Strength Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed and Love

The Strength card shows a woman calmly closing the jaws of a lion with her bare hands. There is no weapon and no struggle. That is the whole meaning: the strongest kind of strength is patience, courage and compassion, not force. It is one of the most encouraging cards in the deck.

Why Strength is VIII in some decks and XI in others

In older decks such as the Tarot de Marseille, Strength is card XI and Justice is VIII. In the 1909 deck that most modern tarot follows, the two were swapped, so Strength became VIII, to fit the astrological scheme its designers used, which links Strength to Leo (the lion). Both numberings are in use; the meaning is the same.

The symbols on the Strength card

• The lion stands for raw instinct, passion, anger and fear — the wild parts of us.
• The woman handles it gently. She is not fighting it; she is calming it.
• The infinity sign above her head, the same one the Magician wears, shows spiritual strength and limitless patience.
• Her white robe stands for purity of intention.
• The garland of flowers around her waist and the lion's neck suggests that gentleness has tamed the beast.
• The mountain in the distance hints at the challenges still to come.

Strength tarot card meaning upright

Upright, Strength means:

• Inner strength and courage in a hard situation.
• Patience — staying calm when you could lash out.
• Self-control over anger, fear, habits or cravings.
• Compassion, including for yourself.
• Quiet confidence that does not need to prove itself.

It often turns up when someone is coping with something difficult — illness, grief, a tough relationship — and tells them they are stronger than they feel.

Strength reversed

Reversed, Strength points to the lion getting the upper hand:

• Self-doubt and low confidence.
• Being overwhelmed by anger, fear or anxiety.
• Feeling powerless, or giving in to an old habit.
• Using force where gentleness would work.

It is a reminder to find your calm before you act, and to be kind to yourself while you do.

Strength in love and as feelings

In love, Strength upright describes a relationship built on patience, trust and gentle support — one where partners help each other through difficulty rather than fight. It can also mean passion held in balance with tenderness.

As feelings, Strength means someone feels protective, admiring and steady towards you, and is willing to be patient.

Reversed in love: insecurity, jealousy, or tempers running hot. It asks whether one partner is suppressing their feelings — or failing to control them.

Strength as a yes or no answer

Upright, Strength is generally a yes — you have what it takes, though it may require patience. Reversed, it suggests not yet: build your confidence first.

Strength in career and health

At work, Strength upright means staying steady under pressure, handling a difficult colleague with tact, or persevering with a long project. In health readings, readers take it as a sign of resilience and recovery — but tarot is for reflection, never a substitute for a doctor.

Questions to reflect on

• What "lion" am I trying to tame right now — anger, fear, a habit?
• Where would patience serve me better than force?
• Am I being as kind to myself as I would be to a friend in my place?

Reading Strength with other cards

With the Chariot, it contrasts willpower with gentle control; with the Star, it promises healing after a hard time. For a full overview, see tarot card meanings for beginners. Our tarot deck in a gilded tin uses the 1909 artwork, with Strength as card VIII.