Western Tarot symbolism
Strength
Strength shows a woman closing the lion’s jaws after subduing it with a chain of flowers. The commentary connects this beneficent fortitude with the higher nature and with strength in contemplation. The text explicitly places Strength at VIII and moves Justice to XI. Its divinatory meanings include courage and magnanimity, with reversed meanings that warn of weakness or abused power.
Also known as Fortitude
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In the sources
Principal account
LiteraryStrength shows a woman closing the lion’s jaws after subduing it with a chain of flowers. The commentary connects this beneficent fortitude with the higher nature and with strength in contemplation.
Further detail
LiteraryThe text explicitly places Strength at VIII and moves Justice to XI. Its divinatory meanings include courage and magnanimity, with reversed meanings that warn of weakness or abused power.
Context & interpretation
The active library scan carries L. W. de Laurence’s name and reproduces material associated with A. E. Waite’s Tarot exposition. Its symbolic descriptions and divinatory lists are distinct registers, and neither provides a guaranteed prediction.
Original passages
Source 1
The Illustrated Key to the Tarot: The Veil of Divination
lion, which is being led by a chain of flowers. For reasons which satisfy myself, this card has been interchanged with that of Justice,Open this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Western Tarot symbolism; active reader leaf 57
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0149-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0149-E001-P0057
- Original scan leaf
- 62
- Recorded leaf number
- 62
- Current Reader position
- 57
- Reader verification
- Matches the reviewed Reader
Source 2
The Illustrated Key to the Tarot: The Veil of Divination
litigation, defeat. 8. Fortitude.—Power, energy, action, courage, magnanimity; also complete success and honors. Reversed: Despotism, abuse of power, weakness, discord, sometimes evenOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Western Tarot symbolism; active reader leaf 148
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0149-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0149-E001-P0148
- Original scan leaf
- 154
- Recorded leaf number
- 154
- Current Reader position
- 148
- Reader verification
- Matches the reviewed Reader
Continue exploring
Justice
Accountability according to deeds, distinguished from spiritual election.
Shared source pageThe Chariot
Triumph and directed power whose external victories have limits.
Shared source pageThe Emperor
Seated sovereignty as executive power, reason, and realization.
Shared source pageThe Empress
Fruitful earthly life represented through stars, grain, water, and Venus.