8 Strength
In the traditional deck...
The Strength card represents inner fortitude, courage, and the power of gentle determination over brute force. Unlike physical strength, this card emphasizes emotional resilience, self-control, and the ability to overcome challenges through patience, compassion, and quiet confidence. The traditional imagery shows a woman gently taming a lion, symbolizing how true strength comes from mastering our own impulses and approaching difficult situations with calm assurance rather than aggression. This card suggests that you have more inner resources than you realize and that gentle persistence often succeeds where force fails. Strength appears when you need to draw upon your inner reserves, show courage in the face of adversity, or demonstrate that quiet confidence can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
In the Shakespeare deck...
Orlando's victory over Charles the wrestler in As You Like It perfectly illustrates Strength's message that true power comes from within, not from appearances. Everyone expects the young, inexperienced Orlando to be defeated by the professional wrestler, yet he triumphs through quick thinking, agility, and sheer determination rather than raw physical power. His victory surprises everyone, including himself, demonstrating how we often possess hidden reserves of strength that emerge when we're tested. Orlando's win isn't just about defeating Charles—it's about proving to himself that he has the courage and capability to overcome seemingly impossible odds. His triumph through inner resources rather than brute force shows that authentic strength often lies dormant until circumstances call it forth.
Interpretation...
When the Strength card appears, it reminds you that you possess far more inner resilience and capability than you may realize. Like Orlando facing the formidable Charles, you may be confronting a situation that seems beyond your abilities, but this card assures you that you have the inner resources to succeed. True strength isn't about overpowering others but about finding the courage to face challenges with quiet confidence and persistent effort. This card often appears when you need to believe in yourself, tap into reserves of patience and determination you didn't know you had, or approach a difficult situation with gentle persistence rather than force. Your inner strength, once awakened, can overcome obstacles that seemed insurmountable
Advice...
Trust in your inner strength even when others doubt your abilities
Use patience and persistence rather than force to overcome obstacles
Believe you have more resilience and capability than you realize
Approach challenges with quiet confidence, not aggressive force
Draw courage from your core values and authentic self
Remember that gentle determination often succeeds where aggression fails
Don't let others' expectations limit what you believe you can achieve