VIII Strength

VIII, Strength, is really about the confidence of knowing that you are in control. The reason that I chose this particular image is because of the complete calm that a person must have for an animal to place its trust in him or her. The very best animal trainers are in complete control of themselves and that confidence radiates out allowing them to have what can sometimes seem like almost magical control over the birds and beasts with which they work.

Strength is inner strength. It's that simple.

The traditional Strength card of older decks depicts a woman with her arm around a lion, sometimes in a position in which she seems to be pulling or pushing at it. It's a fine image to convey this message but not realistic in the sense that it's an image that most people could identify with but we are all capable of such strength so I chose an image with which an average person could identify because that's what Sacred Earth Seven Element tarot has set out to do, to resonate with real people in a real world in an everyday way.

Strength follows The Chariot because the person who has opened to his or her intuition has an easier ability to access this kind of inner confidence.  It is a natural progression.