VIII Strength

Embodying the energy of The Fool, we leave the conscious mind and rationality behind and leap into the second row of the Tarot’s Major Arcana, the domain of the subconscious, of body, and emotion. This map of the Major Arcana may help.

Just as with the Magician, in the first row of the Major Arcana, entering a new realm of consciousness requires coming face to face with our own power. Through the Magician we confronted the power of the rational mind. Now, through Strength, we take action in, and confront the power of, our subconscious. In order to do that, we must face the fears, desires, and sexual magic rooted in our emotional/animal/bodily selves, aspects of ourselves that our will and ego want to suppress in order to maintain control and drive for success. This is a new path, however, distinct from the ego.

Ego, represented by The Chariot at the end of the first row, symbolizes the power of the will and victory in engaging the world through rational thought, mental clarity, and determination. This describes the “what” and “how” of our actions. The journey into the subconscious mind, however, will reveal the “why” of our actions. For unless we know why we act, we may find that what we do is meaningless.

Facing these desires and fears, accepting them, befriending them, loving them, and being willing to consideration acting on them, despite the ego (if they don’t impinge on the free will of others), takes courage and strength. This courage and strength is feminine. Power of mind is masculine. Power of body and emotion is feminine.

The female figure in the Strength archetype, just like the Magician in the row above her, wears an infinity symbol above her head indicating that she too is an infinite being with a limitless capacity for growth and transformation through her access to infinite divine power.

This divine power aids her in facing her fears and desires (represented in the card by the lion). Notice how the lion, here approached with courage and love, becomes tame. When we move from fearing our hidden feelings, and not wanting to face them, to accepting and welcoming them with love, we have completed the fear-to-love transformation that enables us to begin the journey through the row of the subconscious.

This line of the Tarot offers that when we undertake this journey of self discovery and face our deepest feelings with calm, courage, and loving kindness, and begin to understand why we act the way we do, we not only find meaning, spiritual awakening, but usher in a new kind of power open to our own mystery, making us the directors of our own fates.