Strength: Power of the Feminine

Welcome back to The Alchemy of Tarot! This week we explore a card of balance in both physical and spiritual energies. In certain decks, the Strength card is 11th in the series, coming after the Wheel of Fortune. In my Rider Waite deck, and in the majority of other contemporary decks, we find Strength in the 8th card position. In exploring the micro and macrocosmic life journeys of the major arcana, we can appreciate and recognize the significance of the Strength archetype wherever it might fall in our lives or tarot decks :-)

Rider Waite Tarot

In the Rider Waite version we see a young female dressed in a long white gown and garlands, crowned with a lemniscate halo, and accompanied by a lion. The two are placed in a landscape of rolling green meadows, and a distant mountain range. In viewing this card, my attention is immediately drawn to the interaction between the female figure and the lion. There is a reciprocity of gaze, a relationship, a sense of love and trust between the two. When we compare Strength to past cards explored in the Alchemy of Tarot series that illustrate relationality, we find an intimacy and relational urgency not previously seen (The Lovers or The Chariot). In those archetypes, two or more figures were placed within the same space, but there was little to no interaction between them. There was no sense of closeness or bonding, but rather a separateness. In Strength we see two figures who have no distractions in their shared environment. Their gazes are locked with one another, her hand rests lightly on the lion's head, as the lion looks up at her, tongue out, ears back, in a pose of trust, comfort, security.

How does this represent strength? Is strength in our ability to relate to others? Is strength in the balance of seemingly antithetical energies? The fierce, masculine, Leonine energy of the lion shares an intimate gaze with the feminine, gentle beauty of the girl. As the mom of several cats, I can see in this card the sign of a relaxed and trusting cat. His back is arched, tail between his legs, ears back and down, as they share not only the spiritual connection of the gaze, but the physical connection of touch. She is caressing his head, while he gently licks her other hand. They trust one another and together find a respite from any outside influences.

Here we encounter strength in gentleness, strength in relationality, strength in patience and trust, strength in a balance of the antithetical. We see strength as a sense of inner calm, and composure rather than a display of physical bravado. If we find this card appearing in a reading it might be time to gather our inner resources, appreciate our resilience, and demonstrate more control in our emotions, while finding respite from outside distractions.

Tarot of Transformation
Willow Arlenea & Jasmin Lee Cori 

In the Tarot of Transformation deck, the archetype of strength is illustrated through the beauty of a winged belly dancer performing before a blazing sun. As a dancer, I can attest to the challenges of this genre of dance. While we display the outer beauty of feminine power and grace, we must also have a mastery of control in movement and energy. Again we encounter this element of self- control (energetic, emotional, and physical) and balance. While illustrated very differently than in the Rider Waite deck, here we still see the yin and yang, a balance of energies in complementary and dynamic elements that inhabit this beautiful, fiery dancer.

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