Last week, we talked about the meaning of strength and how it reflects the degree of inner strength you possess (read it here). In this week’s blog, Strength – It Takes Courage to Have Courage, let me be your sherpa as we explore why this card is coming up for you now.
Developing Your Inner Strength
In short, this card now appears to tell you some area of your life in which you need to develop greater inner strength. It could be at work, in your relationships, or regarding any important decision. Why? Because being out of touch with your inner strength puts you at risk of becoming vulnerable to your fears and, as a result, losing control. Coming from a place of fear may lead to knee-jerk reactions that cause you to forget your true strengths.
When you feel threatened by facing a difficult situation, making a tough decision, or dealing with a challenging relationship, an impulsive or defensive reaction can imply weakness rather than strength. Real courage lies with not giving in to your temptation to react impulsively and risk losing control of the situation.
Your strength lies in remembering the woman’s calm as she runs a hand through the lion’s mane and gently holds his jaw, calming him with her intellect, intuition, and sense of balance. She doesn’t seek to censor him but rather to help him express himself in a less overpowering way, “I’m the king of the jungle, and it’s my way or the highway,” which will undoubtedly stir up an equally hostile reaction.
True Strength Lies in Being Gentle With Yourself
The lion’s true power—his true strength—lies in controlling his baser instincts and tempering them with understanding, self-love, and compassion. When operating at a lower vibe, your inner lion can lose control and connection with your gentler higher self.
Last week, I asked you to define your strengths and where you feel less powerful. Your answers can help you move a long way down the path toward developing true courage because once you define these areas, you can then know in your heart where your courage—or lack of it—lies.
Like the Cowardly Lion from the Wizard of Oz, this is where your quest begins. Why not follow your yellow brick road by starting a Courage Journal? To keep it simple, write about any time you run into a situation where you get triggered but instead of reacting out of fear or anger, you calm yourself enough to connect with your inner intuitive wisdom. As you record your stories, don’t forget to include your wins! Even if that means stepping out of your comfort zone.
Courage doesn’t mean always winning—instead, it means standing tall, facing life, and honoring yourself. The lion doesn’t make himself smaller; he makes himself stronger when he’s calmly aware that taming his baser instincts allows him to reach for the stars!
Need a refresher on this month’s card? Check out my short video below.
I’ll be back next week to show you how this card can work best for you through my tarot coach approach!
Ever upward!
