Strength
Card VIII of the Major Arcana
Strength is the card of gentle courage and inner mastery. It shows a woman in a white robe calmly holding a lion's jaws, an infinity sign above her head and a garland of flowers around her waist. In a reading it points to patience, compassion and meeting fear or anger with calm, not force.
Upright
courage, patience, compassion, inner strength, self-control
Strength shows no struggle. The woman rests her hands on the lion and it lets her. The beast is her own wild side: appetite, temper, fear. She does not break it; she meets it with steadiness and warmth. Upright, the card suggests that the greatest power now is quiet resolve. Gentle persistence often does more than a show of force.
Reversed
self-doubt, raw emotion, weakness, losing patience
Reversed, the lion has the upper hand. The card can point to self-doubt, a short temper, or an emotion you have been fighting rather than listening to. It can also mean being worn thin. It asks you to be kind to yourself first, and to rebuild your confidence in small, steady steps.
Yes or no
Yes.
Yes. Strength suggests you have the courage and patience to see this through. The answer is gentle but firm. Reversed, it leans toward not yet, until you steady yourself.
Strength in love
In love, Strength suggests a bond built on patience, trust and softness. It can mean standing by someone through a hard time. Reversed, it can point to insecurity, jealousy, or a bond where one person is losing heart.
Strength at work
At work, Strength points to calm authority and persistence under pressure. Handle a difficult person or task with patience. Reversed, it can mean self-doubt, burnout or a temper that is costing you.
Strength as advice
As advice, Strength says: stay calm and kind. Do not fight what frightens you; understand it. Move slowly, trust your own courage, and give yourself the same patience you would give a friend.
Strength as someone's feelings
As someone's feelings, Strength suggests they feel steady and caring toward you, and are willing to be patient. Reversed, they may feel insecure, or be struggling with feelings they find hard to control.
Questions about Strength
Is Strength a yes or no card?
Yes. It points to courage and patience that carry you through. Reversed, it reads as not yet, until you regain your footing.
What does Strength mean in love?
Patience, trust and tenderness. It often describes a bond that holds through difficulty because both people stay calm and kind.
What does Strength reversed mean?
Self-doubt or emotion that feels out of hand. It asks you to be gentle with yourself and rebuild confidence one step at a time.
What does the lion in the Strength card represent?
The lion stands for your own instincts and strong feelings, such as fear, desire and anger. The card shows them met with calm, not crushed.
Updated October 1, 2026. Published by Preffo ApS.
