Strength 08 - My Personal Tarot Journey

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08 Strength

I seem to view the meaning of this card, STRENGTH, from at least two perspectives. Let me explain.

Traditionally this card is about the meek, innocent woman closing the mouth of the mighty lion.

Traditional Strength card

With courage in her heart (and mind... seen by the divine symbol over her head), the woman has "tamed" her primal urges (the lion) and moved on to a higher understanding not controlled by her physical needs.

Also this card could read literally as discipline, domesticating the lion so that it can no longer harm her. Strength in the face of danger.

But there is a dark side to this card that may not be easily understood at first glance. We assume the querent is visualizing themselves as the lady in the card...but what if sometimes she is not? What if the querent is meant to be the lion?

How do you think the lion in the card is feeling? Maybe the woman is not taming the lion…but instead…the LION is holding itself back from it’s instinctual urge to rip the woman apart ?!

It’s tail is between it's legs to show submission..but it’s tongue is out looking like it’s struggling to hold the position…the position of SUBMISSION!

Anyone ever feel like this….holding back on something so emotional that you truly need STRENGTH to get though it?

True Strength has many forms.

Sometimes to overcome our own vices or hiccups in our personality (being the woman): An addiction... a quick temper... not loving our self... letting the monkey on our back control us. These are internal problems that need an internal fix (tame the lion in ourselves).

Sometimes to overcome others who may be trying to harm us (taking on the lion's roll): an abusive spouse... an unfair workplace... being taken advantage of... wondering how to feed your children on only a single parent's income. These are external problems that need a different approach. This traditional card gives warning on how not to react (don't be tamed into thinking it's o.k. to feel this way). My Dream Strength card would look more like the one at the beginning of this blog today:

BECOME THE TIGRESS... ALWAYS !! Have courage to stand up against unbeatable odds because you ARE strong ! Don't let them chain you down and put you in a circus for all to see.

Have HOPE that you will make it through tough times because you believe in you. Take PRIDE in yourself not to be stepped on. The female tigress' hunt down the injustice to themselves and their loved ones. Take on the stripes and yell,

"I WILL NOT BE WEAK ANYMORE...FOR I AM THE TIGRESS...HEAR ME ROAR !!"

Now when this card comes up in your life, you'll understand better what it means, and what to do...

...Put on the stripes !