Strength Revisited
Strength
from within
““True strength
is the courage to gaze into the feral eyes of a beast
and meet their fear
with compassion,
their violence
with patience,
and create a connection
with infinite love—
even when the eyes we gaze into
are our own.”
”
True strength comes not from power, but from courage, compassion, and understanding. That is the lesson of key 8, Strength. In the Hermetic tarot this card is called Fortitude and the “Daughter of the Flaming Sword.” It is the ultimate embodiment of the themes of change, action, renewal, and will exhibited in the eights.
A figure stands face to face with a lion. They have been able to subdue and form a bond with the beast by showing it their pure and infinite courage, patience, and compassion. The lion represents raw, primal desire and intensity. When those forces are left unchecked they can be dangerous, but when met with a strong and noble heart they can be a powerful force for good.
This card is ruled by Leo.
In a reading this card may reflect that this is a time in your life where you need to tap into your inner strength. It is a reminder to stay calm and kind in the face of adversity and to use gentle persuasion over force. It encourages you to share your strength and compassion with those who may need it. I believe this card also represents the beauty that can come from a positive human connection with mother earth. It could even be taken more literally and refer to the love and patience required to domesticate a feral cat or any other animal you wish to care for. However, the beast you wish to tame may not always be an external force, but something that lies within. Treat your own inner demons with the same kind of compassion and understanding in order to keep them at bay.
The reversed may indicate some strain on your inner strength. You may be feeling depleted of self-confidence or positive energy due to a long period of struggle. Maybe you’ve given too much of yourself to others. Take a step back to recharge and recenter. It could also be indicative of uncontrolled emotions and lashing out as a result of repressed feelings. The lesson of Strength is not to bottle up your emotions, but to accept them and learn to harness them in a positive way.
Image courtesy of moma.org
Side Note: This is one of my favorite cards and I drew inspiration for it from my favorite painting— I and the Village by Marc Chagall. This is one of the first works of art I remember being exposed to in elementary school. I can’t pinpoint exactly why, but there was just something about it that stuck with me. I don’t think it’s any surprise that I like cubism, but aside from that the connection between the man and the cow and the symbolism throughout, (which interestingly includes the tree of life) all came together in a really strong way for me. I got the opportunity to see the original at the MOMA when I went there on a school trip in high school and I think that was the moment that solidified my intention of becoming an artist.
