Strength

Upright Meaning

A woman in white calmly holds open the jaws of a lion, not with force but with effortless grace. An infinity symbol floats above her head. Flowers adorn her; the landscape is golden and serene. She does not dominate the beast — she befriends it. This is the strength that needs no violence: the courage of gentleness.

Reversed Meaning

Reversed, the lion is not befriended — it's fled from, or it runs amok. There is self-doubt, fear, emotional volatility, or a loss of inner composure. The woman has stepped back; the beast has the field.

Guidance & Advice

Upright

Approach difficulty with compassion rather than force. Your inner lion is not an enemy to be suppressed but a power to be befriended. Lead with heart, not fist.

Reversed

Practise self-compassion before self-discipline. The lion tamer cannot work from a place of terror.

History & Symbolism

Originally numbered XI in the Marseille tradition; Waite swapped it with Justice (XI) to align with astrological Leo. The image draws from medieval depictions of saints taming wild animals — virtue overcoming instinct.

What to Look Out For

Do not confuse strength with hardness. The courage this card calls for is often the courage to remain soft when the world demands armour.