← “Röhrig Cards” deck

Strength

“Röhrig Cards” deck · card #8

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"If you can simply observe what you are and remain flexible, you will discover that you can develop endlessly."
Krishnamurti

The Rider of the seventh card has learned the lessons of self-confidence, self-assertion and courage. Now we meet Strength in the image of a woman. The eighth card of the Tarot of the Aquarian Age depicts a young woman in the throes of an ecstatic, passionate surrender. Everything about her expresses the sensuality and pleasure she feels through being within her own body. Experiencing and giving herself with her whole heart, she embodies Shakti, the divine consort of Shiva, who gives strength to her husband through her tantric, sexual union. She is also the saint who gives herself to her divine beloved in mystical union.

The lion in the foreground symbolizes the lower instincts of the human being: suppressed sexuality, envy, hatred, jealousy, the desire for money, the thirst for power. But this woman has tamed her lion; now he lies at her feet and seems almost to smile at the fact that a frail woman has succeeded in taming him. The strength this woman possesses is the irresistible power of love. Even though she does not fight, she subdues; without conquest. Yet she is the victor, and without oppressing, she nonetheless transforms.

Herein lies our great task: not to suppress the lower energies within a person, but to transform them. The truly wise woman and man know that every power available to them can only continue to serve them if they use it wisely. Everything that is lower must be raised, so that it can become exalted. In this way, negative energies too can work together with positive energies to achieve the "great task."

The woman on this card works with the same energy as the Magician. Her motto is activity, but also surrender for her own sake and for that of others. Only by feeling others as deeply as she feels herself can she be true. Love, understanding and compassion are her "weapons." When she allows her love to blossom freely, however, she often encounters prejudices, which she has tried to transform by learning to see herself in every circumstance. She communes with the lion lying at her feet, mirroring him and, through the power of love, transforming his lower instincts into strong traits of character that now enrich her whole being.

The man and woman at this stage of development feel themselves to be at the fullness of their energetic potential. The woman in this phase learns to interact with masculine energy, the man learns to work with feminine energy. In this way, both people combine their masculine and feminine aspects, in order to attain wholeness within themselves. Just as on the card of the Chariot, there is a victor here too. Having tamed the beast within, our Strength and our animal powers unite, to master whatever comes.

The astrological symbol of Leo, a fire sign, appears on the seventh card of the Major Arcana. Leo embodies energy, courage, nobility of character and fiery energy.

The Hebrew letter TETH (womb with embryo) denotes the life that rests, securely hidden within. True strength guards this energy and calls upon itself only when necessary.

The rune SOWILO (sun) signifies will, life energy, victory, glory and success — aspects that complete the card of Strength. On the next stage (the Hermit), all of this is reevaluated anew.

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