DAILY TAROT: STRENGTH.
Steering. The Prime Virtue. Grace & Stillness. Transcending Duality through the Unity of Alignment.
VIII. STRENGTH.
This card represents Steering or Determination. Grace and stillness—The Prime Virtue. Transcending Duality through the Unity of Resonance and Alignment.
The number is VIII (8) and is the 9th Card in the Major Arcana.
Here is depicted both Alchemy and the Tao.
HOW TO CONSIDER THE TAROT
For an introduction to this series and an outline of how to appreciate Tarot, in a very different paradigm to what one may be used to, the reader is encouraged to familiarise themself with the following post: How to Appreciate Tarot—a Hermetic guide to Semiotics & Allegory
NUMEROLOGY & NUMBERS
Numerology is the study of numbers. If mathematics is the language and the grammar, geometry is the syntax and poetry, and numbers are the base letters.
EIGHT (8)
8 is associated with the wheel of direction and orientation—compass points, phases of the moon, and sabbats of the year.
Embedded within 8 is the relationship to the square, and therefore the 4 elements.
The number 8 is deeply tied to the principle of balance and cycles in both the material and spiritual realms. It represents the ebb and flow of energy, the rhythm of life, and the cosmic order of creation and destruction. This duality is mirrored in the shape of the infinity symbol (∞), which signifies an eternal flow of energy and equilibrium.
PYTHAGORAS
Pythagoras and his followers viewed numbers as the fundamental building blocks of the universe. 8, as the first cube number (2³), represented perfection in the spatial and material realms. A cube symbolizes stability, structure, and the realization of divine harmony in three dimensions.
The Pythagoreans referred to 8 as the Octad. It was associated with double polarity—a harmonious balance between the masculine and feminine principles, or active and passive forces. This concept reflected their belief in the universe’s dualistic but unified nature.
MUSIC
In music, the number 8 defines the octave, which represents a return to the same note at a higher frequency, symbolizing both closure and progression, in a word Transcendence. This connection aligns with the idea of the number 8 being about reaching higher levels of understanding, while still being rooted in foundational truths.
GEOMETRY & SEMIOTICS
Semiotics is the study of signs and symbols and their use or interpretation, the systematic study of sign processes and the communication of meaning.
8 is a key number in sacred geometry. The octagon, an eight-sided polygon, is often seen as a transitional shape between the square (earthly, material) and the circle (heavenly, divine). This symbolism is seen in architecture, particularly in sacred spaces like churches and temples.
Geometrically, the 8-pointed star corresponds with two squares, offset by 45 degrees, which itself represents the Tetra-polar magnet and houses the 16 geomantic figures.
8 is the number of cardinal directions on a compass, implying the connotation of Direction, Cardinality, Orientation and Navigation.
This is depicted in the compass and associated with the 8-pointed Pole star, the North Star and the Star of Ishtar of the Star of Innana. The word Orientation itself is derived from the Latin word for East.
The 8-pointed star, also known as the Star of Lakshmi or the Star of Venus, has been used in various cultures to symbolize balance, harmony, and cosmic order.
Also depicted is the 8-spoked wheel of the dharmachakra and The Wheel of Fortune in Tarot, both being a representation of time’s cyclical nature, representing the death and rebirth cycle responsible for renewal via iteration. The axle of the wheel ensures the continuity of this motion which is reflected in the infinity symbol.(∞).
The relationship with direction, navigation & dharma alludes to the notion of Steering.
In Norse mythology, Odin rides an eight-legged horse, Sleipnir, symbolizing transcendence and the ability to move between realms.
In Hinduism, the goddess Lakshmi is associated with 8 forms of wealth (Ashta Lakshmi), representing abundance and prosperity.
EMERGENT SYNOPISIS
The number 8 holds a profound resonance with the card STRENGTH, as it encapsulates the archetypal principles of balance, alignment, and transformative cycles. In numerology, 8 is a number of infinity, symbolized by its shape (∞), and represents the eternal interplay between opposing forces—creation and dissolution, inner and outer mastery, and the alignment of personal will with universal harmony.
The concept of the octave further deepens this relationship, as it reflects the cyclical nature of completion and renewal. In music and vibrational theory, the octave represents the return to unity at a higher frequency, indicating an evolution through resonance. Similarly, STRENGTH signifies the harmonization of raw, primal energy (symbolized by the lion) with grace, will, and composure. This integration elevates the individual to a state of greater self-mastery and alignment with higher principles.
In the context of STRENGTH, the number 8 also reflects the determination of alignment. This refers to the act of channelling opposing energies, much like the lion and the feminine figure depicted in the card, into a coherent and unified expression of power. The infinity symbol above the figure's head serves as a visual reminder of this continuous dynamic, wherein the forces of instinct and spirit loop endlessly, perpetually offering opportunities for transformation and self-realization.
Ultimately, the number 8, with its associations to infinity, cyclical progression, and alignment, mirrors the essence of the card STRENGTH: the triumph of integration, where raw vitality is transmuted into refined strength through balance and intentionality. This alignment is not a conquest but a harmonious attunement, reflecting the infinite potential for inner growth and transcendence.
ARCHETYPE & FORM
Several seemingly unrelated archetypes are invoked by the card STRENGTH, the Red Lion, The Alchemist (feminine expression), the Beast Tamer and to a degree Samson and Heracles.
THE LION
The lion, as an archetype, represents strength, courage, and sovereignty. In myth, symbol, and alchemical tradition, it embodies the raw, primal energy of life—its untamed vitality and commanding presence. The lion is not only a creature of dominance but also a guardian of thresholds, often depicted as a sentinel at the gates of temples, palaces, and sacred realms. This places the lion in the liminal space between the wild and the civilized, representing both the ferocity of instinct and the nobility of restrained power.
The Red Lion, specifically, occupies a unique position within the archetype. In alchemical tradition, it symbolizes the unrefined energy of life force—potent, volatile, and transformative. If not moderated and regulated, it manifests as Lust. It cannot be repressed and must instead be sublimated. It is the raw, fiery element that must be tamed, sublimated, or transmuted into spiritual gold. The Red Lion represents both the chaotic potential of desire and the initial stages of transformation in the Great Work. Alchemists saw it as the primal energy within the human spirit, the force that can either destroy or elevate, depending on whether it is controlled or left unchecked.
THE ALCHEMIST
The Alchemist archetype represents the process of inner transformation through the integration of opposites. It is the seeker of unity, striving to transmute base impulses into spiritual gold. The feminine figure in the STRENGTH card reflects this archetype by embodying grace: the sublimating force that tempers and subdues the raw energy of the Red Lion. The Alchemist does not destroy primal instinct but refines it, transforming chaos into harmony and raw desire into a higher purpose. This reflects the alchemical principle of coagula—the binding of disparate elements into a unified, elevated state.
The feminine expression of the Alchemist archetype embodies the principle of transformation through grace, intuition, and receptivity. Unlike the masculine archetype, which often seeks to master or impose order upon chaos, the feminine Alchemist works in harmony with natural forces, gently coaxing raw potential into refined forms. She symbolizes the subtle, ameliorating power that tempers and balances extremes, achieving transformation through integration rather than domination.
This archetype is deeply connected to the nurturing and cyclical aspects of creation, reflecting an intuitive understanding of the interconnectedness of all things. She embraces chaos not as an adversary but as fertile ground for growth, alchemizing base impulses into higher virtues through patience, compassion, and resilience. The feminine Alchemist represents the art of subtle transmutation—transforming the raw and untamed into something transcendent, and finding unity and beauty in the interplay of opposites.
THE HELMSMAN
The relationship this card has through the number 8, with the compass and the dharmachakra, invokes the Helmsman archetype. The helmsman is a refinement of the mariner archetype, a metaphor for the human desire to master the currents and steer the ship through storms, and towards a ‘destination’. They know how to ‘ride the waves’.
The Helmsman is charged with navigating the complexities of existence and the emergent ‘conditions’ of reality, embodying the principles of steadfastness, balance, and alignment as well as direction, and the ability to read the stars.
The helmsman is responsible for setting a course, relying on tools like the stars, the compass, or the horizon, external guides symbolising the principles, values, and higher truths that orient human action. The Helmsman is a counterpart to the archetype of The Charioteer, who brings all forces under his command. Steering the vessel requires precise calibration, a harmonious interplay of forces, many such as the wind the currents which cannot be commanded. This archetype embodies a form of mastery, attained through understanding and alignment with natural flows, and a self-derived anchored steadfastness, hands always on the wheel, knowing when to yield and when to defy.
At the heart of the Helmsman archetype lies a form of gnosis—an intimate knowledge of the vessel’s limits, its nature and the forces that surround it and act on it. Their role is not to defy the sea but to move within its rhythm, finding harmony between the vessel’s limits and the infinite potential of the destination.
They embody the wisdom of adjustment—the subtle give and take between their will and the will of the ocean and the winds, and through that intimate relationship and complete surrender to flow. The Helmsman knows how to ride the waves, and how to steer a course that is as much the Wu Wei of Taoism as it is the intrepid defiance of the mariner.
THE BEAST TAMER
The Beast Tamer archetype is richly represented in myths and legends, illustrating the delicate balance of courage, respect, and understanding required to master primal forces. Alongside Androcles, who tamed the lion through an act of compassion, we find figures like Bellerophon, who subdued the mighty Pegasus—not through brute force, but by gaining its trust with Athena’s golden bridle.
Unlike the garish Lion Tamer archetype from the circus, the Beast Tamer is not a showman. Their acts of taming the wild and fantastical creatures are done explicitly in a private context. Androcles is backed into a cave and Bellerophon tracks Pegasus to a hidden glade.
Orpheus, too, fits this archetype, calming savage beasts and even enchanting Hades with the spell of his music and taming the guardians of the underworld by the same, specifically not the power of force or confrontation. The fine harpstring of Orpheus’ lyre proves stronger than the fierce beast it tames.
These stories consistently emphasize that taming a beast is not about conquering it with power, but by subduing it with wiles, music or sheer grace—acknowledging its nature while finding a way to coexist or channel its power constructively. The tamer archetype serves as a timeless metaphor for humanity's struggle to harmonize with the forces of nature, the animal kingdom, and the wild instincts within.
In the story of Buddha and the enraged elephant Nalagiri, the archetype of the beast tamer is illustrated through the power of compassion, presence, and symbolic action. As the elephant charged, the Buddha stood his ground with serene calm, using a mudra—a sacred hand gesture symbolizing fearlessness and reassurance—to project his inner peace outward. This act, combined with his loving kindness, transformed Nalagiri's wrath into peaceful submission. The tale underscores the mastery of primal forces through understanding, alignment, and the projection of higher virtues, demonstrating that even wild energies yield to harmony and inner strength.
Lúthien Tinúviel from Tolkien’s The Silmarillion is a luminous expression of this archetype. When faced with the ferocity of the great wolf Carcharoth, a manifestation of unbridled chaos and destruction, Lúthien uses her beauty, song, and courage to subdue the beast.
This archetype embodies the alchemical balance between raw instinct and transcendent grace, underscoring the paradoxical power of gentle yet unyielding mastery.
HERCULES & SAMSON
Hercules and Samson both embody the archetype of divine strength, demonstrated through their conquest of the lion—a mythic trial symbolizing mastery over primal forces and fearsome challenges. For both, the lion’s pelt becomes a symbol of internalized power, transforming external conflict into triumph and identity. Hercules, born of Zeus’s infidelity, was an affront to Hera, the goddess of marriage and family, and became the target of her wrath. Yet, in an extraordinary arc of redemption, the very hero she despised becomes her salvation. During the battle with the Giants, who sought to defile Olympus and violate Hera, Hercules stands as her protector, turning back the Giants and safeguarding not only her virtue but also the sanctity of her divine charge. In doing so, he redeems his place within the divine order, championing the very ideals she upheld. This transformation—from a symbol of insult to a defender of cosmic harmony—aligns with STRENGTH’s invitation to integrate raw power with a higher purpose.
Samson’s narrative follows a similar pattern but emphasizes vulnerability through intimacy and trust. His downfall came at the hands of Delilah, who symbolized seduction, betrayal, and the potential consequences of misplaced trust. Delilah’s ability to uncover and exploit Samson’s secret—the source of his strength—reveals the archetypal danger of unbalanced relationships where raw power meets cunning or manipulation. In this story, the masculine force is not tempered by cultural institutions but undone by personal vulnerability and the dynamics of desire and betrayal.
The story arcs of Hercules and Samson, while visibly centred on the archetype of divine strength and the masculine shadow, indirectly illuminate aspects of the feminine shadow as much as the masculine. Hercules’ journey reflects a confrontation with Hera’s repressed shadow—the wrath born of her wounded authority as goddess of marriage, and her eventual dependence on the very figure she sought to destroy. His redemption transcends the shallow tale of masculine prowess into the role of champion, restoring balance to the feminine archetype’s subtle form of mastery, dignity, and divine order.
Samson’s arc, by contrast, reveals the seductive and destructive aspects of the feminine shadow through Delilah. Her manipulation of his vulnerability to exploit his power exemplifies the danger of feminine cunning when untethered from moral alignment. Together, these narratives highlight the interplay between the shadow expressions of both archetypes. They show how the feminine shadow can provoke, challenge, or even undermine masculine strength, while also creating the space for transformation, redemption, and a deeper integration of purpose.
EMERGENT SYNOPSIS
The archetypes invoked by the STRENGTH card point to the delicate relationship between primal power and refined control. The lion, fierce and untamed, symbolizes the raw forces of instinct, chaos, and vitality. Figures like the Beast Tamer or the Alchemist engage this energy, not to dominate or suppress it, but to transform and guide it into alignment with a higher order. This interplay is woven through myths where compassion, grace, or understanding subdue the wild, from Buddha’s encounter with Nalagiri to Androcles and the lion, each demonstrating that respect and recognition of the primal are essential to its mastery.
The archetypes of Hercules and Samson deepen this allegorical narrative, underscoring the necessity of integrating strength with purpose. Both heroes’ victories over lions signify the taming of external and internal chaos, yet their broader narratives explore the vulnerabilities that arise when primal forces remain unbalanced and particularly the relevance of relationship with the feminine. Together, these archetypes highlight a universal theme: strength lies not in overpowering the wild but in harmonizing with it, creating a unity that transcends conflict and embodies a deeper, transformative power.
The Helmsman archetype refines this understanding further. Here, STRENGTH denotes ‘steering’, the delicate calibration between defiance and surrender, as seen in the hands that hold the wheel. The ocean’s vastness and nature cannot be controlled, only navigated with a grace of attentiveness to rhythm and flow and the making of incremental adjustments.
True agency is not a function of control, it is as much a product of yielding as it is of defiance, and the sense of timing and wisdom to know which to apply when. This is the power of Grace.
ETYMOLOGY & LANGUAGE
Vertical shallow Etymology finds the nearest root words and leaves it at that. Deep and Wide Etymology reaches down and laterally, to explore the full essence of meaning that is related to the word.
The word “strength” originates from the Old English streng, meaning “line, slender cord, or thick thread,” and also “rope” or “string of a bow or harp,” alluding to objects capable of withstanding tension. Derived from the Proto-Germanic root strangiz conveying the essence of tensile strength, tautness and endurance.
Strong itself originates from the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root strenk, meaning “tight” or “stiff,” relating to tensile strength—symbolizing not only physical might but also the inner firmness required to withstand pressure, tension and opposition.
This lineage expands the meaning of strength beyond brute force, invoking resilience under strain, connection through tension, and the harmony achieved when opposing forces are balanced.
The purpose of the bowstring is to hold the tension of the bow arms. The strength of the harp string and the bow string alike is the paradox of being taut and yet able to be plucked or drawn to transfer that tension into guided Movement or the sounding of a note or chord.
ESOTERIC MEANING OF STRENGTH
The esoteric meaning of STRENGTH is deeply tied to the concept of hidden knowledge. In esoteric traditions, hidden knowledge is not external but discovered through self-mastery, introspection, and alignment with the greater cosmic order.
HELM
Considering the Helmsman archetype invoked by the card, helm comes from Old English helma “rudder; position of guidance, control,” from Proto-Germanic *helmaz (source also of Old Norse hjalm, Old High German helmo, German Helm “handle"), from PIE word meaning “to hold, grasp.”
We say to have a handle on this or a hold on something is to have some level of mastery of it. Handle itself is a symbol of connectedness and agency, that enables the individual to interact skillfully with the forces at play.
STEERING
The word “steering” originates from the Old English stēoran, meaning “to guide, direct, or control the course of a ship,” closely related to stēor, meaning “rudder” or “helm.” Derived from the Proto-Germanic root steurjan, it conveys the act of piloting or managing direction.
Tracing further, steurjan stems from the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root steu- meaning “to push, stick, or knock,” evoking the idea of applying force or influence to guide movement. This etymology reflects both the physical act of navigation and the metaphorical concept of guiding or directing purpose and intent.
DETERMINATION
The word “determination” originates from the Latin determinare, meaning “to set boundaries, limit, or define,” derived from terminus, meaning “boundary” or “end.” The prefix de- intensifies the root, implying a thorough or complete act of defining or concluding. Tracing further, terminus stems from the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root ter- meaning “to rub, turn, or limit,” evoking the notion of marking an endpoint or establishing a finality.
This etymology conveys not only the act of decisively setting limits or making conclusions but also the resolute quality of persistence and purpose needed to see something through to its defined outcome.
EMERGENT SYNOPSIS
Strength is not static power but dynamic tension; steering is not forceful direction but skillful guidance; determination is not blind will but decisive clarity. All reflect an esoteric principle: progress and harmony emerge when effort aligns with intent and tension resolves into movement.
APPEARANCE & ARRANGEMENT
The card STRENGTH shows a woman in a long, white gown, a garland of flowers spirals around her waist. She is crowned with flowers and holds a garland around her waist. Above her head is the infinity symbol (∞). With both hands, she gently closes the maw of a male red lion, which is yielding to her touch. The lion has a full, curly mane and stands on all fours. The foreground is rolling grassland the background features a hill and forest and the peak of a blue mountain, in the distance, to the far left, beneath a golden sky.
EGREGORE & ESSENCE
Egregore is an esoteric concept representing an emergent archetypal thought-form that arises from collective thoughts.
The card STRENGTH represents the counter-intuitive power of Grace and Sublimation. A feminine form of stillness which is the essence of yielding. The Unity of Resonance and Alignment.
Our greatest strength lies in the gentleness and tenderness of our heart.
Rumi
STRENGTH is the subtle yet profound force that enables sublimation—the paradoxical power by which primal, untamed energy is chastened and subdued not via control or conquest, but by grace.
This essence embodies the quiet, resolute strength found in compassion, patience, and the supreme majesty of the feminine.
A metallurgic alchemy of merging opposing polarities and natures into a coherent, resonant alignment.
Determination is an esoteric principle linked to both strength and actualisation.
THE UNFOLDING
In the numerological position of VIII (8) in the Major Arcana, STRENGTH occupies a pivotal point of balance and transformation, situated between the decision and discipline of THE CHARIOT (VII) and the introspective surrender of THE HERMIT (IX). If THE CHARIOT represents Will, the mastery of internal and external forces through self-determination, STRENGTH is the prime virtue from which that self-mastery is conceived.
In this numerological position, STRENGTH signifies integration: the fundamental virtue of transformative power where all reactionary force and movement are sublimated through inner composure. This echoes the infinity symbol (∞) above the figure’s head, a reminder of the cyclical and infinite nature of such harmonization, and its essential place in the journey of personal evolution.
If THE HERMIT (IX) represents the culmination of the spiritual journey, STRENGTH (VIII) stands as the necessary broker of spiritual power. STRENGTH is the devotional focus of spiritual heat and the transcendence of time.
THE RED LION
The red lion represents, at a more superficial level, the bestial power of nature and therefore within us, as well as the primal, the elemental (especially fire) and the temperament associated with that. In one sense, this is Lust.
At a deeper level, the red lion represents the concept of Spiritual Heat. This is the fire of Kundalini , the harnessing, sublimation and channelling of which we see as the alchemical and tantric projects. Mysticism is allegorically referred to as a sacrifice of one’s life to the sacrificial fire of union with the divine, in which the mystic is reduced to ash.
THE MOUNTAIN
The distant blue mountain is the masculine counterpart of stillness and gravity to the red lion’s primal ferocity. It is the immovable anchor to the lion’s kinetic force, providing the stability necessary to channel and refine wild energies. This interplay between the dual aspects of the masculine: active and the passive, and the bestial and animate, and the grounded stillness. This mirrors the alchemical union of opposites that leads to transformation.
The distant mountain in STRENGTH implies that the seeming feminine act of subduing primal forces—the Red Lion, chaos, or instinct—involves also a hidden and subtle masculine force of stillness, gravity and presence.
The mountain’s remoteness also underscores that while spiritual ascent is thought of as the ultimate aim, the immediate mastery of oneself and one’s environment is what paves the way to it. This is Mount Sinai, where Moses had his encounter with the burning bush, and Mount Tabor, where the transfiguration of Jesus occurs.
All said, this card visually depicts the alchemist archetype subduing the active yang principle via innate stillness and grace.
WU WEI (TAIOSM)
The card STRENGTH is a depiction of the Tao.
Encoded in the card are the central principles of balance, harmony, and the integration of opposing forces into a unified whole.
“Nothing in the world is as soft and yielding as water. Yet for dissolving the hard and inflexible, nothing can surpass it.”
—Tao Te Ching
The figure’s serene demeanour as she subdues the lion is a direct representation of wu wei, the Taoist principle of effortless action or action in alignment with the natural flow. —She does not struggle or impose her will but instead aligns herself with the lion’s nature, guiding it with correct action and composure. This reflects the Taoist teaching that harmony is achieved by working with, not against, the natural order.
The STRENGTH card transcends mere physical or external power, reflecting the deeper Taoist wisdom of aligning oneself with the natural flow of the Cosmos.
SYMMETRY & SEQUENCE
Within the deck, there are symmetries and connections between the cards, defined by their appearance in sequence, their numerical allocation and/or thematically by the relationship of their symbols, archetypes and other essentialities.
The Symmetry & Sequence is its reality relative to the rest of the Major Arcana emphasising interconnected relationships that deepen the narrative of the card STRENGTH within the wider deck.
As the 9th of the Major Arcana (if considering THE FOOL(0) as zero), STRENGTH therefore represents the culmination of the previous cards’ lessons THE CHARIOT(VII) which symbolises Will, Stillness within Movement, Movement within Stillness.
Positioned numerically as VIII (8), STRENGTH serves as a mediating virtue between the willpower and directed energy of THE CHARIOT (VII) and the introspection and transcendence of THE HERMIT (IX). This sequence highlights the progression from external regulation and determination to inner composure and mastery.
THE THREE VIRTUES
As depicted in the provided diagram, STRENGTH is one of the three cardinal virtues symbolized in the tarot—alongside JUSTICE (XI) and TEMPERANCE (XIV). 8 - 11 - 14
Together, they form a triad of transformative principles:
STRENGTH embodies the virtue of willpower tempered by grace, signifying the exertion of power through gentleness and alignment with inner harmony.
JUSTICE represents the impartial balancing force, mediating between competing energies to produce fairness and equilibrium.
TEMPERANCE offers the alchemical practice of moderation and synthesis, where opposites are blended into harmonious integration.
Strength represents the exertion of Will—an active, intentional force that bridges the potential of inner resolve with its outward manifestation. In this framework, Strength is not merely raw power but the capacity to exert that power with grace and purpose, a virtue that aligns with the higher self. Righteousness, on the other hand, emerges as the actualized Virtue—the moral clarity and alignment of one’s actions with divine principles. JUSTICE, as the result, embodies the equilibrium between cause and effect, the harmonious interplay of the physical and metaphysical, the manifested and the divine, encapsulating the principle of “as above, so below.”
The STRENGTH card’s deeper connection to TEMPERANCE lies in its practical application. Where TEMPERANCE moderates extremes, seeking balance and integration, STRENGTH embodies that moderation in action. It transforms raw Will into disciplined exertion, harmonizing passion with composure. Together, these virtues form an intricate web of alignment: THE CHARIOT (VII) symbolises Will, expressed as STRENGTH achieves the harmony of TEMPERANCE (XIV), which in turn is equivalent with righteousness personifed by JUSTICE (XI), culminating in the impartial and universal justice that underpins cosmic order. This sequence reveals a profound relationship between intention, action, and outcome, portraying STRENGTH as the transformative mediator between inner virtue and external balance.
EMERGENT SYNOPSIS
STRENGTH occupies a pivotal position in the Major Arcana, bridging the directed will of THE CHARIOT and the introspective mastery of THE HERMIT. As part of the triad of cardinal virtues with JUSTICE and TEMPERANCE, STRENGTH embodies the harmonization of raw will with grace, transforming determination into disciplined, purposeful action. It reflects the cosmic rhythm of alignment, where inner resolve integrates with higher principles, enabling transformation through grace which is itself the absolute resolute power.
ALCHEMY
Alchemy explores the transformative and mystical processes that turn the base into the sublime, symbolizing the journey from raw essence to spiritual enlightenment. In the context of Tarot, it offers a complimentary framework for interpreting the profound alchemical symbolism embedded within the cards, revealing deeper layers of meaning through the interplay of elemental and metaphysical transformations.
THE RED LION
The taming of the Red Lion reflects the alchemical process of sublimation, where primal energies are neither suppressed nor eradicated but refined and aligned to serve a higher purpose. The lion, embodying raw vitality, Lust and untamed instinct, is transformed through the quiet power of grace and inner composure, symbolizing the spiritualization of base desires. This process encapsulates the alchemical dictum “solve et coagula”—to dissolve and recombine—unifying discordant elements into a harmonious whole. In doing so, it transcends the boundaries of duality, achieving a profound Unity through Alignment.
The infinity symbol above the figure’s head resonates with the alchemical principle of eternal cycles of transformation, highlighting the boundless potential for renewal and evolution. Like the alchemist distilling gold from lead, STRENGTH represents the condensation and sublimation of raw spiritual energy, often referred to as Spiritual Heat, into stillness, clarity and Unity or Singularity of Will. This embodies the dynamic interplay of power and grace, illustrating the alchemist’s ultimate endeavor—the Great Work—a delicate synthesis of chaos and harmony, passion and peace, that leads to transcendent wholeness.
METALLURGIC
The alchemical journey is rich with metaphors, each offering unique insights when viewed through different archetypal lenses, and the metallurgic process—with its etymological roots in “working with metal” and implied alchemical connotations of refinement and transformation—provides a profound lens for understanding these cards.
The suffix -urgic derives from the Greek word ergon, meaning “work” or “task”, implying considerations of efficiency and friction. It implies an act of working, crafting, or producing something, especially in a transformative, purposeful and therefore intentional and skilful manner.
This helps us understand STRENGTH as a practice of spiritual and emotional sublimation.
The alchemical metaphor of the metallurgic process in STRENGTH emphasizes purification and refinement rather than the forging and balancing associated with TEMPERANCE (XIV).
In metallurgical alchemy, the process begins with the raw ore—unrefined, impure, and chaotic. Through the application of fire, the ore is melted, allowing impurities to rise as slag while the essence—the pure metal—remains. This mirrors the taming of the Red Lion, where primal instincts are not destroyed but brought to a state of purity and clarity. Sublimation, akin to smelting, represents the elevation of base urgest into higher virtues, a transformation achieved through steady grace rather than brute force. The untamed vitality is expressed as Lust. The lion’s fiery volatile essence, like molten metal, becomes a conduit of higher purpose, refined through cycles of heating and cooling, mirroring the eternal alchemical cycle of dissolution and reconstitution. This metallurgical symbolism reveals STRENGTH as the quiet but powerful alchemist who refines chaos into spiritual gold through the harmonious melding of instinct and grace.
This metaphor finds relatable resonance in our emotional lives. When we process anger, fear, or resistance with awareness and grace, these volatile states act as the ore, yielding impurities as they are “smelted” through introspection and surrender. What remains is the essential alloy of the soul—refined, strengthened, and capable of transcending previous limitations, emerging with new possibilities and resilience. This alchemical refinement is the heart of STRENGTH’s quiet but transformative power.
THE ALCHEMIST
In light of these two analyses, STRENGTH represents, more than any other card in the deck, the archetype of The Alchemist—the master of transformation who refines raw, primal energies into their highest expression. Through the quiet power of grace, composure, and intentionality, STRENGTH mirrors the alchemical process of sublimation, inducing order from chaos, transforming passion into purpose, and instinct into transcendence.
KABBALAH & JUDAIC MYSTICISM
GEMATRIA & ALEF-BET
In the Hebrew Alef-bet, the 8th letter is Chet (ח), symbolizing “Life” (Chai) and representing vitality, endurance, and the breath of existence.
The mystical meaning associated with Chet (ח) is “Life—trembling in fear.” Only that which is alive trembles and knows fear. The default Movement of life, prior to conscious ascent is empowered by Fear—the raw primal will to Live.
Chet, formed by two strokes joined by a thin bridge, mirrors the balance between opposites: the primal and the refined, the untamed and the harmonious. This bridge between dualities aligns with the archetypal energy of STRENGTH, where the lion represents raw, instinctual power, and the figure subduing it embodies grace, discipline, and unity.
Chet’s association with life force reflects the alchemical principle of transmutation: the refinement of chaotic energies into creative, life-affirming forces. It ties to the cyclical nature of vitality, suggesting not only survival but also flourishing through balance and transformation. This is reflected in STRENGTH as the archetypal journey of integrating ferocity with composure, sublimating raw potential into purposeful action.
SEPHIROT
On the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, STRENGTH is associated with the Sephirah of Chesed (Mercy), positioned on the Pillar of Expansion. Chesed represents Grace: loving-kindness, magnanimity, and the unifying force of creation that tempers the strict severity of its counterpart, Geburah (Judgement). The interplay between Chesed and Geburah reflects the core energy of STRENGTH: the mastery of power through grace, that is compassion, creating harmony between instinct and conscious will.
This alignment suggests that the taming of the lion in STRENGTH is not achieved by dominance or brute force but through the higher virtues of mercy, patience, and understanding. It is the integration of the expansive qualities of Chesed with the focused discipline of Tipheret (Beauty), the central Sephirah that balances and unifies the Tree. In this framework, STRENGTH invites the seeker to embody inner harmony, allowing grace and restraint to elevate primal energies into forces of creation and unity.
EMOTIONAL DYAD
The archetypal combination of Hod (Splendour/Glory) and Netzach(Victory/Eternity) are undeniably present. They form what is called the Emotional Dyad.
Netzach represents the spiritual essence of Fire, defiance and persistence that drives the Will to Endure and to overcome implied by the translation “Victory”.
Hod, on the other hand, symbolizes intellectual humility, introspection, and the reflective power needed to temper raw emotion with Wisdom. It is the receptive force that balances Netzach’s outward drive. Hod translates as “Splendor” or “Glory”, but refers to the splendour of true humility—intellectual humility. This is the quiet strength of grace and the ‘heroic’ ordeal faced in utter private, without witness.
The figure on the card, often a woman taming a lion, invokes this paradox of grace and victory.
The assumption is that the woman’s calm demeanour represents Hod’s intellectual humility and emotional maturity only, while the lion’s raw power represents Netzach’s vitality and drive only. The truth is that Hod and Netzach are yin and yang expressions of each other. The woman and the lion represent the duality of Hod and Netzach as paired in eternal lockstep of mutual relationship between our upper and lower natures, the duality of animal and divine, the duality of upper and lower forces, the eternal tension which we experience as an individual Self.
The feminine figure central to the STRENGTH card embodies the harmony between Hod and Netzach, not mere brute force, but a spiritual defiance sublimating the lion’s roar of life eternally asserting itself.
In Kabbalistic tradition, the STRENGTH card alludes to the Spiritual Temperance necessary for the process of Tikkun, or spiritual repair, specifically through the harmonization of the Emotional Dyad. These opposing forces must be balanced, not as separate entities, but as interdependent aspects of the self, reflecting the tension between action and reflection, ambition and humility, the divine and the human. This balance is achieved through Da’at (Knowledge), the integrative, experiential knowledge that allows one to reconcile the paradox of these forces and transform inner conflict into wisdom. The energies of Netzach and Hod flow toward Yesod (Foundation), where their resolution creates a stable base for manifesting spiritual and material growth, unifying the higher and lower natures within the individual.
EMERGENT SYNOPSIS
The card STRENGTH bridges the esoteric disciplines of Kabbalah and Alchemy, revealing their shared focus on harmonising primal vitality with conscious grace. Kabbalistically, the interplay of Chesed (Mercy) and Geburah (Judgement) embodies the delicate mastery of power through compassion, aligning instinct with higher Will. The Emotional Dyad of Hod (Splendour) and Netzach (Victory) highlight the tension between grace and endurance, echoing the alchemical process of sublimation, where raw potential is transmuted to actualised fulfilment.
This synthesis underscores STRENGTH as a transformative mediator—sublimating chaos into harmony, integrating action and reflection, and unifying the divine and human within. By invoking the process of Tikkun (spiritual repair), the card points to the redemptive power of balancing inner and outer forces, demonstrating that transcendence is achieved through alignment and resonance, not opposition. Through the lens of both traditions, STRENGTH reflects the eternal endeavour to refine, elevate, and integrate the emergent fracture and potential inherent in actualisation.
HERMETIC LAWS & CONCEPTS
STRENGTH as number 8 (VIII), also being the 9th card of the Major Arcana implies the whole set of Hermetic Principles as well as both the Feminine aspect of the Gender Principle as well as the Harmonising force of the Feminine and Masculine in Balance with one another.
“The wise shall rule the stars, while the fools are ruled by them.”
—Hermetic Proverb
8 symbolizes octave resonance, representing cycles of growth, renewal, and the attainment of higher levels of consciousness.
It is the symbol of infinity, denoting eternal motion, the interconnectedness of all things, and the transcendence of duality through the Unity of Alignment. This reinforces the card's role as a gateway to spiritual mastery, where one transcends polarities (such as animalistic and divine, masculine and feminine) and steps into the infinite potential of balanced existence.
As the 9th of the Major Arcana (if considering THE FOOL(0) as zero), STRENGTH also represents the culmination of the previous cards’ lessons THE CHARIOT(VII) which symbolises Conscious Human Will, Stillness within Movement, Movement within Stillness.
It synthesizes the Hermetic laws of
Rhythm,
Polarity,
Cause & Effect and
The Gender Principle
This invokes the understanding that true mastery arises from harmonizing with the natural rhythms of existence and transcending Opposition through Conscious Will. STRENGTH reflects the balance between active persistence and graceful surrender, demonstrating how to align one’s inner forces with universal principles through Grace and Will rather than control or fear. This card teaches the art of maintaining equilibrium in the face of challenges, embodying the harmonious interplay of masculine and feminine energies, and invoking the infinite spiral of growth, transformation, and cosmic evolution.
If the secret aim of Tension is Transformation, STRENGTH is how to contain and harness the Spiritual Heat of Transformation and Movement, the way the Sphinxes Black and White are harnessed to THE CHARIOT(VII).
ASTROLOGY
The Hellenistic astrological insight cannot be divorced from the mythological context with which it shares archetypal relevance.
Traditionally, Leo, ruled by the Sun, is associated with the STRENGTH card. This connection reflects the lion depicted on the card, a central symbol of raw vitality, courage, and the solar force that animates life. Leo, as a sign, embodies the qualities of strength, pride, and creativity, aligning with the card’s themes of harnessing inner power with grace and purpose.
The Sun, Leo’s ruling celestial body, further emphasizes the life-giving and transformative energy present in STRENGTH. The Sun represents the core self, radiating vitality, individuality, and the will to express one’s true nature. Within the card, this solar connection is reflected in the harmonious interplay between the feminine figure and the lion, symbolizing the conscious direction of powerful, primal forces toward creative and purposeful outcomes.
Additionally, the infinity symbol (∞) above the figure’s head has ties to the zodiac’s fixed nature (Leo is a fixed sign) and the cyclical nature of astrological movements. It also aligns with the eternal cycles of creation, destruction, and renewal inherent in both astrology and alchemy.
THE ALCHEMICAL ZODIAC
Astrologically, STRENGTH reflects the zodiacal dance of opposing forces—fire and earth, instinct and intellect, action and grace. It invokes the archetypal journey of self-mastery, where the zodiac becomes a map for refining primal energies into higher expressions. The card encapsulates the essence of Leo’s courage tempered by Libra’s harmony, Venus’s grace guiding Mars’s passion, and Saturn’s discipline stabilizing the Sun’s radiance.
VENUS & LIBRA
Venus is the ruling planet of Libra. Venus embodies themes of love, beauty, harmony, Desire and relationships. Venus represents the principles of attraction and magnetism.
Libra, as a sign, is associated with balance, fairness, and relationships. Libra mediates conflict (duality) via balance. Libra is symbolized by the scales, emphasizing equilibrium, proportionality, and justice by which it is related to diplomacy, compromise, harmony and balance.
The feminine figure in STRENGTH evokes Venusian qualities of beauty, harmony, and grace. Venus, particularly in its Libran aspect, emphasizes balance and the gentle power of alignment. The act of taming the lion without force reflects Libra’s approach to conflict resolution: the pursuit of equilibrium through understanding and cooperation. The card’s imagery resonates with Venus as the principle of love and attraction, demonstrating that even the fiercest instincts yield to the unyielding power of compassion and presence.
This archetypal pairing reflects a drive toward symmetry and cooperation, where love and beauty are not just personal experiences but also expressions of cosmic balance and order.
MARS & ARIES
While grace and harmony dominate the card, the lion introduces a Martian dimension of raw energy, passion, and drive. Mars in its exalted form represents the courage and determination to face challenges. STRENGTH integrates this fiery, assertive force with Venusian receptivity, illustrating the alchemical union of action (Mars) and grace (Venus). The balance of these energies transforms raw instinct into a constructive and purposeful force.
In Hellenistic Astrology, Mars and Aries embody the archetypes of raw power, drive, assertiveness, and the will to act. Mars, as the planetary ruler of Aries, governs the qualities of courage, initiative, and a relentless drive to overcome obstacles.
Aries resolves conflict (duality) by initiating conflict, by de-cision (cutting).
LEO AND THE SUN
The lion, a key symbol of the card, immediately evokes Leo, the zodiac sign ruled by the Sun. Leo represents vitality, courage, and the drive for self-expression, mirroring the lion’s raw power and regal presence. The Sun, as Leo’s ruler, symbolizes the core of identity, the life force that animates all living beings. In STRENGTH, the taming of the lion reflects the higher octave of Leo’s energy: not dominance, but the conscious integration of ego and instinct into purposeful action, illuminated by the light of self-awareness.
The association with the Sun also connects STRENGTH to themes of enlightenment and illumination. The card portrays grace and inner strength as the means by which the ego (lion) aligns with the higher self (the feminine figure), creating a radiant harmony that transcends duality.
SATURN AND TRANSCENDENCE OF LIMITS
The distant blue mountain in STRENGTH connects to Saturn, the archetype of discipline, structure, and spiritual maturity. Saturn embodies the invisible yet omnipresent reality of limits and boundaries, the trials and restrictions that define the human condition. As the symbolic guardian of thresholds, Saturn presents obstacles not only as impediments but as the critical pathway and necessity for the transcendence of growth and refinement.
EMERGENT SYNOPSIS
STRENGTH reveals a web of astrological archetypes in dynamic interplay, where Leo’s solar vitality and Mars’s raw passion are tempered by Venusian grace and Saturnian observance of limit. Venus in Libra, Trining with Saturn ameliorates the drive to conflict of Mars in Aries.
The card’s alignment with Libra reflects the transition marked by the autumnal equinox, where balance yields to the descent into longer nights and introspection. This celestial shift mirrors the card’s deeper message: the necessity of harmonizing opposing forces to navigate life’s cycles with composure and grace.
MYTHOS & LOGOS
ORPHEUS & EURYDICE - A CAUTIONARY TALE
The tale of Orpheus and Eurydice is one of Greek mythology’s most poignant stories, a timeless reflection on love, loss, and the fragile balance between light and shadow—themes deeply resonant with the card STRENGTH.
Orpheus, the legendary poet and musician, was said to possess a gift unmatched by mortals or gods. His mother, Calliope, the muse of epic poetry, and his father, Apollo, the Sun God, shaped his extraordinary talents. Orpheus’s music was so powerful it could soothe wild beasts, bend nature to his will, and move even the stoniest hearts. He stands as the archetypal Bard, his mastery of song and verse a bridge between the divine and human worlds.
Orpheus falls deeply in love with Eurydice, a maiden of rare beauty and grace, and their bond seems unbreakable, but their joy is tragically short-lived. While wandering through a sunlit meadow, Eurydice is pursued by the lusty satyr Aristaeus. As she flees, she steps on a venomous snake, which bites her and she dies. Overcome with grief, Orpheus undertakes to descend into the Underworld, determined to bring her back.
His journey echoes the cycles of light and darkness symbolized in the astrological trope of Libra’s equinox—a fleeting balance before inevitable descent. Orpheus’s music, filled with the raw emotion of his loss, enchanted all who heard it in the Underworld. Hades, the implacable lord of the dead, and Persephone, his queen, were moved by his song. They agreed to let Eurydice return, but only under one condition: Orpheus must lead her out without ‘looking back’ until they had both fully crossed into the world above.
Guided by hope and his unparalleled resolve, Orpheus leads Eurydice toward the light. But as they neared the threshold, doubt crept in.
Was she truly there behind him? —his faith is tested.
On impulse he turned to look. In that moment Eurydice is pulled back into the shadows, lost to him forever.
Orpheus’s tragic mistake is a cautionary tale about the delicate harmony between instinct and higher will. His failure to trust and surrender to the conditions of his journey mirrors the lesson of STRENGTH: true mastery lies not in control or force, but in the integration of raw emotion with grace. The story reminds us of the power—and peril—of navigating the cycles of love, loss, and renewal, where only the alignment of inner strength and trust can lead to transcendence.
‘Looking back’ in the story of Orpheus signifies the inability to fully integrate and align primal instinct with higher will—a central theme echoed in the card STRENGTH. Within the broader analysis of the card, looking back represents the surrender to doubt, the compulsion to verify rather than trust, and the failure to maintain inner composure in the face of uncertainty.
Orpheus’s backward glance is not merely an act of doubt; it is a moment where grace falters and instinct overrides higher will, unraveling the delicate balance required to transcend duality.
If the infinity symbol is the symbol of harmony and flow, to look back is to break that flow.
THE DEATH OF ORPHEUS
Orpheus’s death is as tragic as his life, steeped in myth and layered with symbolic meaning.
After losing Eurydice forever, Orpheus retreats from the world of men, his heart irrevocably broken. He forsakes all mortal love, some say because he could never love another after Eurydice. According to some accounts, this rejection of earthly relationships angers followers of Dionysus, particularly the Maenads—wild women devoted to the god of wine, ecstasy, and chaos.
One day, as Orpheus sings mournfully on a hilltop, the Maenads, in a drunken frenzy, attack him for his perceived disdain for the Dionysian ways. They tear him apart limb by limb in their madness, silencing his music and scattering his remains across the land.
In another version, his death is seen as a punishment for rejecting Dionysus, having aligned himself too closely with Apollo, the god of order and reason, whose ideals were often in tension with the chaos and revelry of Dionysus.
ORPHISM (THE WORSHIP OF ORPHEUS)
After his death, Orpheus’s head and lyre are said to float down the River Hebrus, continuing to sing mournful songs even in death. His head becomes an oracle, his lyre a constellation, and his life a mythic pattern for transformation.
Orpheus becomes revered as a figure of mystical wisdom and spiritual transformation. He is considered the founder of Orphism, a mystery religion that emphasizes the soul’s journey through cycles of reincarnation and its eventual liberation through purity and divine knowledge. Orphism reveres Orpheus as a prophet, one who sought to harmonise the conflicting Apollonian and Dionysian principles of order and chaos.
Strength—we are reminded—in an esoteric context carries the meaning of “hidden knowledge”.
Worshippers of Orphism viewed him as a bridge between the mortal and divine realms—and therefore a psychopomp. The other psychopomp was Hermes, who could travel freely between the mortal world, the Underworld of Tartarus and Olympus. But unlike the super-human, fleet-footed Hermes—winged messenger of the gods—Orpheus had been but a man, inspired by Muses divine and then also by the human muses of both love and grief. He had undertaken the impossible——tamed the untamable, moved the unmovable, and returned. He had both triumphed and failed. He, was one of us.
His tragic life, symbolic descent into the Underworld, and eventual martyrdom cement his legacy as an archetype of the seeker who dares to confront the mysteries of existence. To experience the psychosis of great love or great grief is to bear a kinship with Orpheus. To carry a sense of Destiny that seems besieged by your Fate, is to long for the divine graces of his verse and song. Verse and song can be practised. Verse and song are a medium that straddles both Mythos and Logos and has a sacred place at both pillars of the temple, is its own sacrificial offering and its own devotion, its own ritual and its own magic. It is a medium both worldly and divine, its own carrier signal and message, guided by inspiration, and belonging impossibly to the feasting hall and the altar, the palace and the pasture.
The establishment of Orphism as a mystery religion ensured his legacy as a spiritual guide, one whose mythic pattern offered not just tales of bravery or tragedy but a profound philosophy on the soul’s journey through life, death, and renewal.
Orpheus stands as a particularly intriguing figure in mythology, for he occupies a unique space between mortal hero and divine archetype. Unlike other legendary figures, even greater in feats and fame—such as Heracles or Achilles—Orpheus was venerated almost as a god, his influence enduring across ages and cultures in ways that surpass the legacy of many more traditional heroes.
Orphic Hymns are a form of prayer, poem and song, which are as the western equivalent of Vedic mantras, the devotions aimed at the Hellenistic deities, ranging from the Olympian gods like Zeus and Apollo to more primordial and chthonic forces like Nyx (Night) and Hades. With a striking similarity to hinduism, the Orphic Hymns reflect the broader Orphic tradition, which emphasized personal spiritual growth, reverence for the divine, and the pursuit of liberation from the material world. The hymns were integral to Orphic rituals, offering a poetic and devotional means of engaging with the mysteries of the divine.
Orphism and Gnositicsm are distinct but related religious and philosophical systems that share thematic parallels, yet they emerged in different historical and cultural contexts. Orphism is rooted in ancient Greek religious traditions and is believed to have emerged by the 6th century BCE, possibly earlier, within the broader context of Greek mystery religions. Gnosticism as a distinct tradition arose much later, between the 1st and 3rd centuries CE, during the early Roman Empire. It developed in a syncretic environment that blended elements of Hellenistic philosophy, Christianity, Jewish mysticism, and Near Eastern dualism. Orphism was to Hellenistic pantheism as Gnosticism is to Early Christianity.
OTHER MYTHIC INVOCATIONS
The STRENGTH card invokes other myths.
Saint George’s subjugation of the dragon with faith and courage mirrors the STRENGTH card’s emphasis on the integration of raw instinct through grace and alignment with higher principles.
Heracles’ trials, particularly his defeat of the Nemean lion, encapsulate the archetypal journey of confronting and integrating primal power. His eventual transformation into a protector of divine order parallels the alchemical sublimation depicted in STRENGTH.
Demeter, goddess of the harvest, tames and transforms wild, destructive forces to ensure the cyclical renewal of life. Her archetype embodies nurturing strength, reflecting the card’s balancing of raw energy with grace.
The STRENGTH card speaks to the paradox of power found not in dominance, but in grace, not in control but in mastery, not in defiance, but in alignment. Be led to consider that we are both tamer and beast. The primal energies within and around us—are not external adversaries to be subdued, but forces to be aligned, sublimated, and even elevated. Strength of this kind is not raw force—it is the quiet, unyielding composure that flows from a place of harmony and deep self-hood.
True agency is not a function of control, it is as much a product of yielding as it is of defiance, and the sense of timing and wisdom to know which to apply when. This is the power of Grace.
The alchemist masters themself to enable transmutation. With gentleness, the lion is tamed—raw vitality and untamed instinct—through resonance, the unity of will and grace.
Grace is itself nothing but the observance of Time and the allowing of everything its own nature.
The infinity symbol describes the eternal cycle of alignment and refinement, the rhythm of inner and outer forces converging toward balance.
Be reminded of the profound strength that comes from surrender. Here is mirrored life’s dualities: the chaos and the order, the wild and the serene, the active and the still. STRENGTH challenges us to navigate these tensions with an inner coherence, transmuting doubt into purpose and passion into devotion.
To embody STRENGTH is to embrace the alchemical process itself—to refine the base elements of anger, doubt, and resistance into spiritual gold through presence, discernment and intentionality. It calls us to trust the infinite flow of our own evolution, to harmonise instinct with higher will, and to face life’s challenges with faith that ‘All is, as it will be’.
What inner forces demand your attention—not to quell them, but to align with and integrate their essence. Anger is but passion. Doubt is no less sacred than Hope. To accept a paradox is to transcend it. In doing so, we transcend another level of duality and arrive more fully in the unity of our own becoming.
The title image depicts a motif of a sacred contained flame, burning on an anvil, itself the symbol of immovability and steadfastness on which our tools, weapons and armour are forged.
The spiritual heat of all transformation refines the raw into the transcendent—composure and intention, whereby is forged that which is noble and enduring. The paradoxical nature of STRENGTH is power both contained and liberated, yielding transformation through resonance and alignment.
If you are interested in joining me for an integrated exploration of your own Archetypes, Symbolism, Mythos, Totems and Astrology via the Hermetic lens, and have an appetite for something deeper and more mature, schedule a call.