Strength Tarot Art History: Symbolism Across Decks

BY NICOLE LAU

Strength has been taming lions for over 500 years, but its appearance has evolved dramatically across different tarot traditions. From medieval fortitude to gentle courage, each deck's interpretation reveals different facets of this master of inner power and compassion. This is the art history of Strength—how symbolism, culture, and philosophy have shaped the card we know today.

The Origins: Medieval Tarocchi (15th Century)

The earliest known tarot decks emerged in 15th-century Italy. Strength was originally "La Forza" or "Fortitude"—representing physical strength, courage, and the virtue of fortitude.

Key characteristics:

• Figure breaking a pillar or column
• Representing physical strength and power
• Focus on fortitude as a cardinal virtue
• Numbered VIII or XI (varied by tradition)

Symbolic meaning: In medieval society, Strength represented the virtue of fortitude—physical courage, endurance, and the strength to overcome obstacles through force.

This wasn't yet the gentle, compassionate strength we know today—it was about physical power and endurance.

Tarot de Marseille (17th-18th Century)

The Marseille tradition standardized tarot imagery across Europe. Strength retained the fortitude motif while introducing the lion.

Key characteristics:

• Woman opening or closing a lion's mouth
• Infinity symbol (lemniscate) above her head
• Focus on mastery and control
• Numbered XI (the eleventh card)

Symbolic evolution: The Marseille Strength introduces the lion—representing passions and primal nature that must be mastered. The woman controls the lion, showing that true strength involves mastery of one's nature.

This version emphasizes control and mastery, though still through physical means rather than gentle love.

Rider-Waite-Smith Deck (1909)

This is the transformation that defined Strength for modern tarot. Created by artist Pamela Colman Smith under Arthur Edward Waite's direction, this version elevated Strength from physical fortitude to gentle, compassionate courage.

Key characteristics:

• Woman gently closing a lion's mouth
• Infinity symbol above her head
• White robe representing purity
• Flowers crowning her and surrounding the scene
• Calm, peaceful expression
• No force—only gentle touch
• Focus on inner strength and compassion
• Numbered 8 or VIII (Waite switched it with Justice)

Symbolic revolution: Waite and Smith completely reimagined Strength. No longer about physical force, this became about inner power, gentle mastery, and the courage that comes from love, not aggression.

The woman doesn't fight the lion—she gently closes its mouth with her bare hands. The lion submits willingly to her gentle touch. This is mastery through love, not force.

The infinity symbol represents infinite inner power and eternal courage. The white robe represents purity of intention. The flowers represent the beauty that comes from gentle strength.

This version asks: What if true strength isn't about force, but about love? What if courage is gentle, not aggressive?

Thoth Tarot (1969)

Created by Aleister Crowley and painted by Lady Frieda Harris, the Thoth deck presents Strength as "Lust"—a cosmic principle of passionate life force and spiritual power.

Key characteristics:

• Woman riding a multi-headed beast
• Rich, vibrant colors suggesting life force
• Leo symbolism prominent
• Focus on passionate strength and life energy
• Numbered XI

Symbolic depth: Crowley's "Lust" (his name for Strength) is the passionate life force—the courage to embrace life fully, the strength that comes from desire and will combined.

The woman rides the beast, showing mastery not through suppression but through integration and direction of primal energy.

Crowley wrote: "This card represents the spiritual function of the animal soul." The strength isn't about taming or suppressing—it's about harnessing and directing life force.

Modern Interpretations (1970s-Present)

Contemporary tarot has exploded with diverse interpretations of Strength, each reflecting different cultural perspectives and spiritual philosophies.

Wild Unknown Tarot (Kim Krans)

Strength appears as a swan—representing grace, beauty, and the gentle power that doesn't need to prove itself. Emphasizes Strength's connection to gentle mastery.

Modern Witch Tarot (Lisa Sterle)

Contemporary woman with a lion, showing gentle strength in modern context. Brings Strength into accessible, contemporary practice.

Afro-Brazilian Tarot

Strength as Oxum, Yoruba deity of love and power—divine feminine strength, gentle yet powerful, loving yet fierce.

Tarot of the Divine (Yoshi Yoshitani)

Strength as various courage deities from world mythology—emphasizing universal themes of gentle power across cultures.

Symbolic Elements Across Traditions

The Figure

Medieval: Strong figure breaking pillar
Marseille: Woman controlling lion
Rider-Waite: Woman gently taming lion with love
Thoth: Woman riding beast
Modern: Various representations of gentle power

The Lion/Beast

Medieval: Not present
Marseille: Lion being controlled
Rider-Waite: Lion being gently tamed
Thoth: Multi-headed beast being ridden
Modern: Sometimes present, often reimagined

The Method

Medieval: Physical force
Marseille: Physical control
Rider-Waite: Gentle love and patience
Thoth: Integration and direction
Modern: Various approaches to mastery

The Infinity Symbol

Medieval: Not present
Marseille: Present above head
Rider-Waite: Prominent infinity symbol
Thoth: Integrated into overall symbolism
Modern: Sometimes present, often symbolic

Evolution of Strength's Number

Strength's numbering has varied across traditions:

Medieval: VIII (eighth card)

Marseille: XI (eleventh card)

Rider-Waite: 8 or VIII (Waite switched it with Justice)

Thoth: XI (Crowley kept traditional numbering)

The number 8 represents infinity, inner power, and spiritual strength. The number 11 represents mastery and spiritual illumination.

What The Art Reveals

Across five centuries and countless decks, certain truths about Strength remain constant:

• They always involve mastery—whether through force, control, or love
• They represent courage—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual
• They involve the beast—whether lion, passions, or primal nature
• They show power—whether outer force or inner strength
• They demonstrate control—whether through domination or gentle love

The art evolves, but the archetype endures. Strength keeps demonstrating that true power comes from within, that courage can be gentle, and that love is stronger than force.

Choosing Your Strength

When selecting a tarot deck, pay attention to how Strength is depicted. Different artistic interpretations will resonate with different aspects of your journey:

Choose Rider-Waite if: You want clear symbolic imagery and the classic gentle strength interpretation.

Choose Thoth if: You're drawn to passionate life force, integration of primal energy, and Crowley's philosophy.

Choose Marseille if: You prefer traditional imagery and want to connect with the mastery aspect of Strength.

Choose modern decks if: You want representation that reflects your culture, identity, or contemporary understanding of courage.

Or collect multiple decks and notice how Strength speaks differently through each artistic lens. The archetype is vast enough to contain all interpretations.

Strength's Future

As tarot continues to evolve, so will Strength. Future decks will undoubtedly present new interpretations—perhaps Strength as collective courage, as gentle activism, as the determination to create change through love.

But regardless of how the art changes, Strength's essential message remains: True power comes from within. Courage can be gentle. Love is stronger than force. And the lion within you doesn't need to be killed—it needs to be loved.

Strength has been taming lions for 500 years, demonstrating this truth. It will be taming lions for 500 more. Because the principle it embodies is eternal: gentle strength is more powerful than force, inner courage is more lasting than outer bravado, and love tames what violence cannot touch.

May you find your Strength.
May its image speak to your courage.
May its gentleness call to your power.
May you discover, through art, that you've always been Strength.

As you explore the rich symbolism of Strength across the tarot’s artistic history, remember that each card invites you to connect more deeply with your own inner power and resilience. To deepen this journey, consider journaling with our tarot journaling prompts 100 questions for self discovery, or explore the lion tamer’s quiet fortitude through the the 52 week tarot journey a year of weekly spreads daily pulls deep reflection. For an embodied practice of gentle courage, our breathe into radiance a breath ritual for inner glow can help you carry that energy from the card into your daily life.