by Triple Water Astrology

Created on: March 13, 2009

The tarot is a powerful oracle. The deck consists of 78 cards, with 22 cards comprising the major arcana and 56 cards (14 of each suit) comprising the minor arcana.

Some say that the major arcana is a remnant of Atlantis, in which esoteric knowledge was encoded for those who were taught its secrets or decoded them. Others say that tarot originated in Europe during the Middle Ages. Whatever the case, tarot has become increasingly popular in recent times and deserves to be taken seriously.

Strength is the eighth card of the major arcana. (This card may be placed differently in some decks.) Strength is part of the outer, masculine half of the major arcana and its counterpart is the Hanged Man card. Strength has learned the lesson of the Chariot, the seventh card of the major arcana. The Chariot is about attaining inner strength, and the Strength card itself has shown that the querent already has strength. The Hermit card follows the Strength card in the major arcana, and Strength has not learned the lesson of the Hermit - focusing on seeking truth.

The card shows a woman with an infinity symbol above her head, and she is holding open a lion's mouth. Different decks may have different pictures, but should lead a person's intuition in the same way. The lady and the lion are both relaxed and appear to be playing or interacting in a non-combative manner.

Having a major arcana card in a reading can be powerful, particularly with the right placing. The Strength card is about virtue - including courage, which is associated with the lion and the way the woman is interacting with the lion. Strength shows that the querent has dealt with conflicting inner forces and found ways to deal with the world in a productive way. When reversed, the Strength card characterizes the struggle the querent is currently facing and the need to use "instinct" to make the right decisions, although the rational mind may disagree. So although the reversed Strength card can indicate negative activity in a person's life, ultimately Strength is a very positive card because it shows the querent has dealt with how to listen to their "instincts" or the querent will use his or her "instincts" to solve their current problems.

The Strength card shows that the querent is going through or has gone through a kind of crucible - that they have changed, or will change, themselves in order to use their subconscious to help them be victorious against the outer world. The Strength card shows that the querent has learned, or must learn, how to gently convince the animal instinct to help them problem solve.

(Source: The Everything Tarot Book by M.J. Abadie)

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