Strength
Strength emphasizes choosing mental fortitude, compassion, and patience over displays of brute force or domination. The imagery of a graceful sphinx cradling the head of a lion illustrates courage tempered by tenderness and calm in the face of provocation. The card cautions against equating strength with the absence of weakness and urges taking the high road by using power for the good of others. When shadowed, this energy devolves into instinctual selfishness, tantrums, and domination to secure easy victories.
Keywords
Poem: Stanza 1
I could best you with my wit, I could beat you with my skill, but it is with my heart that I will lay you still.
Poem: Stanza 2
Your life I hold in my hands, to crush or save at will yet the latter I shall do because that is harder still.
Poem: Stanza 3
You may choose to be a beast, but I will be much more due to burden of this choice I will learn to soar.
Meaning
Strength is about the choice to use mental fortitude and compassion over displays of brute force or domination. This is represented by a graceful sphinx cradling the head of a lion, unafraid despite his roaring maw. This card is a reminder to not confuse strength with the absence of weakness, and urges us to take the high road.
Shadow
Its shadow, however, operates only on instinct and selfishness, throwing tantrums and dominating others to comfort oneself with an easy victory.
Upright keywords
strength, confidence, courage, compassion, control, patience, using one's strength for the good of others, grace under pressure, endurance, emotional strength
Reversed keywords
weakness, vulnerability, low self-worth, insecurities, physical strength, tantrums, self-pity, raw emotion, self-victimization, displacement
Visual Description
Inside an oval frame a dark-skinned figure with white and pink floral hair presses their forehead to the muzzle of a large golden-maned lion, their arms wrapped around its neck. A pale big cat reclines across the scene, its body decorated with a garland of roses and trailing plants. The background shows stylized waves of pastel colors and geometric lines, with the number VIII at the top and the word 'Strength' at the bottom. The composition is intimate and flowing, emphasizing curves and botanical details.
Children of Litha tarot
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