Ansata Tarot - Strength
Don't Give Up! Find A Middle Way!
The Ansata Tarot is an unusual deck in some respects. It has only Major Arcana and the cards were created by artist, Paul Struck as a companion to a book by B.A. Mertz called, Astrologie and Tarot, which is long out of print. All of the cards correspond heavily to astrology and the readings in the booklet are are basically designed to cast a horoscope. The images in this deck are intriguing and haunting. They certainly have a surrealist style and some of them are quite detailed. The death card is stunning, but that’s not what I drew today.
In this deck Strength is number 11. She represents the astrological sign of Leo. The strength card is one I have long related to and this Strength is both unsettling and gorgeous. I have a hard time with figuring out who Struck was trying to represent. Durga, makes the most sense but the symbolism seems a little off. Perhaps she is an amalgamation of goddesses or just of Durga and Kali, who are really just different aspects of the same goddess after all. The booklet does not get into analyzing the art portion which is really strange considering all the symbolism he put into the deck.
Regardless, this Strength card is rather fierce and violent and yet at the same time peaceful. But that is what true strength is all about isn’t it, the perfect balance of brute force and calm confident control. The woman is naked so she is vulnerable,barely holding the lion’s mane yet she has tamed the Beast. He has no more fight of his own, and yet together they are a force to be reckoned with. The heads around the lion’s neck would seem to attest to that. This symbolism, cutting off the heads is a message that one needs to cut the ego, to tame it. The lion, still snarling, looks like he has been through hell. He's scared, bloodied and emaciated. The Sun is is so close it has set the lion's mane on fire. This is really powerful imagery. What draws you in? What repulses you? Do you feel sorry for the lion? Do you identify with the woman? Does the sun feel powerful and exciting or do you fear getting burned?
One of the things that the strength card tells us is how important it is to strike a balance between the frenzied wild beast and serene energy. Wild power is obvious, but often quiet power is more commanding. It's a contrast. Finding a balance in all things is key. Finding joy in pleasure and raw sensuality while understanding the time and place to be perfectly civilized is a key lesson that many do not learn. Too passive and nothing is achieved, too angry and everyone retreats. Strength is not always about pushing through. Sometimes it's about knowing when to let go and be a little more zen about it. Sometimes being strong means shouting and fury and muscle, but much of the time true strength is shown with a gentle touch and a soft voice.
You may find yourself in a situation where you are sorely tested by loved ones or in the workplace. Before you lose your temper, take a step back. Would a cooler head be able to deal with the situation better? If you are feeling intimidated, do a check in. Do you need to let the lion out a little? Act or react, your choice. And even if things are really trying and it seems hopeless, remember, you a survivor and will always find a way to get through adversity.
In this deck Strength is number 11. She represents the astrological sign of Leo. The strength card is one I have long related to and this Strength is both unsettling and gorgeous. I have a hard time with figuring out who Struck was trying to represent. Durga, makes the most sense but the symbolism seems a little off. Perhaps she is an amalgamation of goddesses or just of Durga and Kali, who are really just different aspects of the same goddess after all. The booklet does not get into analyzing the art portion which is really strange considering all the symbolism he put into the deck.
Regardless, this Strength card is rather fierce and violent and yet at the same time peaceful. But that is what true strength is all about isn’t it, the perfect balance of brute force and calm confident control. The woman is naked so she is vulnerable,barely holding the lion’s mane yet she has tamed the Beast. He has no more fight of his own, and yet together they are a force to be reckoned with. The heads around the lion’s neck would seem to attest to that. This symbolism, cutting off the heads is a message that one needs to cut the ego, to tame it. The lion, still snarling, looks like he has been through hell. He's scared, bloodied and emaciated. The Sun is is so close it has set the lion's mane on fire. This is really powerful imagery. What draws you in? What repulses you? Do you feel sorry for the lion? Do you identify with the woman? Does the sun feel powerful and exciting or do you fear getting burned?
One of the things that the strength card tells us is how important it is to strike a balance between the frenzied wild beast and serene energy. Wild power is obvious, but often quiet power is more commanding. It's a contrast. Finding a balance in all things is key. Finding joy in pleasure and raw sensuality while understanding the time and place to be perfectly civilized is a key lesson that many do not learn. Too passive and nothing is achieved, too angry and everyone retreats. Strength is not always about pushing through. Sometimes it's about knowing when to let go and be a little more zen about it. Sometimes being strong means shouting and fury and muscle, but much of the time true strength is shown with a gentle touch and a soft voice.
You may find yourself in a situation where you are sorely tested by loved ones or in the workplace. Before you lose your temper, take a step back. Would a cooler head be able to deal with the situation better? If you are feeling intimidated, do a check in. Do you need to let the lion out a little? Act or react, your choice. And even if things are really trying and it seems hopeless, remember, you a survivor and will always find a way to get through adversity.
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