Strength
The Strength card reinterprets conventional themes by blending elements of Western lycanthropy. It symbolizes the raw, untamed side of humanity and suggests that inner beasts need not be eradicated but can be tempered with love and gentleness. The card portrays a harmonious coexistence of ferocity and self-mastery, embodying vulnerability as a form of strength.
Keywords
Departure from Tradition
This card is a bit of a departure from the traditional representation of Strength, mainly in the choice of animal. It's a mix of a wolf, Barghest (the black dog of death), and a werewolf, and I had a few reasons for this choice. I love the social and cultural interpretations of Western lycanthropy lore. The werewolf is a powerful symbol of what is considered bestial in man. The lore surrounding it is a fascinating study of how people make sense of concepts like nature versus nurture, issues of mental illness, and the fear of the unknown. From the French beast of Gévaudan, to the loss of innocence represented in Angela Carter's The Company of Wolves, to contemporary pop culture representation of angry teen wolf boys, there is a connecting thread of rage and untamed wilderness grinding up against social norm and urban safety.
Violent Remedies
Many “remedies” for lycanthropy are violent—physical labor to exhaust the human-turned-beast, exorcism, murder, the burning of a wolfskin. But there is a fascinating gentleness and strength of human spirit that can be found in werewolf mythology too. In the German lowland of Schleswig-Holstein, it was believed that a werewolf could be cured if one were to simply address it three times by its Christian name, while one Danish belief holds that simply scolding a werewolf will cure it. There is also a legend that claims the voice of its loved one can transform the werewolf back into a human being.
Intent of the Strength Card
It is this idea that I wanted my Strength card to represent; that the bestial in man is natural and does not need to be cured. But it can be tempered with love and gentle strength. Whenever I am hurt or upset, I envision armor building itself up around me to protect me, but also to bolster me, because vulnerability is a strength. And so the woman in the card is armored. But she is also wearing a beautiful gown in gentle contrast, and both her and her wolf are garlanded with flowers. I wanted the card to represent ferocity and power, but also self-love and self-mastery.
Fyodor Pavlov tarot
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