Major Arcana

Strength

Ted rests his paw pacifyingly on the back of the little lion, who sits comfortably in his lap.

Many Tarot decks, particularly the older ones, depict this card as a trial of physical strength between the lion and the lion tamer. The lion represents the unrestrained animal instincts of the individual, and the confrontation is the struggle to suppress those instincts, in order to live a stable and peaceful life. But main force is not necessarily the best approach. The combination of gentleness, with courage, determination, and a strong will to know what is right, can work together to calm the savage creature. After all, the object is to tame and subdue the animal instincts, not to crush them altogether, for doing so could leave one vulnerable to the harmful effects of adverse circumstances. It is a matter of balance.

We have been asked: why is the lion pink? The answer is simple. It just happens to be the colour of Werburgh, the lion who shares a home with us and our bears and other creatures. The fact that it is a pleasant, gentle colour is just a coincidence. When we came to design the Strength card, we did not have a lion. We looked everywhere, but it proved surprisingly hard to find one. We eventually found Werburgh on a stall at a garden fete. The fete was at St Werburgh’s Nursing Home, which is why we named him Werburgh. We took him home; we sat him on Ted’s knee; Ted rested his paw on his back, and immediately we had exactly the image we wanted to bring out in this card.

Divination

Self-mastery, self-discipline, courage, inner strength. Power and action combined with gentleness and love for one’s fellow creature or fellow human being. Energy, vigour, a lust for life. Control of passion, defeat of base impulses. Successful balance of emotional and mental forces. Successful compromise. Victory over hidden adverse forces.

For experts

• Hebrew letter Tet ט
•  (Single letter: Zodiac sign Leo ♌)
• Tree of Life Tifaret to Khokmah

You can see these cards at their best in the finished deck of Ted’s Tarot. Buy it here.