If you have to interact with kids in your life (at any point, even the holidays), you know the importance of today's card: Strength. Whether it be the mindless ramblings about Fortnite or Roblox or this lunatic fascination with James Charles, kids have this innate ability to find that single chink in your armor and then melt you from in the inside with the same shit we all did as kids (but worse because now there's the internet). No one is immune. Even you, trying to sit quietly at Olive Garden, enjoying your barely passable glass of wine, will be assaulted by some 5-year old future-juvenile-delinquent running up and own the isle with a paddle ball. GOD GIVE US STRENGTH. NOW. PLEASE.
That is what Strength is about: finding (and maintaining) calm and composure in the face of chaos and difficulty. It is most commonly depicted by a woman and a lion. Sometimes the woman is arm-deep in the lion's mouth, unbothered by the impending loss of life and limb. Other times, she and the lion are besties, braiding each others hair on the weekends. But one thing they almost always have in common: they have a lemniscate (the infinity symbol) over their head. This symbol is also seen in The Magician and the II of Pentacles, and represents balance and harmony, indicating that strength comes from finding balance between the physical and spiritual, emotion and logic, composure and flying off the handle at some stranger's kid.
The Strength playlist can be found on Spotify.
Message of the Day: Strength is, perhaps, the first card in the Major Arcana (The Fool's Journey) to represent a character trait rather than a personification, and it's core is a theme that comes up time and time again in Tarot: self control. We see it referenced in The Emperor, The Chariot, The Hanged Man, and The Devil, shouting a warning to teenagers everywhere, "stop taking hour-long showers!"
Self control, self-discipline, will power, mindfulness... so many words that try to instill a sense of control and responsibility for our personal actions. When I think of Strength in terms of personal reflection, I immediately think of my interactions with my son and how I, as the adult, should have the fortitude and capability to steer a disagreement away from impending doom simply by managing my own responses, body language, reactions. And we all know that is so much easier said than done. If I am able to do this, it is a skillset my son will (hopefully) learn through observation and participation, and (again, hopefully) mold how he navigates difficult conversations and situations in his life.
There are certainly other areas of self-control I need to focus on. My diet is not great! I have a strong dislike for most vegetables (although I'm begrudgingly adding some into my diet) and a passion for Dr. Pepper. Trying to limit my intake will be a life-long challenge. I am not a patient driver. I verbally destroy other drivers who make me wait longer than I need because they are inept never learned to fucking drive. I should be more patient and aware of children sitting in the car with me...
Finding the time and personal space, not to mention mindful willingness, to apply self-discipline can be a challenge. If I don't keep it in the forefront of my mind, it's not likely going to happen. This, like the lemniscate, is a balance between what is practical and what is lazy. Do I have the self-discipline to not have a Dr. Pepper today? Yes, but I will do so with a heavy sigh and two Tylenol to avoid a caffeine headache.
When we implement self-control (particularly for necessary but difficult situations like addiction), it helps to identify a reward, something positive that comes from participating. The reward could be natural (like not having to have uncomfortably awkward conversations about water bills and hour-long showers), or it could be financial or material (new Tarot deck, new shoes, a new game). It could also be as simple as being proud of yourself.
Whatever the case may be, finding your Strength is your challenge not just for today, but every day. Being present and mindful of the areas in your life that need more self-discipline and self-control will help you to be a better parent, child, partner, and human. No one expects perfection, only effort and responsibility. (Now, where are the parents of this little shit running the Olive Garden 500?)
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