If you are a follower of spiritual bloggers, you may have noticed a trend recently — a struggle with the month of August. For some of us, it’s because we live in the South and it’s hot. The heat and humidity make even the smallest thing difficult. Combine that lethargy with the demands of school starting back, and for the most part, we are over it. All we can think about is cooler weather and Halloween. But there is still more of August and all of September to go before relief is in sight. Which means we are going to need strength. Luckily, there is a tarot card for that.
August is Leo season in the zodiac, and Leo corresponds to the tarot card Strength. Technically Leo season ends on August 22nd, but for Leos, is Leo season ever really over?
The Strength card in tarot typically features a woman and a lion. The symbolism of the woman and the lion is a beautiful combination. The lion on the card is a magical being, king of the jungle and a fierce predator, and yet, it is being constrained by the simple touch of the woman. This shows that the woman has dominion over the lion. The woman here is calm, in control, and disciplined in times of difficulty. The lion is a symbol for our courage, desires, and temper. These are feelings we all have, but we must keep them in check so that they do not lead to our downfall.
Strength is a balance card, much like Temperance. We need to be able to balance and integrate our base, animal desires and drives with our civility and humanity. We have to learn to control our ego and temper our passions with understanding, compassion, and grace for ourselves and others.
Seeing the Strength card in a tarot reading can indicate that you have the inner strength and fortitude to overcome your current situation. It can represent the fact that you have self-mastery and are staying calm during times of distress, or it can be a call to action and encourage you to bring a more harmonious attitude to your current problems. Compassion is a big part of strength, and not just the tarot card. You can see the compassion of the woman in the card by how gently she interacts with and handles the lion. If you see the Strength card in a tarot reading, it could be talking about your compassion and care for others — especially if you are one to give at your own expense.
This August we could all use a little strength in our lives. And if you like to meditate or reflect on a tarot card, the Strength card might be a good one to focus on right now. We can use the energies and symbolism of this card to help us navigate the changing cycles that occur this month. Many families are adjusting to the new school year. And heat and humidity aside, August is the beginning of the harvest season — a time most of us celebrate the idea of, rather than the actual work — and the beginning of fall.
As we take stock of 2023 and look at our progress and accomplishments, it is okay to be proud of what we have accomplished. Allow yourself to embrace the leonine energy of Leo season and share your sense achievement with the world. But if 2023 has not gone as you planned, remember the compassion of the Strength card. Be gentle with yourself and take care of yourself so that you can live to fight another day.
Even though it is the beginning of harvest season, there is still a lot of work to be done. Pull the fortitude and inner strength you have to the forefront of your being if you need a little push to get to the end of the year. Remember that this Leo season — and all year long — we have a lion inside of us, ready to motivate us with divine love and help us shine like the divine royalty we are. All it takes is a little hard work and strength.
Emily Guenther is a co-owner of The Broom Closet metaphysical shop. She is a Memphis native, professional tarot reader, ordained Pagan clergy, and dog mom.