Major Arcana · 8

Strength

The lion is calmed, not defeated.

Upright · Reversed

Keywords: patience, gentleness, containment
Upright: Power exercised without force. What is wild is neither killed nor let loose but held, and holding turns out to be the stronger act.
Reversed: Force where patience was needed, or patience where a limit was needed.

In a three-card spread

In the Past position: Read as what is still exerting force — not what happened, but the part of it still pushing on the present.
In the Present position: Read as what is currently available, and where you actually stand. The spread usually turns on this card.
In the Future position: Read as tendency: where this leans if nothing changes. A statement about the present phrased as a direction — never a claim about what will happen.

III

The major arcana

The major arcana are the twenty-two named cards, traditionally read as larger turns than the minors — not the day's advances and retreats but a change in the frame itself. When one appears in a spread it usually means the matter is not entirely yours to arrange.

Neighbouring major arcana

Written on this

Strength Tarot Card Meaning: The Lion Is Calmed, Not Defeated

A close reading of Strength, eighth of the major arcana — power exercised without force, the wild held rather than killed: upright, reversed, in three positions.

6 min read