What Is Strength?

Tarot Topics Community News
Written By Christiana Gaudet
A woman meditating.

Many people tell me that they want to be strong, or that they need to be strong. Sometimes, I ask them to clarify what strength means to them in that context. The answers vary widely.

Linguistically, strength often discusses physical ability or the capacity to withstand pressure.

In practice, many people define strength as showing no emotion. To me, that feels like the opposite of strength.

We also use the concept of strength to describe something outstanding or remarkable. Once, at a job where my physical appearance mattered, a boss told me my hair was ‘strong.’ While I was indeed having a good hair day, my inner jokester kept visualizing my red curls attempting to lift barbells.

I love this reference to strength in Max Ehrmann’s Desiderata. “Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.” To me, strength of spirit gives us the ability for resilience. Yet, strength is not synonymous with resilience.

Linguistically, emotionally, and spiritually, strength combines two attributes. One is the force needed for accomplishment. The other is the resilience necessary for longevity.

We nurture physical strength through exercise. Our emotional strength is not measured in the ability to hide our feelings. Our emotional strength lies in our ability to navigate through tough times while holding space for both joy and grief.

The StaarCon Fairy for 2024 by Ciro Marchetti.

The StaarCon Fairy for 2024 by Ciro Marchetti.

The StaarCorner

Brenda Elizabeth, also known as Lady Lenormand, has been an important part of the StaarCon community since the beginning.

At StaarCon 2024, Brenda will be a presenter. She will also be an exhibitor, offering her Lenormand decks, charm scoops, and other divination-related creations. During the 365-day AfterGlow, Brenda will host regular classes and gatherings on Accelevents.

Brenda is also a StaarCon 2024 sponsor! We appreciate her support and look forward to spending time with her at StaarCon, and during the AfterGlow.

A photograph of StaarCon presenter Brenda Elizabeth.
Woman reading a tarot card.

Fostering Strong Tarot Skills

The past few years have brought us many great new tarot decks and books as tarot continues to rise in popularity. This means more people than ever want and need to develop strong tarot reading skills.

Here are three concepts to consider. Embracing these concepts helps tarot students develop their strength as readers.

1. Each tarot card has a core concept, traditional associations, archetypes, spiritual lessons, and classic keywords.  Each tarot card can mean a wide range of things within a reading. Those meanings can be spiritual or mundane, contemplative, or predictive. There is much to learn about each card, but there is no limit on how the cards can behave in a reading.

2. Tarot reading is inherently intuitive, metaphoric, and contextual. There is no manual to tell you what a specific card will mean in a particular situation. You must let the cards speak to you in a fresh way in each reading.

3. The more you work with your cards, the more you will learn how the cards speak to you. Practice as often as you can. Keep track of the readings you do. Especially look for the outcomes. This will help you understand how tarot does and does not make predictions. Do not wait to be good at reading to get started; practice is the only way to build strong skills.

October TarotScopes.

The Week in Review

It’s a new month! Check out your October TarotScopes on my YouTube channel. You can also find them, along with other great tarot content, on my TikTok.

Tomorrow, Thursday, October 5, at 7 pm ET, join Erika Robinson on my YouTube channel. Erika will use her new Lenormand deck for readings to celebrate the launch of the Kickstarter campaign to publish the deck. Join us and get your free reading with Erika’s Lenormand of Hope.

Tuesday, October 10, at 7 pm, will be our next Global Tarot Circle. Find the link, and other opportunities for tarot study, on my YouTube channel.

I am excited to be a presenter at WDAVE Big Bang on October 15. This is the World Divination Association Virtual Event. It’s a 48-hour non-stop video conference held on Facebook! Get your ticket and join me for this fabulous, fun, and easy event.

From Around the Web

Just in time for Spooky Season, StaarCon headliner Benebell Wen has reviewed the second edition of Ink Witch Tarot.

Have you heard of the Oracle Belline? StaarCon Intensive presenter María Alviz Hernando is teaching this oracle during the StaarCon AfterGlow. Here is a blogpost she shared about working with Oracle Belline.

We are so excited that The Giant’s Forge will be at StaarCon 2024. But, if you just can’t wait for January to get your handmade tarot and magical items, check out their Etsy.

The Strength card in wood with herbs.

Creation and Divination

In the Waite Tarot, and in all Waite-inspired tarot decks, Major Arcana Key 8 is Strength. Strength is usually pictured as a woman and a lion. To me, this juxtaposition of gentleness and fierceness, and the tension therein, is the essence of what it is to develop and maintain strength of character and strength of spirit.

Here is a poem I wrote about Strength from my 78 Poems Project. It is one of my favorites. I hope you like it, too!

Strength

As water with patience carves into stone
So do hearts carve one on the other.
And when nature battles civility
New friends are drawn together.

Each has more reason to fear than to love
The dangers beckon, not understated.
This war is waged not with bullets but blooms
And fine compassion, communicated.

The gentle maiden must be of mind fierce.
She has enraptured a fierce jungle king.
The beast submits not by violence but choice
To a union of forces opposing.

Strength then is found not in warfare or blood
Nor in doctrine nor laws to rely on.
True strength is found in faith and control
With your hand in the mouth of a lion.

Upcoming Events

Featured
Animal Communication with Tarot Webinar on YouTube Live
Nov 21
Animal Communication with Tarot Webinar on YouTube Live

This free live webinar will explore ways to use tarot to learn about your pets.

Tarot For Your Family Members-only Livestream on YouTube
Nov 25
Tarot For Your Family Members-only Livestream on YouTube

Join us for an exploration of how we can use tarot to understand difficult family situations.

Christiana Gaudet and Lisa Adams at StaarCon 2023.

About Christiana Gaudet

Card and Craft, Inc.
Southeastern Tarot Artists and Readers, LLC.

Christiana Gaudet

3559 SW Corporate Parkway
Palm City, Florida 34990-8152

Email cgaudet@cardandcraft.com
On the web www.christianagaudet.com
Online classes www.cardandcraftacademy.com
StaarCon information www.staarcon.com

YouTube @YourTarotFairyGodmother
Instagram @christianatarot @staarcon


Private telephone, Skype, FaceTime, Zoom and in person readings and instruction are available by appointment.

Tarot parties at your home or office are available throughout Florida.

Zoom parties and group instruction available almost everywhere!

Call toll free 866-99TAROT (866-998-2768)
Palm City 772-301-0232 x102
or call or text 561-655-1160
for more information or to schedule your event.
Schedule online at cardandcraft.10to8.com.

Agent inquiries are welcome.

Tarot Topics Newsletter
Volume 6 Issue 40
October 4, 2023

Christiana Gaudet

Christiana has been a full-time tarot professional for more than twenty years, and is the author of two books about tarot. In 2008, Christiana was granted the title of Tarot Grandmaster by the Tarot Certification Board of America. Christiana provides readings by phone, Facetime and Skype, and in her office in Palm City, Florida.

https://christianagaudet.com
Previous

Seasons and Celebrations
Next

Is Silence Golden?