A woman calmly closes a lion's mouth and leads it with flowers: Waite's card of courage, fortitude and gentle mastery.
Card art by Pamela Colman Smith (1909), public domain
Upright
Yes / No: Yes
Waite's Strength, which he also calls Fortitude, stands for power, energy, action, courage and generosity of spirit, and even for complete success and honors. Where could steady, gentle strength serve you better than force? Consider how you might act with both courage and magnanimity.
power
energy
courage
magnanimity
action
success and honors
Reversed
Yes / No: No
Reversed, Waite speaks of despotism and the abuse of power, of weakness and discord, and sometimes of disgrace. Look at how power is being used in the situation, whether yours or someone else's, and at where control may have taken the place of real strength.
despotism
weakness
abuse of power
disgrace
discord
Love & relationships
Upright, Strength suggests patience, warmth and courage in a connection, where strong emotions are met with gentleness rather than force. The bond may grow through kindness and quiet confidence. Pay attention to how the two of you handle intense feelings, and whether both of you feel free to be honest without fear.
Reversed, Strength can signal an imbalance of power in a relationship, with discord, insecurity or one person's needs overriding the other's. Care may have given way to control, so it matters to ask whether you feel respected and safe. If a bond feels domineering or harmful, setting firm boundaries and reaching out to people you trust is a caring step.
The image
A woman is closing a lion's mouth, and above her head floats the sideways figure eight that Waite calls the sign of life. Her kindly fortitude, he notes, has already tamed the beast, which she leads with a garland of flowers. In his deck this card is numbered eight, having changed places with Justice.
Symbolism
For Waite, fortitude in its highest form connects with the mystery of divine union, with unspoiled innocence and with the strength that comes from contemplation. The garland hints at a gentle yoke: the light weight of divine law once it has been accepted in the heart. The card, he says, is not about self-confidence in the everyday sense; it concerns trust placed in God. In one reading, the lion is the passions and the woman is the higher nature set free.
In a reading
Upright, Strength speaks of patient courage and the quiet mastery of strong impulses. Reversed, it can mean heavy-handed control or a sense of weakness, which makes it worth looking at how power is shared and used around you.
The yes / no answer is our editorial reading of the card’s overall tone, not a prediction.
For self-reflection and personal insight. Not a prediction and not a substitute for professional medical, legal, financial or mental-health advice.
