Symbolic Representation

The card shows a woman in a white gown, with a flowery crown on her head. An infinity symbol or a lemniscate can also be seen, over her head. A lion can also be seen standing right next to her feet.

Tarot Story

Now that The Fool has conquered over his enemies, is feeling superior, influential and implacable. Suddenly, he encounters a woman who he feels, is struggling with a beast, a lion. Quickly running for her rescue, as he approaches the lady, he is surprised to see as she tenderly yet tightly closes the lion's mouth with her bare hands, and the animal, as much as it was untamed and violent, is now completely under her control.

Seeing what just happened, the Fool is astonished and curiously asks the lady how she did it? Looking down at the lion, she said, "Strong will power and Superior will is what any beast, no matter how wild, will back down before." Looking up in the Fool's eyes, confident, powerful and knowing it all, she says "Similarly, there are numerous insignificant desires within us, and although it is not entirely wrong to contain them, it is a mistake to let them have power over us." "We are human beings, not animals" she says," and we can with some effort, control such drives inside us and utilize them for superior ideas or intentions."

His temper hushed, the Fool's mind has now been open to a new, much patient and soothing thought, and as he walks away, he knows that, not only lion, but any beastly thought or idea inside us can be tamed too.

Tarot Connotation

Leo being the ruling sun sign of this card of strength, bravery and power, symbolizes a balanced blend of both, the Lion's torrid energy, and the woman's unwavering willpower. By opening the lion's mouth or shutting it close, the maiden is confident, fearless and strong, illustrating a usually forgotten fact that inner strength is any day greater than the unrefined physical strength. Those raw forces and drives in us can be controlled and employed to achieve victory.

This card comforts the seeker by reminding them that the ultimate control lies with them. Recognizing their inner strength, they can control not only the circumstances, but themselves too. It is a card about rage, urge and anger management and can also stand for a dedicated companion.

Although we all know that Fire is a flaming, fearful thing, which can easily spark out of control. But as we progressed, we along the way kept losing our fear for it, but certainly not our respect. And it is only with our determination and intellect, that we converted a fearful thing into vital tool for living.

And yes, this card is also guiding the seeker by preparing him/her with the truth, that while handling the fire or taming a beast, you might get burn up or injured a few times, be it circumstances, a thing or you, with your own unworthy desires which you are trying to control. The crux of the card is to signify, not to quit, surrender or give up, but to have the daring to keep trying till you accomplish what you want to, with absolute conviction and confidence in yourself and your will power.