Daily Readings

Strength

The ninth card in the sequence of the tarot deck is that depicting the concept of Strength. As is the case with the entire sequence, the Strength card continues to build on the lessons of the cards that have come before it. The eighth card – the Chariot — already taught our traveler the absolute [...]

The ninth card in the sequence of the tarot deck is that depicting the concept of Strength. As is the case with the entire sequence, the Strength card continues to build on the lessons of the cards that have come before it. The eighth card – the Chariot — already taught our traveler the absolute importance of gaining control over his raw emotions and basic instincts. Now Strength teaches him to rise above them, achieving a greater state of being in the process.

One of the first things we learn from Strength is that it’s not the straightforward concept it might seem to be at first. There are many ways to be strong. Of course, being strong of body and muscle is probably the most commonly known way, but it is very important to note that this is not the type of strength that this card represents. Instead, we’re being asked to take a look at fortitude of mind, of will, and of spirit. When we have this type of strength at our disposal, it’s possible to overcome anything life throws at us, as everything must eventually bow to a will greater than its own.

The traditional tarot image of Strength depicts a woman clothed in flowing robes of pure white grappling with a lion. We can see that the lion’s will has already been bested by that of the lady, as he wears a lead of flowers around his neck. The lady herself is in the act of closing the lion’s jaws, although some believe alternatively that she is prying the jaws open. Whichever is the case, it is clear that the lady does not possess the same brawny variety of strength the lion does. Hers is instead a quieter strength based on steadfastness, persistence, and patience. It is also a strength built of courage. Eventually she will best the lion through use of all these virtues in tandem showing that inner strength is ultimately more powerful than outer strength.

The image as a whole represents the triumph of the human spirit and the mind over man’s raw, unfettered emotions and baser instincts. Once these powerful forces are harnessed and under control, they are no longer a hindrance to growth and can be used for the greater good at large. Learn to control your animal instincts instead of letting them control you, and you will become an unstoppable force in the world without question. It is the ability to master this process that separates man from beast.

When the Strength card shows up in a tarot spread, it can signify a number of situations. However, all typically have to do with powerful forces at work that can be controlled and bested through the application of inner fortitude. These forces may exist within or without, but either way, the Strength card assures the querent that control of the situation is indeed within his grasp. If Strength shows up in representation of another person, it most likely symbolizes a friend or acquaintance who is incredibly brave or steadfast.

The Strength card can also symbolize general issues as well – especially when it comes to impulse control. It can shine a light on the need to find a creative or clever solution to the problem at hand or it can advise to go about solving the dilemma in such a way that the querent’s ever important honor is not sacrificed in the process. Always it cautions the querent not to give up no matter what the circumstances and to do his best to keep faithful in the knowledge that he will be rewarded for his persistence with success.

Are You Paying Attention? If Not, Tarot Cards Can Help.

In the latest installment of Laura Rowley’s Money & Happiness column on Yahoo Finance, she discusses a new book  on the science of happiness. In the book, “Rapt: Attention and the Focused Life,” behavioral scientist writer Winifred Gallagher concludes that if you want to be happy, you need to pay attention.
 
“Pay attention to what?” you [...]

In the latest installment of Laura Rowley’s Money & Happiness column on Yahoo Finance, she discusses a new book  on the science of happiness. In the book, “Rapt: Attention and the Focused Life,” behavioral scientist writer Winifred Gallagher concludes that if you want to be happy, you need to pay attention.

 
“Pay attention to what?” you might ask.

 

“To whatever your brain is focusing on,” Gallagher would answer.

 

As she explains in her book, allowing your mind to become monopolized by negative thoughts only makes the situation worse. If you are constantly thinking about a negative situation, your conceptual reality and options are limited. You are not allowing your brain to recognize that alternatives to the current situation exist. You can even become paralyzed by the fear and anxiety that the situation causes. By trying to refocus your brain to think more positively, you broaden your conceptual horizon and are able to recognize more options. This leads to better decision-making on how to deal with the current situation.

 

Tarot cards can help with training your brain to refocus. The imagery on each card serves as a guide and literally gives your mind something on which to focus. The cards can help you view your circumstances in a different light.

 

One way to use tarot cards to broaden your conceptual horizon is through a daily reading. You can use your entire deck or just the cards of the Major Arcana. First, sit in a quiet part of your home and take a deep breath. Now spread your tarot cards, face down, in front of you and select one. Pay attention to the pictures and symbols on the card and what they mean to you. Do you identify with any of the figures on the card? What imagery on the card, if any, sends you a negative message? What imagery, if any, sends you a positive message? Now ask yourself how the situation at hand is influencing the way you view the card. Is there an alternative way to read the card?

 

For example, let’s say you drew The Tower for your daily reading. Initially, you may see the card’s imagery as only reinforcing how you already feel in your current situation — out of control, chaotic, upheaval. But is there another message here? Could it be that you feel overwhelmed because you are only focusing on things over which you have no control?

 

Instead, what if you began to focus on the parts of your situation that you can control? In doing so, you will have expanded your options and increased your ability to make a better decision. Instead of feeling helpless you can begin to pay attention to the things in your life that you can influence, however insignificant they may seem at the time.

 

Or what if the card is offering a suggestion on how to better handle the same situation in the future? On the card above, the tower is severely damaged by lightning, but what if the tower could be rebuilt to better withstand lightning? Notice, I’m not saying that it won’t ever be struck by lightning again. The lightning is an act of God and is not something that can be directly controlled. What I’m pointing out here is that, should lightning strike again, the tower could be better equipped to handle the blow in the future. How might you prepare yourself to deal with or avoid a similar situation in the future?

 

Again, the above illustration is only an example. The meanings you gather from your daily reading will depend entirely upon you and your circumstances. But it does illustrate how using tarot cards can help refocus your brain away from constant negativity and thereby help you to recognize alternatives.

 

The power of paying attention is nicely summarized at the end of Rowley’s article by a statement by the poet W.H. Auden: “Choice of attention — to pay attention to this and ignore that — is to the inner life what choice of action is to the outer. In both cases, a man is responsible for his choice and must accept the consequences, whatever they may be.”