I was hit with an intuitive inspirational spark this morning to try something new, and well… me being me, I’m going to lean into it and follow it. I suspect that this exercise is going to help me connect with my tarot cards again, but I’m also not going to sit here and analyze it- I’ll just let this flow and be.

Strength

The card I pulled is the Strength card. This particular card has a very fiery energy within it. It is framed in black, Vlll, with golden, yellow, oranges, and grey swirls through the sky. The setting would be like the golden hour at dusk. Everything has such a gold hue to them. The grass that can be seen is the color of wheat, having a golden/orange hue to it. A women sits in a deep wine red ballroom style dress, cinched in a pattern that every square holds a diamond or possibly a pearl. The top of the dress looks like a corset and is the same color. She has a band on her bicep and that hand holds a lion under its neck. Her head is tilted towards the lion and resting upon his head. Both of their eyes are closed, and it looks as though they are finding a moment of peace… a moment of connection. There is a tenderness acknowledgment within the picture. The lion’s head in tripled in size compared to the woman’s head, and they both are adorned with white flowers through the hair. The woman’s hair looks as though she has been active, as if it was tossed up in a bun in the midst of something. You can see the single strands at the base of the neck sticking out as if they were missed and some have curled as though she had been sweating. This picture feels like the aftermath of something.

The Lion and the Woman

The connection she has with the lion makes me feel as though she had understands him on a profound level. Most would look at him and proclaim, “Beast!” with a shout of ,”Run for your life!” Many would not understand his power, his grace, his strength, and his courage. She does though, only because she has had to tap into her inner beast and use that power.

She understands what it is like to have people misunderstand her, to fear her, to run away. Just like the lion can roar and penetrate the air with the power of his voice- she can too. This beast lives within her. That has not only made other people fear her but also fear herself at times- afraid of her own power.

It feels as though there was a time where could not control that power within her. Time was needed to learn, to grow, and to connect with this lion within her. This feels like the ah-ha moment in time, where she finally understands this connection to the lion.

There is also that hint that something has just occured and this is the aftermath of it. That space of realization after a battle where the strength is being acknowledged and felt. The two heads come together to whisper, “I’ve got you- together we are mighty and strong.”

As night falls…

This card could be an indicator that more is to come. Other situations that you will connect with this lion within and have it lead the way with its courage and strength. There is that newfound sense of understanding, so the way you move and take action going forward could be rather different from in the past. Don’t let that bring a drop of fear. The lion says proudly to lean into your power and use it.

Think of this too… the card shows the energy of the golden hues making me feel as though the timing is around dusk. Shadows will soon appear as night falls. This is another indicator that you are truly about to see how strong you really are and have been all along. Sit in the dark long enough with your lion, you might just emerge as a lioness (yes within the male too), shining a light upon your fierceness, instincts, leadership, and strength!

Reflection

Think back on times in your life when you have caught a glimpse of the lion within you. What was that experience like? Did you feel your strength and power within? How can you bring that energy forward in your everyday life?