Strength as Feelings in Love & Relationships (Upright & Reversed)

Strength is the card of strength, compassion, influence, persuasion, and determination. A woman is gently stroking a lion—she has completely tamed this wild beast. Strength shows what is possible when resilience and kindness is applied to a situation. Sometimes, it is not brute force, but inner strength that makes the most impact on a person or a relationship. 

Strength is not a traditional “love” card, and many readers get confused when it shows up in a love reading. Does it literally mean that someone feels strongly about you? There are many other cards that speak to romantic passion, so we have to ask ourselves, what is Strength trying to say in particular? As you’ll see, I interpret Strength as speaking to the dynamics between people. In love readings, Strength asks us to consider the balance of power and care in a relationship. 

Upright Strength as Feelings

If you are asking about how someone feels about you, and you draw Strength, this means that this person feels “tamed” by you. Perhaps they went from being a player to now being completely whipped. Instead of compulsively swiping right on Tinder, they are now spending every weekend with you. Your inner qualities of quiet persistence and compassion has catalyzed this transformation, and that is impressive. Perhaps they feel that you have or have the potential to domesticate them. Rather than seeing this as a negative, they are surprised by how much they see this as a positive. They never imagined that this could be a potential outcome. 

Strength as feelings means that they feel deeply cared for by you. They feel understood by you, and you have made a lasting impact on them through your kindness and compassion. It is through your care and nurture that they feel whole and complete, confident and strong. This is a transformative time for them. 

For singles and those embarking on new relationships, Strength as feelings can be a sign that someone feels changed by you. Their perspective has shifted. For example, if they used to be the life of the party or a ladies’ man, they may now feel ready to settle down into a serious relationship. They may be surprised to find out that the homebody life has its perks. You have inspired this person, not through brute force but with your inner strength and fortitude. If you are looking for a relationship, this is a great sign. 

For existing relationships, Strength can represent the deepening of a relationship. Your partner feels strong and confident with you by their side. They feel that you have influenced them for the better. You make him a better man and her a better woman. There is contentment here, as well as deep compassion and love. They feel cared for and seen as a person. You make them feel more in touch with their own humanity. 

If you are asking about an old flame or an ex’s feelings about you, Strength indicates that they have deep respect for you. Your relationship changed their life for the better. They also feel that you’ll be okay, with or without them. As far as whether or not they want to reconcile or get back together with you, that is up in the air. It’s possible, but as this is not an action-oriented card, you may have to wait on that.

In the context of whether or not a relationship is headed for commitment, engagement, or marriage, Strength as feelings indicates that they feel deeply about you. You have influenced them to become a better person, and they have changed as a result of your relationship. However, because this is not an action-oriented card, they may be too comfortable in your current abundance of care to feel that they have to take action and move forward. If you receive this card and you are looking for a proposal, I suggest that you have a conversation with your partner about your needs, while channeling Strength’s best qualities: quiet fortitude and soft persuasion. 

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Reversed Strength as Feelings

When Strength is reversed, it indicates weakness and insecurity. The person in question feels afraid and scared. They do not feel strong. They feel stuck, but they feel too weak to do anything about it. This stems from a lack of conviction in their actions and beliefs. This deep insecurity may inflame feelings of anger and jealousy. They may be afraid of losing it all, and end up lashing out with their own projections. 

From that weak foundation, Strength reversed is a sign of a codependent relationship. The person may feel that you are their strength, and that they are too weak to go it alone. Although this can be romantic in a way, it is also toxic. Without the confidence that stems from inner strength, the person lacks respect for themself. This makes it difficult for others, like you, to respect them.  

On another note, Strength reversed is a sign of depression. It is likely that the person in question feels depressed, isolated, and unsure of themselves. This could have to do with you, but it could also be a sign of other things going on in their life right now. 

For singles and those in new relationships, Strength reversed as feelings is a sign of shaky foundations. This person feels insecure about your relationship in some way, even if they really like you. If a person is lacking internal fortitude, it often has nothing to do with you. If they blame you or show signs of anger and jealousy, this is a big red flag. Security in a relationship with another person only comes when a person is first secure within themselves. 

For those in committed relationships, Strength reversed is a sign of feeling codependent. They feel weak without you, but do not yet know how to stand firm in their own strength. This reduces the respect they have for themselves, as well as the respect that you have for them. It is also a sign of power dynamics within relationships as contributing factors to strife. To fix this, both of you need to understand how to communicate with each other and to be empathetic to each others’ needs. 

If you are asking about an ex’s feelings about you, Strength reversed means that they feel insecure about how your relationship ended. Whether they show it to the world or not, it has deeply affected their emotional wellbeing. It has shaken them to their core, and they do not know how to proceed. They need to find themselves and be strong in their own inner strength before a reconciliation can happen. 

In the context of whether or not a relationship is headed for commitment, engagement, or marriage, Strength reversed indicates that there are underlying dynamics that need to be addressed before they can move forward. Your partner feels insecure about your relationship. Your trust has been damaged in some way. Ask yourself, where is this coming from? Has one of you been more controlling and domineering, rather than kind and understanding? 

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Conclusion

For relationships and feelings, Strength reveals the foundational state of a bond. It shines light into how secure a person is feeling. It also shows us what we need to do to bring that energy of strength and security into our lives–by leaning into our inner fortitude, kindness, and empathy. If you allow it, Strength’s energy will make your relationships stronger and more durable. Shine in your own confidence. 

If you find yourself needing further clarity in your relationship matters that go beyond reading for yourself, Sibyl offers unlimited tarot readings on love & relationships, as a neutral and objective third party.