The Strength card is all about powerful self-acceptance. When this card appears upright, you’ll think of your amazing inner strength and personal determination. But this card doesn’t hide your flaws. Instead, it’s all about getting to the truth of who you are, accepting it, and using your natural skills and talents to move forward with the life you want.
When you see this card, you’ll know, deep in your soul, that you have the inner strength to make anything possible. This card encourages you to identify your natural gifts and talents, as well as the skills you’ve learned and put them to work.
When the Strength card is reversed, it encourages you to look inward. Are you lacking self-confidence? Are you feeling depleted or lacking energy or enthusiasm? This reversed card can help you look at your talents and natural abilities and see where they’re being ignored. You’ll also think of your weaknesses when you see the Strength card reversed, so you can look inward and face them.
The reversed Strength card can also serve as a warning that your emotions are not in balance. This card can help you see if you’ve been showing some explosive or uncontrolled emotions. It may urge you to take some time to evaluate your emotions and your level of personal control.
When you see the Strength card reversed, breathe deeply and center yourself. Focus on how you can nurture your talents and practice self-care to keep your emotions in balance.
Reading this reversed card using the “blocked/restricted” meaning
Okay, so let’s talk about the different ways you can read your reversed Strength card. First, you can use the “blocked/restricted” card meaning. When you read your cards like this, you’re looking for an obstacle standing in front of the upright meaning of the card. For the Strength card, this means something is blocking your self-confidence or ability to nurture your innate gifts.
For example, say you pull the reversed Strength card when thinking about your family. Is there someone who has been cutting you down and making you feel worthless?
It’s difficult to accept, but even close family members, can sometimes be toxic to our self-esteem. Do you a relative who is particularly successful and looks down on your achievements and talents? Do they call you out at family dinners and make you feel like your accomplishments aren’t worthy of praise?
If there’s someone in your life who’s cutting you down and standing in the way of you celebrating your successes, don’t stand for it, even if they are a family member. Assert yourself and be clear that you won’t tolerate them diminishing your accomplishments. Even the simple act of standing up for yourself can instill more self-confidence.
Reading this reversed card using the “opposite” meaning
You can also read your reversed Strength card using the “opposite” reversed card meaning. When you read your tarot cards like this, you’re looking for the opposite of the upright meaning of the card. Here, this can mean neglecting yourself, depression, or a lack of self-esteem.
Since the Strength card upright stands for inner strength and confidence, when you use the “opposite” reversed approach, it could show a deflated sense of self-worth and a lack of confidence.
For example, say you pull the reversed Strength card when thinking about your finances. The amount of money we have doesn’t define us, but if you’re financially secure, it can instill you with a great sense of confidence. The reversed Strength card can help you acknowledge where you’re coming up short in your financial life and how it’s making you feel.
Are you embarrassed when you go out with friends and have to order something cheap? Are you having to sit out when they take trips or go shopping? Evaluate how you’re really feeling in regards to your financial situation and what you need to do to have a sense of security, or if you’re relying too heavily on your money or lack of money to define your worth.
Reading this reversed card using the “worse” meaning
You can also read your reversed Strength card using the “worse” reversed card meaning. When you read your reversed cards like this, you take the upright meaning and put it in a negative light.
For the Strength card, this means that you do have self-confidence and are aware of your talents, but it’s causing some negative effects. Maybe your sense of confidence is becoming over-inflated and you’re developing a big ego. This can lead to selfish, arrogant, and self-absorbed behavior.
Say you pull the reversed Strength card when thinking about your health and fitness. Maybe you’ve prioritized your fitness regimen, and you’re looking your best with a set of six-pack abs and a brand new Beachbody certification.
That’s wonderful, and you should celebrate how healthy you are, but the reversed Strength card can warn you not to let your success go to your head. Are you pushing your friends to join your new diet and exercise plan, and implying they’re not in good enough health? Remember that everyone needs to walk their own path, at their own time. What worked so well for you might not be the right fit for them, and only they know what’s best for themselves.
Pushing, nagging, and bragging can all lead to strained relationships, so it’s important to celebrate your victories with tact and discretion. Don’t put all your value into how you look or how hard you worked and don’t minimize the accomplishments of those around you.
Reading this card using the “no/not” reversed card meaning
You can also read your reversed Strength card using the “no/not” reversed card meaning. When you read your reversed cards like this, you put a “no” or a “not” in front of the upright meaning of the card. For the Strength card, this means “no confidence” or “no talent or strength.”
Say, for example, you pull the reversed Strength card when thinking about your career. Are you struggling at work and you don’t know why?
The reversed Strength card prompts us to look at and be realistic about our strengths and weaknesses. It’s possible this job isn’t a great fit for you and you don’t feel confident because you’re not using your natural talents. This doesn’t mean that you can’t improve in a particular area, but if you’re forcing it, maybe this job isn’t the right fit.
There is always a way to make a career out of your natural talents. The reversed Strength card can prompt you to sit down, think about your career, and decide how to use your gifts. How can you apply them to the workforce and make money doing what you naturally excel at and really love?