Divination: Major Arcana 11 - Strength

This week's card is Strength. I chose the most safe for work image from my collection of decks. This is pretty close to the Rider-Waite standard image. The image of a young woman holding a lion's mouth open is the most common interpretation of this card. There are decks with different images for it. The young woman is seen as having power over the lion in the image. There is also some who consider this image to harken back to the fable of Aesop regarding the lion with the thorn in its paw.

In an upright orientation, Strength speaks of the querent in a position of power and security. It is an optimistic card that tells the querent that they have the capacity to meet the challenge before them. In a reversed orientation, Strength warns the querent that they may have bitten off more than they can chew. It suggests that they lack crucial skills or abilities to handle the problem before them and may wish to consider alternate options than a direct assault upon the problem.

In the Fool's Journey, Strength speaks of the Fool's strength of character and ability to navigate the problems that arise from a position of security because of that internal strength.

For more information about this and the other cards of the Tarot deck, consider picking up a copy of my book. I discuss Tarot and many other divination techniques. I also cover the basics of psychic safety and hygiene.