#8: Strength
Strength is the card of inner power, resilience, and grace under pressure. It represents courage, emotional strength, and the ability to navigate life’s challenges with compassion rather than force. In queer spaces, Strength is a testament to the power of authenticity—the quiet bravery of living in your truth, embracing who you are, and facing adversity with an open heart. This card reminds us that true strength comes not from aggression but from self-trust and inner peace.
UPRIGHT
Inner strength, courage, patience, emotional resilience, compassion, overcoming challenges
REVERSED
Self-doubt, feeling powerless, lack of confidence, emotional overwhelm, repressing emotions
Strength Overview
Strength is not about brute force—it’s about understanding, patience, and control over one's own emotions. This card teaches that true power is rooted in balance: knowing when to act and when to pause, when to assert and when to surrender. It reminds us that courage isn’t the absence of fear, but the ability to move forward despite it.
For those navigating identity, healing, or personal transformation, Strength is an invitation to trust yourself. This card asks: How do you respond to challenges? Do you react with force, or do you meet them with patience and understanding? Strength reminds us that softness is not weakness—it is the greatest power of all.
Symbolism and Imagery
The Woman and the Lion – A figure gently taming a lion, representing harmony between raw emotion (the lion) and inner wisdom (the woman).
The Infinity Symbol Above Her Head – Represents limitless potential and the power of a calm, steady mind.
The White Robe – A symbol of purity, clarity, and the strength that comes from integrity.
The Lion’s Open Mouth – Shows that power can be guided with gentleness rather than domination.
The Lush Landscape – Represents peace, balance, and the rewards of inner stability.
Upright Meaning
Upright, Strength signifies emotional resilience, patience, and quiet confidence. It is a reminder that you have the inner power to face any challenge without losing yourself in fear or anger. This card encourages you to lead with compassion, both for yourself and others, and to trust in your ability to overcome whatever lies ahead.
In a reading, ask yourself: Where am I being called to show strength in my life? How can I approach challenges with more patience and understanding?
Reversed Meaning
Reversed, Strength suggests a struggle with confidence, self-doubt, or emotional overwhelm. You may be questioning your ability to handle a situation, or feeling disconnected from your inner power. This card invites you to take a breath, center yourself, and remember that true strength is not about force—it’s about trust in yourself.
In a reading, ask yourself: Am I being too hard on myself? Where am I doubting my ability to handle challenges? How can I reconnect with my inner resilience?
Final Thoughts
Strength reminds you that power comes in many forms. It is the quiet endurance, the courage to be yourself, and the ability to meet life with an open heart. Trust that you have everything you need to navigate this moment—you are stronger than you know.
#8: Strength
Queer and Transgender Meaning
Strength is not about brute force—it is about resilience, patience, and the quiet courage that gets you through even the hardest days. It is the deep well of endurance that keeps you moving forward, even when transition feels overwhelming. This card reminds you that your power comes from within, and true strength is the ability to meet yourself with compassion, not just determination.
UPRIGHT
Inner strength, resilience, patience, courage, self-compassion, emotional mastery
REVERSED
Self-doubt, exhaustion, inner turmoil, struggling with dysphoria, loss of motivation
Strength and the Trans Experience
Strength is the steady, quiet resilience it takes to be trans in a world that often resists our existence. It is not just about pushing forward—it is about the ability to be kind to yourself along the way.
For trans people, this card represents the emotional strength required for transition—not just the external steps, but the internal work. It is waking up every day and choosing to keep going, even when the world is exhausting. It is facing fear, doubt, and dysphoria with patience and self-love.
Strength is also about soft power—the ability to navigate challenges with grace, to approach yourself with gentleness, to know that you do not have to fight every battle with force. Sometimes, the strongest thing you can do is simply allow yourself to rest, heal, and move forward at your own pace.
This card asks: How can you be softer with yourself? How can you draw on your inner strength without burning out?
Symbolism and Imagery
Strength is filled with symbolism about patience, power, and self-mastery.
A figure calmly holding the jaws of a lion – This is not a fight; it is a relationship built on trust. The lion represents raw emotion, dysphoria, and struggle. The figure does not conquer it by force but by understanding.
A soft white robe and a garland of flowers – Strength does not come from rigidity; it comes from grace and balance.
The infinity symbol above their head – Limitless inner power. No matter how difficult the journey, you are stronger than you realize.
A golden sky and lush landscape – This is a card of growth, reminding you that transition is a process, not a battle.
Upright Meaning: Resilience and Self-Compassion
When Strength appears upright, it is a reminder that you are more powerful than you think—but your power is rooted in patience, not just action.
For trans people, this might mean:
Facing dysphoria with patience – It is okay to struggle. Strength is about endurance, not perfection.
Practicing self-compassion – Meeting yourself with love, even on the hard days.
Drawing on inner resilience – Remembering how far you have already come.
Trusting the process – Transition takes time. Strength is the ability to move forward without rushing or forcing it.
This card reminds you that strength is not just survival—it is learning to thrive, even in the face of challenges.
Reversed Meaning: Exhaustion and Doubt
When Strength appears reversed, you may be feeling worn down, frustrated, or like you do not have the energy to keep going.
For trans people, this can look like:
Burnout from constant struggle – Feeling like transition is an uphill battle with no end in sight.
Self-criticism and impatience – Being hard on yourself for not “being further along.”
Letting fear and doubt take over – Questioning your path or feeling like you are not strong enough to handle it.
Pushing too hard without rest – Strength is also knowing when to pause and care for yourself.
Strength reversed is a reminder that you do not have to do everything alone. Lean on your support systems, be gentle with yourself, and remember: resilience is not about never falling—it is about always getting back up.
Final Thoughts
Strength is a love letter to every trans person who has kept going, even when the world made it hard. It reminds you that your power is not just in your ability to fight—it is in your ability to care for yourself along the way.
This card says: You are stronger than you know. And you deserve kindness, especially from yourself.