Strength Tarot Ritual: Courage Ceremony
BY NICOLE LAU
Strength gently tames the lion through love, patience, and inner power. This ritual combines Strength's energy with conscious intention to help you cultivate courage, tame your fears, and claim your gentle strength. This is conscious courage at its most powerful—deliberate, compassionate, and unstoppable.
Why the Strength Ritual?
Strength represents inner power, courage, and gentle mastery. This ritual is designed to help you connect with your inner strength, face your fears with love, and cultivate the courage that comes from within.
This ritual is ideal for:
- Cultivating inner courage and confidence
- Taming fears with compassion
- Claiming your gentle strength
- Facing challenges with patience
- Connecting to your inner power
- Overcoming self-doubt
Timing Your Ritual
Optimal timing: Sunday (Sun/Leo day), during Leo season (July 23-August 22), or at noon
Also powerful: Waxing Moon for building courage, or when facing major fears
Duration: 60-90 minutes for full ritual, 30 minutes for simplified version
What You'll Need
Essential Items:
- Strength tarot card
- Golden or orange candle (Leo/courage energy)
- Symbol of your fear (image, word, object)
- Symbol of your courage (image, word, object)
- Paper and pen
- Flowers (representing gentle strength)
Optional Enhancements:
- Citrine or sunstone crystal
- Frankincense or cinnamon incense
- White cloth for altar
- Bell or singing bowl
Preparation
- Cleanse your space
- Bathe and dress in golden, orange, or white clothing
- Set up altar facing east (direction of courage)
- Turn off all devices
- Get clear on intention: What fear needs taming? What courage do you seek?
The Strength Courage Ritual: Step by Step
Part 1: Opening Sacred Space (10 minutes)
Stand before your altar with openness and courage. Take three deep breaths, gathering your inner strength in your heart.
Place Strength card in center. Arrange candle, symbols, flowers around it.
Light the candle, speaking:
"I light this flame to honor Strength,
Master of courage, tamer of lions,
Gentle power, patient strength.
On this day, I cultivate my courage.
I tame my fears with love.
I claim my gentle strength.
I am ready to be brave."
Part 2: Naming Your Fear (10 minutes)
Sit before your altar. Take your symbol of fear and hold it.
Speak:
"This is my fear.
This is my lion.
This is what I must tame.
I see it clearly.
I name it now."
Name your fear aloud. Be specific. What are you afraid of?
Write on paper: "My Fear: [name it]"
Below, write how this fear has limited you, what it has cost you.
Place the symbol of your fear on the left side of Strength card. This is your lion to tame.
Part 3: Claiming Your Courage (10 minutes)
Now take your symbol of courage and hold it.
Speak:
"This is my courage.
This is my strength.
This is my power.
I claim it now."
Turn paper over and write: "My Courage: [name it]"
Below, write what courage will give you, how it will change your life.
Place symbol of courage on right side of Strength card. This is your power.
Part 4: Taming with Love (15 minutes)
Stand before your altar. Embody Strength—gentle, powerful, fearless.
Speak:
"I am Strength.
I tame my lion with love, not force.
I face my fear with courage, not aggression.
I master my nature with compassion, not violence.
I am gentle. I am powerful. I am brave."
Visualize yourself approaching your lion (your fear). See yourself reaching out with love, not force. Watch as the lion submits to your gentle touch.
Gently close the lion's mouth with your hands (in visualization). Feel your mastery. Feel your courage. This is Strength.
Take the symbol of your fear and either burn it safely, bury it, or transform it. The lion is tamed.
Part 5: Embodying Courage (10 minutes)
Place your hand over your heart and speak:
"I embody Strength.
I am courageous.
I am gentle.
I am powerful.
My fear is tamed.
My courage is real.
I am Strength."
Feel the golden light of courage filling your heart, your body, your being. This is your inner strength. This is real.
Take the symbol of your courage and place it on your altar or carry it with you. This is yours now.
Part 6: Closing the Ritual (5 minutes)
Place your hand over your heart and speak:
"This ritual is complete.
My fear is tamed.
My courage is claimed.
My strength is real.
I am Strength.
So it is."
Extinguish the candle or let it burn down safely. The ritual is complete.
After the Ritual
Immediate Actions:
- Keep symbol of courage visible
- Within 24 hours, face one fear with courage
- Keep Strength card visible as reminder
- Ground yourself with food
Ongoing Practice:
- Face fears with love, not force
- Draw on inner strength daily
- Tame challenges with patience and compassion
- Trust your gentle power
- Repeat ritual for major fears
Simplified 30-Minute Version
- Set up altar with Strength card, candle, symbols (5 min)
- Light candle, name fear and courage (10 min)
- Tame with love, claim courage (10 min)
- Embody strength, close ritual (5 min)
Signs Your Ritual is Working
In the days and weeks following, watch for:
- Greater courage and confidence
- Ability to face fears with love
- Feeling more gentle yet powerful
- Inner strength that doesn't need to prove itself
- Taming challenges with patience
- Sense of calm courage
Closing Wisdom
Strength doesn't fight the lion—it loves it. This ritual helps you do the same. Your courage is real. Your gentle strength is powerful.
May your ritual be powerful.
May your courage be gentle.
May your lion be tamed.
May you remember that you are Strength.
The lion is waiting. The power to tame is yours. The only question is: are you ready to approach with love?