Strength is the eighth card of the Major Arcana, and it redefines what strength means. Instead of force, it shows calm, patient courage, the ability to meet a wild feeling or a frightening situation with kindness and steadiness. Its core idea is that the most lasting power is usually quiet and self-directed.
Tarot is a tool for reflection, not a proven way to predict events. Strength suits that approach, because it asks how you relate to your own impulses, fears and tempers, which only you can answer.
The card at a glance
| Upright | Courage, patience, compassion, inner strength |
| Reversed | Self-doubt, frustration, raw impulse, low confidence |
| Element | Fire |
| Astrology | Leo |
| Numerology | 8, the number of power, balance and self-mastery |
| Yes or no | Leans yes, through patience |
A note on numbering: in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, following the Golden Dawn, Strength is numbered VIII and Justice XI. Older Marseille-style decks reverse this, putting Strength at XI. This page uses the Rider-Waite-Smith order.
What the card shows
In the Rider-Waite-Smith deck (Pamela Colman Smith, 1909), a woman in a white gown, crowned with a garland of flowers and with another garland around her waist, stands in a meadow. She rests her hands gently on the head and jaws of a lion, closing or soothing its mouth. The lion is docile, with its tail lowered and its head bowed, and it does not look threatened.
Above her head floats the same horizontal figure eight, the lemniscate, that appears over The Magician. It suggests infinite energy and a spiritual dimension to her calm. Behind them are soft blue mountains and a pale yellow sky. The white robe suggests purity of intent and the flowers show that the approach is gentle. The lion stands for passion, instinct and the animal side of us, which she neither fights nor denies.
Upright meaning
Upright, Strength is about courage of the quiet kind. It can describe getting through a stressful time with patience, handling an anger or fear without being ruled by it, or persuading rather than forcing. It values compassion, toward others and toward yourself.
It also suggests confidence that is not loud. The woman does not need to prove anything to the lion. In daily life, this could be holding a boundary politely, staying steady in a difficult conversation or keeping going on a long project when motivation dips. Its association with Leo connects it with heart, warmth and generous leadership.
Reversed meaning
Reversed, Strength often describes energy that is blocked or turned inward. Confidence may be low, you may doubt your ability to cope, or you may feel that your temper or impulses are getting the better of you. It can also suggest giving in to frustration or shutting down emotions out of fear.
Read gently, the reversed card suggests that the lion is restless and needs attention, not punishment. Small acts of self-care, rest, honest conversation and compassion towards yourself are usually more effective than forcing yourself to be tougher. If you are struggling with persistent low mood or anxiety, speaking to a doctor or a therapist is a sensible step.
In love and relationships
Upright, Strength points to a relationship built on patience, trust and emotional steadiness. It can describe supporting a partner through a difficult patch, or a love that grows by being tender and honest. It suggests handling conflict without contempt or escalation.
Reversed, it may suggest insecurity, jealousy, a short temper or difficulty being vulnerable. It can also signal that one person is giving more than they receive. The card encourages you to treat your own reactions with understanding before you try to change a situation.
In work and money
Upright, it supports resilience under pressure, calm leadership, and the ability to handle demanding people or tasks without losing composure. It favours influence through example over force.
Reversed, it may suggest burnout, self-doubt about your abilities or an explosive reaction to stress. This is reflection and not financial advice, so for money decisions consult a qualified professional.
As feelings, and as advice
As feelings, Strength describes quiet confidence and emotional resilience. Reversed, it can describe feeling overwhelmed or unsure of yourself.
As advice, it says to meet difficulty with patience and warmth, to stay calm and to treat your own instincts as something to guide rather than suppress. It follows The Chariot, whose control is more forceful, and it leads to The Hermit, where strength turns inward to reflection. You may also enjoy reading about Leo and life path number 8.
A question to reflect on
Where in your life could gentleness be more effective than force? What is the lion in your situation asking you to understand?
Frequently asked questions
↳ What does the Strength tarot card mean?
Strength represents courage, patience and compassion. It is linked with Leo, the element Fire and the number 8. Its message is that calm, gentle mastery of yourself is a form of power.
↳ Is Strength numbered 8 or 11?
In the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, it is number VIII, following the Golden Dawn order. Older Marseille decks number it XI and place Justice at VIII, so both numberings are common.
↳ What does Strength reversed mean?
It often suggests self-doubt, frustration or feeling out of control of your impulses. It is a prompt for self-compassion and rest, and it does not predict failure.
↳ What does the Strength card mean in a yes or no reading?
It leans towards yes, with patience and steady effort. Tarot is a reflective tool and not a proven way to predict events, so use the answer as a prompt to think.
↳ What does the lion in the Strength card symbolise?
The lion usually stands for passion, instinct and raw emotion. The woman's gentle handling of it suggests working with those forces rather than trying to crush them.