Strength Reversed Meaning
The Strength reversed means you're either using brute force where patience is needed or you've lost all confidence and courage. You're either the person who's trying to control situations through aggression, or you're so afraid of your own power that you let everyone walk over you. This card signals either cruelty disguised as strength or weakness disguised as gentleness.
Deck featured: Eastern Arcana Tarot
Core Reversed Meaning
When Strength reverses, the compassionate courage shown upright becomes either domination or cowardice. You're either forcing your will through intimidation, or you're so passive that you've become a doormat.
This reversal represents either strength without compassion or total absence of inner fortitude. You're either the person who mistakes cruelty for toughness, or you're so afraid of conflict that you've abandoned all self-respect.
Strength reversed shows you either don't know the difference between power and violence, or you're so terrified of your own strength that you've made yourself small and helpless.
In Love & Relationships
In love readings, this reversal signals either controlling partners through intimidation and emotional manipulation, or staying in abusive relationships because you've convinced yourself that tolerating mistreatment is "being strong."
For singles, Strength reversed can indicate either pursuing people aggressively to the point of harassment, or being so insecure that you accept any treatment because you don't believe you deserve better.
In relationships, this card shows either one partner dominating through fear, or both partners walking on eggshells because no one has the courage to address real problems.
In Career & Money
Professionally, Strength reversed indicates either being the workplace bully who mistakes intimidation for leadership, or being so conflict-averse that you can't advocate for yourself or your team.
This card can show forcing outcomes through aggression when patience would work better, or being unable to stand up to workplace abuse because you're terrified of confrontation.
Financially, this reversal suggests either making impulsive financial decisions driven by ego, or being too scared to negotiate salary, push back on unfair charges, or take calculated risks.
Shadow Work Insights
Strength reversed forces you to examine your relationship with power and courage. Are you confusing cruelty with strength because you're actually terrified of being vulnerable? Or are you calling cowardice "being nice" because you're afraid of your own power?
This card asks: What does domination give you that earned respect doesn't? What does playing weak protect you from - responsibility, confrontation, or the discomfort of being powerful?
Strength reversed demands you either learn that real strength is gentle, or claim the courage you've been denying you have.
Common Misconceptions
Some readers interpret this reversal as simply "feeling weak" or "lacking confidence." While those themes appear, more often this card signals fundamental confusion about what strength actually means.
Strength reversed isn't about temporary weakness - it's about either abusing power or refusing to claim it. Struggling with power dynamics? Our guide to The Chariot reversed explores aggressive force versus wise action.
This reversed card brings the message of examining what strength means to you. Let it guide your next reading toward compassionate courage.
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