. The person loses self-control, internal discord occurs, he cannot cope with himself and the circumstances.
Failure, shame, fall. The questioner cannot resist temptations, weaknesses, self-doubt, fear and anxiety force them to abandon plans, escape in the face of difficulties. Loss of trust in oneself and people around, apathy and loss of strength.

Deep meaning

Meaning 1: “Self-development”. A person must gain inner strength in order to overcome internal and external obstacles, learn to control instincts and oneself. Taming of fears, aggression, gently and affectionately, without brute force and coercion. Self-control, self-management, one’s strength and reckless desires. The union of consciousness and subconsciousness makes a person powerful. One should act with faith, kindness, fortitude.
Meaning 2: “Acceptance of one’s alter ego”. The card indicates a meeting with the shadow, when a person accepts his dark side, his bad desires, as part of his soul. He pacifies his shadow with kindness, 爱, without tension and fear. The dark side of the soul must be transformed, and not suppressed by a fierce struggle, it must be accepted through an even more powerful force living in a person.
Meaning 3: “Humble your pride by gaining faith.” All obstacles are illusory, go forward, regardless of them, armed with faith. Gaining inner strength during spiritual development occurs through the pacification of passions. You need to act softly and with love, because inside the person himself there is a struggle with his dark “I”. Interaction with inner demons occurs through love, tenderness and pacification.
Meaning 4: “An Invaluable Lesson.” The Strength card is the lesson that the questioner receives after the Chariot. The Chariot is a symbol of external control, and Strength is an internal one. Calmness, firmness of intentions, actions without aggression. Strength comes from the inner deep harmony of the soul. It is expressed in balance and harmonious connection between the higher human “我” and animal instincts.
Meaning 5: “Loyalty to oneself.” The card says that one should tame inner demons with love and persistent gentness, and not drive them into the depths of the soul, where they frighten even more from the darkness. In this case, the energy that was previously spent on suppression is released, thanks to which a person receives the strength needed to achieve goals.

Advice and Caution

You need to stop doubting your abilities. Strength of spirit is more important than strength of body.

Victory is achieved through being right, having inner confidence, being firm and unwavering in your decision. If you have great inner strength, you need less external strength to achieve your goals.
The Strength card symbolizes luck and success. However, if there are negative cards in the layout, then its meaning becomes negative.
With determination, fearlessness, moral superiority, and willpower in his arsenal, a person will win without weapons. Strength of spirit is the key to success in business; if you give in, you will suffer defeat.
A firm belief in your rightness and convictions will help you reach the end; having a steel core inside you will win where others have broken and lost heart.

Description of a person

The Power of Tarot represents a person in the prime of life. Courage, bravery, powerful energy, moral strength, heroism, vital energy and determination, fearlessness and passion merged in him.

Strength indicates the enjoyment of life, passion for hobbies, a sense of the fullness of being.

Interpretation in fortune telling

Love and Relationships Layout

In love, Power represents conquering attention and gentle taming. One partner tames the other with their tenderness and gentleness, thanks to which the partner learns to cope with their nature, instincts and express their sexuality, to open up to feelings completely. They act softly, gradually, patiently, carefully, conveying harmony and peace, teaching how to handle their own body and the pleasure of love.

Other interpretations:

Powerful energy of sex and instincts. There are animal passions in the relationship, which, with their primitiveness, introduce an element of wildness. But behind the sexual attraction of animal origin, there is deep tenderness, 爱, softness, which dominate sexual attraction. The card is not a symbol of platonic love, but it indicates the inequality of partners. One dominates the other, thanks to his charisma and temperament.
Total conscious self-surrender to love, when contradictory aspects of the personality are intertwined into a single experience. There is no need for struggle, the search for ways to suppress inner demons has come to an end.
Partners fall into a tantric state, all-consuming love, fullness and awareness of every moment of life. The art of sensuality turns into the art of life, acceptance without rejection and war with oneself. The card symbolizes the victory of love over human weaknesses in relationships. Conflicts are resolved, relationships are improved.
The questioner fights for the relationship. Thanks to his inner strength and energy, he wins in this field, especially if the partner is intractable or there is an obstacle in the form of relatives who do not approve of the union. If the Magician card is present in the layout, then fortune will be completely on the side of the questioner, thanks to his tireless efforts and patience.
A destructive union, from which the questioner will get rid thanks to his inner strength and determination to start life from scratch.
Relationships bring pleasure, but are a test of maturity, otherwise the joy of love will be empty. The card shows the unfolding of sexual energy.

Interesting. The card advises a woman to be submissive and accommodating, not to stir up conflict and not to sort things out. A man needs to find a woman who will help him become stronger and develop his masculinity, transform his weaknesses, aggression, fears, prejudices.

Career and Work Layout

Professions of Power are associated with physical fitness and courage: army, athletes, work in law enforcement agencies, associated with law and crime, prison. Psychologist, specialist in working with difficult teenagers, sports coach, even a representative of the oldest profession.

Layout for money and property

A person achieves financial well-being through his work and talents.

Health layout

In layouts for health, the Power of Tarot can be interpreted as follows:

The card symbolizes vital energy, good health, a beautiful body and physical fitness.
If a person was sick, the card indicates recovery and restoration of strength. With sufficient energy, the mind and soul can work fruitfully and develop.
The body needs to be taken care of, as it is the basis of human life on earth in the material world. Do not forget to satisfy its healthy needs and then the harmony of the soul with the physical shell is ensured.
If the questioner is engaged in intellectual work and leads a predominantly sedentary lifestyle, then one needs to take up sports and remember about one’s physical condition.

If the Strength card is reversed in a health layout, this indicates spiritual and physical weakness.

Answer the question yes or no

When answering a direct question, a straight card is traditionally interpreted as yes, and a reversed card as no.

Direct card.The answer is yes. You have a lot of energy to implement your plans. Your inner core allows you to immerse yourself in projects and ideas, give yourself to them completely, bring everything to the end and, if necessary, take risks. Your talent and hard work will help you achieve financial well-being. In relationships, most likely, a long-term union, which is maintained by tenderness and softness, harmonization, patience. Between partners, there is complete dedication to love. You have a lot of vital energy that maintains good health. But, despite this, you need to devote more time to it.
Reversed card.The answer is no. You may feel weak and powerless. You may have been defeated or dependent on a situation where strangers and circumstances influence your life. You cannot do anything about it, most likely, you are unable to use your strength and manage your resources correctly. It is possible that you are using the method of despotism and tyranny, abusing power, while being unable to keep your emotions under control. As a result – loss of trust in yourself and others. You have chosen the wrong path, a path that will most likely lead to self-destruction.

Card of the day or advice for the day

Direct card. You have chosen your path and are confidently following it. But today you will face some difficulties that will slow down your forward movement. Your sincerity of desire for victory will be tested. The Strength card will help you overcome the fears that torment you from within, prevent cowardice, be confident in yourself and the correctness of your decisions. At work, do not be afraid of risk, today you will have enough energy to bring the current case to the end. Your work and your talents will be well rewarded. In personal relationships, all-pervading love will capture you, complete dedication will come. Do not forget about the physical needs of the body, then the spirit will be healthy.
Reversed card. Today you will be powerless to change anything in your life situation. Your dependence on strangers, on objective circumstances will cause a feeling of panic and uncontrollable anger. Loss of self-control and discord with yourself is possible. The inverted Strength will cause an outflow of vital energy, the fight against temptations will occupy all thoughts. As a result of the day, you will feel powerless and indifferent to what is happening. To avoid this, try to use the body’s resources correctly, use your potential wisely, directing it only to creation.

Prediction for a month or week

Strength Upright Card. Prudence will make you strong, able to think clearly and perform difficult work. This week will be marked by a series of victories that will show that you have achieved maturity and wisdom. After these events, it will be time to set new goals. You will be able to overcome bad habits, weaknesses or bad views that have controlled your life before. All this will open new doors – you will begin to communicate with other interesting people, career growth will accelerate, and better times will come in your relationship with your loved one.
Reversed Strength card. There is an endless struggle with various events ahead, and none of the confrontations will bring success. Despite this, you will continue to work and will not give up, and at the end of the week you will decide to take a break. Having rethought your goals, you will choose a new path. Your life will constantly change, you will have to adapt to new conditions. Various challenges will appear on the way, but you will not have to overcome them – you will have to learn to live with them. Having learned this wisdom, you will feel freedom.

Money layout

Upright card. You know what you want and you know how to get it. You earn income through hard work and use all your skills and talents. Great success will come from projects and projects that you will do in a team with other colleagues. You will have to trust the experience of other people and distribute responsibilities so that everyone is responsible for the part of the work that they understand best. Thus, everything will be done with the highest quality, and you will earn a large sum.
Reversed card. You misuse your abilities and ignore opportunities that could have brought you to a whole new level of income. You cannot control your emotions and are very envious of your more successful colleagues, but you make no attempt to get even a little closer to their level. You are too unsure of your abilities and are afraid to make a statement. Therefore, you are not trusted with any important tasks, and there is no talk of increasing your income.

Layout for the fulfillment of a wish

Direct card. You begin to feel that nothing is working out and none of your wishes will ever come true. But now you can’t give up. Without retreating, you will finally achieve the desired result and get even more than you wanted. People are surprised at where you get so much inner strength and energy to achieve your desires, and a company of people whose desires are similar to yours begins to form around you. Together with them, you achieve your plans much faster.
Reversed card. You still can’t get your thoughts together and start doing at least something to achieve what you want. You put everything off until later, and this “later” never comes. You don’t want to accept help and achieve results together with someone. Subconsciously, you do this out of fear that someone else’s success will be much better than yours. Therefore, until now, you have only been planning and hoping to someday bring them to life. But most likely, this will never happen. And you will only dream until the very end.

Layout for the problem

Upright card. You are very principled and too honest. You want everyone around you to have similar qualities. You get very angry and irritated when you encounter some kind of injustice in life. You defend your interests and the interests of your loved ones to the last. This principledness periodically hinders you in personal matters, because you do not make any concessions even with your family. You often quarrel about this, but you never change your decisions. It is still worth sometimes allowing people to make mistakes and stop pointing them out to them so often.
Reversed card. Softness is not for you. You prefer methods of tyranny and despotism, because anything else, in your opinion, will be perceived by people as a manifestation of weakness. You believe that everyone around you wants to use you and try to fence yourself off from such influence. But at the same time, you yourself are not embarrassed to use people when you need it. You do not trust even yourself, let alone others. Due to constant tension, you often have no strength and health problems appear.

Partner’s attitude towards the querent

Direct card. Your partner is struggling with his own conflicting desires – on the one hand, he wants to appropriate the heart of his beloved, and on the other – he understands that he must give more freedom. This struggle is reflected in his actions and behavior. The most different feelings live in the heart of your partner, but they are all directed towards you. A powerful physical attraction makes the relationship with him passionate and pleasant, and constant jealousy and the desire to conquer your heart do not allow the person to lose interest.
Reversed card. The person is completely at the mercy of his passions and whims. He cannot resist the desire to be with you, even if he knows that it will harm his life. There is no room in his heart for other interests, he is carried away only by you. The desire to subordinate you to his will prevails over other thoughts and impulses. The person strives to show that he is able to subjugate even the one he loves very much. His actions are dictated not only by love, but also by care and the desire to protect.

Will this couple be together

Upright position. The lovers have fully defined their roles – one has taken the leading position, and the other has decided to obey him in everything. This makes the union of lovers tender, but strong and designed for many years – your relationship will withstand many tests. In this relationship, the lovers will face constant confrontation – their desires will not coincide. Later, a partner with a softer character will gradually and without a fight capture the heart of his chosen one, and peace will reign in the union.
Inverted position. The partners experience the strongest feelings, they cannot control their own actions and are in dire need of love. Unbridled desires and lack of self-control are qualities that can lead to disastrous consequences. Wanting to spend all their free time together, the partners forget about real life. This makes their union pleasant, but unable to survive in the modern world, where many dangers lurk. Over time, this relationship must change, otherwise it is threatened with collapse.

Is there someone else with the partner?

Direct Power – yes, it exists. This is the union that is difficult to break. Perhaps, – you have now become a third wheel, a person who only distracts from true feelings. What can you do, you cannot always receive love in return, no matter how sincere and bright the feelings are. This, unfortunately, is your case. Try to survive a difficult period and move on. It will not be easy at first, but you should succeed. Tarot cards are on your side. Fate teaches you and prepares you for the future. Sometimes you have to suffer for your happiness.
Inverted Power – no. But there can be no love between you either. Your attraction is based on platonic attraction. As soon as it goes away from the bed, you simply have nothing to talk about. It is worth recognizing the fact that you are completely different people and what is considered right for one is unacceptable for the other. Even this circumstance is an insurmountable obstacle to building a healthy relationship, let alone a future marriage. Only those relationships based on tenderness and mutual understanding can achieve a happy ending.

Does your partner miss you?

The upright card – yes, he misses you. You should act softly and gradually. If your feelings are strong enough to be restrained, then try to direct your passion in a slightly different direction. Sometimes creativity or sports help you unload emotionally and let off steam. In your situation, this will be a great alternative to constant calls and text messages, which the other party is already quite tired of. If you do not want to cause only irritation, learn to restrain yourself and act as your partner needs at the moment.
Reversed card – no, he’s not bored. There’s been too much between you: too many mistakes, criticism, anger, negative emotions. All of this is intertwined and it’s impossible to tell if there was love there. You are completely incapable of giving yourself to another person. You just take and take, leaving your partner completely drained. Start working on yourself, otherwise what awaits you is a series of fleeting affairs. Be afraid if your partner is stronger spiritually than you. Here you’ll have to change places.

Does your loved one remember you?

Direct card – yes, he remembers. This person is still infatuated with you. Even the breakup couldn’t change his feelings and attitude. However, you undoubtedly play a dominant role and suppress the will of the other party. It was this fact that served as the starting point for the collapse of love. It is difficult to imagine how hard it is to accept the fact that you yourself destroyed everything, but this must be done in order not to make similar mistakes in the future. It will no longer be possible to return the past, but it is quite possible to pave your way to a happy future.
The inverted card – no, it doesn’t. There was a lot of bad stuff between you, even stuff that’s better not to remember. Perhaps you were used, abused: both moral and physical. But you are unable to let go of the past and move on. Why? Is being a victim really the only right scenario for you? Believe me, there are happy roles in this world – a loved one, a parent, a friend. Don’t lose trust in people, but don’t trust them too much either. Especially those who are always trying to get on your neck.

What does your lover think about you

Upright card. This person considers meeting you one of the happiest events in his life. Here we can say thank you to your charisma and temperament. However, they have also become a kind of barrier between you and a healthy relationship with this person. Perhaps you play the role of a “bad guy”, or prefer to deny existing rules and norms, going your own way. Of course, such people burn very brightly, but sometimes they burn those who are closest to them in their fire. And again you are left to fight this world alone.
Reversed card. This person does not remember you and prefers to bury in his memory everything that was. And what are you doing? Are you suffering in vain attempts to revive the past? Is there any point in that? Show your inner strength and look ahead. There you will see a lot of light and opportunities. But while you stand in one place, happiness does not get closer. What kind of future would you like for yourself? Surely – these are not endless attempts to catch up with the elusive past and return what did not give the desired peace.

What is the beloved doing now?

Direct card. This person pays special attention to his inner world. Now he is in search of peace of mind and the right path. It is in your power to help him or lead him even further from the saving path. Do you want to find happiness in your personal life? Then you know which scenario to follow. There is a chance of a happy outcome, but everything depends on your determination and ability to follow your goals. Look for harmony in yourself and you will be able to give it to others.
Reversed card. This person is no one to you anymore. Accept this fact. It’s time to collect your thoughts and pay attention to your life. You didn’t just come into this world. And especially not to suffer. What was – has passed and nothing can return. Even if it seems now that just recently everything was wonderful and how wonderful it would be to return everything, do not fall for this mirage of your imagination. There were many reasons for the separation, and to forget about all of them – means to betray yourself.

Combinations with other tarot cards

Strength card in combination with other tarot cards: a complete list of 78 arcana.

Major Arcana

Strength and the Jester – mismanage your own resources or take on a failed project.
Strength and Magician – trying to do something through force.
Strength and the High Priestess – show fortitude and patience.
Strength and Empress – throw all your efforts into achieving your own goals.
Strength and Emperor – spend a lot of time to establish a workflow or to develop a new strategy.
Strength and High Priest – work in a team or raise team spirit.
Power and Lovers – searching for a comrade or establishing new friendships.
Strength and the Chariot – problems with controlling emotions or emotional burnout.
Strength and the Hermit – a manifestation of willpower or firm confidence in one’s own strength.
Strength and the Wheel of Fate – turn the situation in your favor.
Strength and Justice – the manifestation of impartiality or an objective assessment of what is happening.
Strength and the Hanged Man – the desire to delay the inevitable or to run into trouble.
Strength and Death – moral depression or complete lack of internal strength.
Strength and Moderation – an appeal to inner strength or the use of all possibilities.
Power and the Devil – a manifestation of cruelty or bringing a person to a nervous breakdown.
Strength and Tower – lack of brakes or inability to stop in time.
Strength and Star – the need for universal attention or an attempt to get rid of an addiction.
Strength and the Moon – lack of control over the situation or trust in higher powers.
Strength and the Sun – the ability to curb one’s own emotions and desires.
Power and the Last Judgment – speaking to a crowd or filling with inner energy.
Strength and Peace – the need to overcome your fears or develop mental balance.

Wands

Strength and the Ace of Wands – refusal of impulsive decisions.
Strength and the Two of Wands – the need to stop in time.
Strength and the Three of Wands – do not allow anyone to know about your true state.
Strength and the Four of Wands – to overcome your own laziness and start doing something.
Strength and the Five of Wands – not listening to fair comments and ignoring other people’s attempts to help.
Strength and the Six of Wands – draw a lucky ticket.
Strength and the Seven of Wands – to face problems head-on and solve them quickly.
Strength and the Eight of Wands – use brute force or solve all problems with your fists.
Strength and the Nine of Wands – constant jealousy and mistrust of the partner.
Strength and Ten of Wands – to be broken or to be left alone with your problems.
Strength and the Page of Wands – to stop in time or not give others a reason to laugh.
Strength and the Knight of Wands – to overcome your own modesty or to take everything from life.
Strength and the Queen of Wands – to be confident in your abilities or to bravely overcome all challenges.
Strength and the King of Wands – make an effort of will.

Cups

Strength and the Ace of Cups – get help from your partner.
Strength and the Two of Cups – learn to negotiate with others to achieve your goal.
Strength and the Three of Cups – go on a drinking binge or start leading a wild life.
Strength and the Four of Cups – to lose all moral or emotional strength.
Strength and the Five of Cups – wasting your energy on the wrong things.
Strength and the Six of Cups – frequent memories of the past or an obsessive desire to change something in it.
Strength and the Seven of Cups – creatively approach the solution to the problem.
Strength and the Eight of Cups – losing motivation or aimlessly spending days.
Strength and the Nine of Cups – fulfillment of one’s own desires or the practice of meditation.
Strength and Ten of Cups – team up or quickly achieve results in pairs.
Strength and Page of Cups – receive an offer of help or do someone a favor.
Strength and the Knight of Cups – the beginning of a passionate relationship.
Strength and Queen of Cups – meeting with an energy vampire or being constantly depressed.
Strength and the King of Cups – emotionally suppress the desires of loved ones or people around you.

Swords

Strength and Ace of Swords – a brilliant implementation of the project.
Strength and the Two of Swords – fear of the future or of a new endeavor.
Strength and the Three of Swords – the inability to realize one’s full potential or the need to be more restrained.
Strength and the Four of Swords – the need to rest or take a break from active work.
Strength and the Five of Swords – proving something to someone and wasting your own strength is useless.
Strength and Six of Swords – restore spent strength.
Strength and the Seven of Swords – to take advantage of a person or to appropriate his merits.
Strength and the Eight of Swords – being limited in opportunities or abilities.
Strength and the Nine of Swords – losing your moral compass
Strength and Ten of Swords – spend your last strength or feel inner emptiness.
Strength and Page of Swords – start a quarrel out of thin air or constantly run into conflicts.
Strength and the Knight of Swords – the need for forceful action.
Strength and the Queen of Swords – be hostile to the new person.
Strength and the King of Swords – to obtain a high position.

Pentacles

Strength and the Ace of Pentacles – strengthening health or raising immunity.
Strength and the Two of Pentacles – to be frivolous in relation to one’s own affairs.
Strength and the Three of Pentacles – strengthening your position in society.
Strength and the Four of Pentacles – lay the foundation for future achievements.
Strength and the Five of Pentacles – the inability to somehow influence the situation.
Strength and the Six of Pentacles – participate in energy exchange.
Strength and the Seven of Pentacles – stay calm in an emergency.
Strength and the Eight of Pentacles – the correct distribution of one’s own resources.
Strength and the Nine of Pentacles – finding your potential or partial realization.
Strength and the Ten of Pentacles – Use your family’s influence or take advantage of your connections.
Strength and Page of Pentacles – be serious about gaining knowledge.
Strength and the Knight of Pentacles – the need to overcome many problems before achieving the result.
Strength and the Queen of Pentacles – creating a strong and reliable family.
Strength and the King of Pentacles – to successfully consolidate in a new place.