Finding your Strength

Strength VIII

This has been an interesting time for me. I am about to get married, which is exciting and terrifying all at the same time. Even if you aren't about to get married, you probably also have some wildness going on for you. The end of Summer always goes by so quickly and before we know it we will be back into the Fall. I really think that this is the time of the year when we could all use a little bit of the calming, but always powerful Strength card in our lives! This card has been popping up a lot in the readings have been doing lately. I have always seen this card as a bit of a "power" card.
When I was learning Tarot,  my teacher was a very effective story-teller. She would weave these wonderful stories that breathed life into the cards. When we got to the Strength card she told me a story and now I am going to share it with you my most precious reader.

In the card you see a maiden with her hands clasped around the mouth of a lion but how did this happen? Well there once was a village that was being terrorized by this beast. It was rampaging through the village, causing fear to grow inside the hearts of the villagers. People cried out for help because they did not know how to protect themselves and their families from the wild animal. After many terrifying nights the King of the village found out about this lion and knew had to do something to stop the terror that striking his people. He sent his best warriors to hunt the lion, asking them to bring back it's head. The warriors went out each night but had no luck capturing the beast. They hunted with spears, knives and bows. They sent their best hunters out to find the lion but no one could locate it. Each night without fail it came to the village. Exhausted by the hunt and after many nights of returning to the King empty handed the King decided he would kill this devil himself. 
Out into the night the King waited. Draped in the shadows of the starless sky, he hid amongst tree line.  Even the powerful King felt insecure out in the wild, outside of his element with only his sword to protect him. The King hunted and hunted. He walked for miles trying to find the lion's den but he had no luck. He went back to the village and was ashamed that he could not protect his people from this fierce beast. Seeing the King sitting alone and looking upset, a woman who was cleaning up her market stand after a very busy day went over the to King offering him her last piece of bread and a glass of wine. The King took the bread and wine and explained to her what was happening and how even his most capable hunters could not stop this lion. The woman asked if she could help. The king laughed and asked her, "how do you plan to kill this lion when you have no weapons, no training." The woman smiled. She said all she needed she had and that she desired no weapons. The King examined her closely, considering her mental state. He decided that regardless of her apparent lack of sanity, he was running out of options and was afraid to return with no lion, so he said to the woman to try her best and wished her good luck. 
The woman went to the outskirts of the village and waited. She could see in the distance the lion. It was roaming looking for food. She seen its head perk up towards her. She was not afraid. She did not shake or quiver. She knew she had everything she needed to stop this beast. When the lion was close enough that it was only standing a few feet away from her, she reached out her hand in kindness. The lion did not know what to do as it was used to being hunted and people being afraid of it. Slowly she stroked its long mane. It stood still with its golden eyes looking into hers. She knew this was a dangerous feat but she also knew in her heart she was safe. She could feel his power causing her heart to ring loudly in her ears. She inhaled a deep breath and embraced the lion and gently placed her hands around his mouth to embrace his face in kindest  She whispered into its ear that she loved the lion. That she knew it was lonely and needed companionship. It did not mean the people harm. It was misunderstood like she was also misunderstood. She asked the lion to stay out of the village and made the promise that she would bring him food every night to this special spot where no one would hurt him. 
The lion never terrorized the village again. The woman went back to the King and advised him that they would be safe. He asked for the lions head and she said that his head is happily still attached to his body.  There was no need to kill what you are afraid of. You only need to understand it. The lion never bothered the villagers again, the king was celebrated and the woman remained her meek and mild self knowing that in her heart was that of a lioness. Strong, powerful and courageous.

Left to Right: Tarot of the Old Path, Tarot of the New Vision and The Witches Tarot aka naked people who clearly go to the gym...a lot!!!

See this card is all about finding your inner strength regardless of what someone else tries to tell you. Too often we listen to the opinions of others and allow them to make us feel like we are less than what we are worth. If you find yourself feeling terrorized by your own lions, know that you too have the strength in your heart to do what you need to do. When this card comes up for someone it is usually a message for them to believe in themselves. To stand up for themselves and most importantly to trust in their own inner strength.
Keys to remember: courage, strength, inner strength, accomplishing an almost impossible task, embracing who you are, putting a stop to negativity.

An Exercise in Strength:

This time I just want you to think about the story I told above. I want you to ponder on your own lions and your inner strength. What is the moral of this story? How could this way of thinking make our world a better place?

Hope you enjoy the rest of summer and the next time I write, I just very well may be a married woman!!