STRENGTH — Tarot Card Meaning
STRENGTH in the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot: what the card means upright, what shifts when it appears reversed, the symbols drawn on it and the correspondences traditionally assigned to it.
Inner Power
Core meaning
True strength is gentle; true courage is kind.
- inner strength
- courage
- patience
- compassion
- self-control
Upright keywords
- inner strength
- courage
- patience
- compassion
- self-control
- bravery
- influence
- resilience
- calm
- fortitude
- perseverance
- soft power
- taming the beast
- emotional control
- determination
- endurance
- confidence
- grace under pressure
- self-belief
- quiet power
Reversed keywords
- self-doubt
- weakness
- insecurity
- lack of courage
- raw emotion
- giving up
- fear
- cowardice
- loss of control
- abuse of power
- aggression
- inner critic
- overwhelmed
- low energy
- fragility
Reversed and shadow side
Strength reversed indicates inner doubt or uncontrolled emotions. Find the lion within before it finds you.
Symbolism on the card
- infinity symbol
- white dress
- flower garland
- lion
- gentle hands on lion
- mountains
- green field
- chain of roses
Correspondences
- Element
- Fire
- Astrology
- Leo
- Numerology
- 8 — mastery, courage, inner power
- Qabalah
- Teth — Path 19, Chesed to Geburah
Reading the card
- Psychological
- Gentle mastery over primal impulses. Courage expressed not as force but as patient, compassionate self-control.
- Personality
- Gentle, brave, patient, compassionate, quietly powerful, self-assured
- Appearance
- Graceful yet strong physique, soft yet intense eyes, relaxed power in posture, natural style
- Timing
- Sunday, waning gibbous moon, late morning, late summer
What it means for
- Love and romance
- Loving someone through their rough edges, emotional resilience in partnership.
- Work and career
- Leading through influence rather than intimidation, persisting through a long project.
- Health
- Recovery through patience rather than force, managing chronic conditions with grace.
- Family
- Handling a volatile family member with calm authority, gentle parenting.
- Spirituality
- Taming the ego with compassion, finding strength in softness and surrender.
Everyday situations
Concrete, literal situations this card can point to in a reading.
Upright keywords
- calming down a crying toddler
- holding your tongue during an argument
- taming a rescue dog
- sitting through a difficult dental procedure
Reversed keywords
- losing your temper at a screaming toddler
- snapping at someone during an argument you meant to stay calm in
- rescue dog that bites and can't be trained
- walking out of a dental appointment from anxiety
Related cards
Reinforcing cards
- THE CHARIOT — inner and outer courage
- TEMPERANCE — calm endurance
- THE STAR — quiet confidence
- THE WORLD — triumph through grace
Opposing cards
- THE DEVIL — self-mastery vs. enslavement
- THE TOWER — gentle power vs. brute force
- SEVEN OF SWORDS — composure vs. aggression
- PAGE OF SWORDS — patience vs. harsh judgment
Tarot content on mezulla is for personal reflection and exploration. It is not a substitute for medical, legal, financial or mental-health advice.