Major Arcana, number 8
Strength meaning and how to read it
- upright
- patience, gentleness, inner strength, self-control
- reversed
- self-doubt, strain, giving up
Strength shows a woman gently resting her hand on a lion's jaw. She calms the animal without forcing it. The Marseille deck numbers this card 11; like the Waite deck, we number it 8.
Updated September 23, 2026
Strength upright meaning
Upright, you are handling your feelings and desires well without suppressing them. Even when results are slow, you can keep going without rushing.
With people, receiving them gently moves things more than pushing. It is the strength of the core more than strength you can see.
Strength reversed meaning
Reversed, you have held on so long you are exhausted, or you have lost confidence and stopped caring. Stop trying to be strong for a while. Admitting you are worn down is the first step back.
Strength in love and feelings
Upright
Accepting the other person deepens the bond. A love that builds trust over time and can weather hard patches together.
Reversed
Too much patience. Check whether you always adjust to them and leave your own feelings for later.
In the place of their feelings
They are holding their feelings in while trying to treat you well. There may be something unsaid behind the kindness.
Strength for career and money
Upright
You can see demanding work through and handle difficult negotiations. People see you as someone they can calmly hand things to.
Reversed
You are carrying too much and running out of room. Look at your workload and consider asking for help.
Strength as a future card
As a future card, time invested pays off. Today's patience becomes calm confidence a year from now.
Strength in a yes or no reading
uprightYesreversedDepends
Upright, yes: keep going steadily and you will get the result you want. Reversed, depends: stop straining and recover first.
Strength as a birth card
Strength is your personality card if the digits reduce to 8, or first to 26 and then 8. Born on June 8, 1983: 6 + 8 + 1983 = 1997, 1 + 9 + 9 + 7 = 26, 2 + 6 = 8. People with the Star (17) also have Strength as their soul card.