08. Strength

“I love your invincible look.”

Vision

I drew two women: one is sphinx-like; one is a robot. Most of the Strength cards I’ve seen emit a tension stemming from the juxtaposition of two contrasting elements. In this case, tension exists between technological civilization and primitive beastliness, which is evident in the robot’s battered body and the claw marks on the wall. A violent undertone casts a shadow over this seemingly affectionate moment.

Message

The situation is still somewhat manageable by human efforts; however, if you bury the hazard and your fear even deeper, you might retreat to The Chariot without fixing the real problem. The part of you that harbors destructive impulses and primitive desires is still unaccepted. Here, the robot is an equivalent of the woman in the traditional Rider-Waite Strength card, who has tamed the lion. As an immortal virtual existence, the robot can withstand the sphinx’s fury countless times. Attacks in the traditional sense cannot harm her. This time, the sphinx won’t loss her loved one by mistake. Exonerated, it can finally learn how to love and be loved through trials and errors.

Keywords

overcoming fears and destructive impulses with inner strength | qualified | brave enough to be in real intimate relationships | acceptive of partner’s negativity | synergy