Leo- The Strength Card

The Strength card is connected to the archetype of Leo. If you've seen the Strength card you'll notice a woman stroking and lovingly caring for a lion. The incongruency of such a ferocious animal being coddled by a human is somewhat startling. Is the woman showing strength or stupidity? Surely she's going to lose a digit or two, if not a limb or her life. But, let's consider this relationship in a metaphorical way.

What if the lion represented our animalistic nature. The part of ourselves that tends to be more unconscious, or the part of ourselves we try to tame, tamp down, or control. Look at the woman's face. She doesn't seem afraid. On the contrary, she seems calm, serene, and perhaps a bit curious. Look at the lion's face. She's not angry, on alert, or upset, no, she is lapping up the kindness and love the woman is showering upon her.

Sometimes we think we need to show courage by being fierce and in someone's face. Maybe we feel we aren't being seen or appreciated and that makes us angry and resentful. We try to reason the feelings away. "They didn't mean it," "I notice how hard I work, even if they don't," etc. But, there is a part of us that remains irate. Instead of stuffing that emotion down, is there a way to stand compassionately by your own side as you face the frustrating experience of going unseen or underappreciated?

Leo is a fixed fire sign--think of the logs within a fireplace. We need to stoke the fire and keep an eye on it, if we want it to warm a room. If it's ablaze, it's too hot, and people leave to get some relief. If it's dying, it's not emitting much heat, so people leave the room for a blanket or another source of warmth. Leo reminds us to bank our own fire--tend to it, care for it, with love and compassion. When the temperature is just right, then everyone wants to be around the fireplace--laughing, connecting, and enjoying being together. That is one of the strengths of Leo, bravely taking center stage, creating a little fun (and maybe some drama) for their loved ones--then everyone feels the warmth and generosity.