The Strength Card: Power in Gentleness, Courage in Patience

Strength is one of the most misunderstood cards in the tarot. When we hear the word “strength,” our minds often jump to images of raw force, brute determination, or physical might. Yet in both Lieselle’s Eternal Tarot and the traditional Rider–Waite deck, the message is something softer, subtler, and infinitely more profound: true strength lies not in domination, but in balance, patience, and compassion.

The Meaning of 'Strength' in Lieselle's Eternal Tarot

In my deck, the Strength card embodies the beautiful harmony between inner power and gentle resilience. Its imagery reminds us that courage is not always loud; sometimes it is the quiet confidence to remain steady in the midst of life’s storms.

The Infinity Symbol featured prominently in-between the figures, reminding us that strength is cultivated over time, through balance, renewal, and patience. It speaks of cycles and the truth that resilience is not a one-off act but a practice we return to again and again.

The Lion, majestic and fierce, represents the raw, untamed energy within us all. It is our instincts, our passion, our will to survive and thrive. Left unchecked, this energy can overwhelm,  but when guided with calmness, it becomes an incredible ally.

The Young Woman is the heart of the card. Though she may seem delicate, she represents gentle mastery, the capacity to guide and soothe the lion with grace instead of force. She teaches us that strength is often found in tenderness, in the willingness to approach life with trust rather than control.

Roses bloom around her, celebrating beauty, achievement, and the protective quality of true power. They remind us to guard what is precious and to honour life’s simple joys even in times of trial.

Together, these symbols teach us that real strength does not roar; it whispers, reassures, and holds steady when everything else feels unsteady.

Strength in the Rider–Waite Smith Tradition

The Rider–Waite Smith imagery of Strength shares this same story. A serene woman, garlanded with flowers, holds open the mouth of a lion. She does not force the beast into submission, but instead, she embodies such calm assurance that the lion responds in kind. Above her head floats the lemniscate, the infinity symbol, reinforcing the timelessness of this lesson.

Here, strength is not about overpowering the wildness within or around us. It is about acknowledging it and integrating it, allowing courage and compassion to coexist. The card suggests that we do not need to conquer ourselves to grow;  we need to make peace with the parts of us that feel most difficult, whether fear, anger, or grief.

When Strength Appears in a Reading

The Strength card speaks directly to your inner world:

It reminds you that you already have the resources you need to face life’s challenges with calmness and dignity.

It encourages balance and patience, knowing when to act and when to wait.

It highlights gentle power: the truth that compassion, kindness, and empathy often create more lasting change than force ever could.

It calls you to celebrate your resilience, your beauty, and your ability to carry yourself with grace, even when the path feels heavy.

Living the Lesson of Strength

Think of the moments in your life where you have been asked to hold steady,  times when force would not work, but gentleness, patience, or forgiveness made all the difference. That is the energy of Strength.

It is the courage to take a deep breath instead of reacting in anger.

It is the choice to persist gently through grief or challenge without letting despair consume you.

It is the reminder that resilience can look like softness, and that the noblest strength is always rooted in love.

The Strength card asks us to rethink what it means to be powerful. It invites us to recognise the lion within us and the gentle hand that guides it, to remember that the two must walk together. When we balance courage with compassion, patience with resilience, we embody the truest form of strength, one that not only overcomes adversity but also transforms it into wisdom.

Bring the Wisdom of Strength Into Your Own Hands

Discover the quiet power of Strength (and every card) in its truest form. Lieselle’s Eternal Tarot deck is a hand-illustrated journey into resilience, compassion, and inner balance. Each card is crafted to guide you through life’s challenges with beauty and meaning.

Explore the deck here