Tarot Card Combination
Strength+Six of Swords
力量 & 寶劍六
The Strength card's primal fire meets the Six of Swords' intellectual air, creating a dynamic of controlled transition. This pairing signifies using inner fortitude and gentle mastery to navigate away from turbulent mental states. The numerology of 14 (8+6) suggests building a stable foundation through this journey. You are called to channel raw passion into deliberate, forward-moving action, steering your course with both heart and mind aligned.
This combination speaks to a period of transition mastered through compassionate self-control. Strength, representing the lion tamed not by force but by gentle will (Leo, Fire), indicates you possess the inner resilience to face challenges. The Six of Swords (Air, Mercury) signifies a necessary journey away from difficulty, often involving mental processing or physical relocation. Together, they suggest that the quiet mastery of your own instincts (Strength) is what safely propels you across troubled waters (Six of Swords). This is not an escape, but a dignified retreat orchestrated by inner confidence. The path forward requires tempering fiery passion with cool-headed strategy.
Elemental Analysis
Fire (Strength) energizes and motivates; Air (Six of Swords) plans and communicates direction. This creates the archetype of 'inspired navigation'—passion provides the fuel, while intellect charts the course. The risk is that Air could overthink and diffuse Fire's vitality, or that Fire could impulsively scorch a carefully laid plan. The ideal is a symbiotic relationship where willpower is intelligently directed toward progressive movement.
Numerology Insights
The sum 14 reduces to 5 (1+4=5), invoking change and instability, yet 14 itself in the Tarot tradition (Temperance is 14) symbolizes alchemical balance and foundation. Here, it suggests the stability (14) is found *through* the adaptive process of change (5). You are constructing a durable new structure by successfully managing the transition indicated by the cards.
Reversal Meanings
Strength Reversed
Strength reversed indicates a lapse in inner fortitude—potentially insecurity, frustration, or allowing primal instincts to control actions. The gentle mastery is lost, replaced by either aggression or cowardice. In this context, it warns that a lack of self-belief or emotional regulation could undermine the necessary transition.
Six of Swords Reversed
Six of Swords reversed suggests a stalled journey, resistance to moving on, or a problematic transition. There may be inability to leave a difficult situation behind, or the chosen path is fraught with unseen pitfalls. The mental clarity to navigate forward is clouded, potentially leading back into turmoil.
Both Cards Reversed
With both reversed, a profound stagnation is likely. Inability to muster inner strength combines with refusal or inability to move from a painful situation. It warns of being trapped in a cycle of frustration and mental distress, where neither the will to endure constructively nor the strategy to escape is effective. Urgent self-honesty is required.
Spiritual Guidance
This pairing marks a spiritual crossing where mastering the inner beast (primal fears, ego) facilitates passage to a new state of awareness. The fiery will of Strength fuels the journey, while the airy contemplation of the Six of Swords provides the navigational chart. You are integrating raw life force with higher mind to transcend a limiting mental or emotional pattern, building a more stable spiritual foundation (14) in the process.
Yes/No Reading Guide
The combination leans toward a cautious 'yes,' but one requiring active management. The outcome is favorable if you employ gentle perseverance (Strength) to navigate a change (Six of Swords). It is not a guaranteed yes, but a positive potential contingent upon your composed and determined action.
Historical & Mythological Context
In the Marseille tradition, Strength (La Force) depicts a woman calmly subduing a lion, symbolizing soul over brute force. The Six of Swords, often called 'The Ferryman,' draws from the motif of Charon transporting souls. Together, they echo ancient themes of guided passage achieved through virtuous control.
Daily Affirmation
"My gentle strength guides me peacefully to calmer shores."
Practical Advice
Lead with compassion—for yourself and others. Your strength lies in quiet confidence, not domination. Use that poised energy to consciously steer your course away from choppy mental or emotional waters. Plan your move, then proceed with unwavering, gentle resolve.
Things to Watch
Beware of mistaking stubbornness for strength, or confusion for a necessary journey. Ensure your transition is motivated by clarity and wisdom, not merely a desire to flee discomfort. The lion's power must guide the boat, not capsize it.
Individual Card Meanings
Strength
力量
The Strength card shows a woman gently closing a lions mouth—not through force, but through patience, love, and inner power. This card represents the strength that comes from compassion rather than aggression. It speaks of courage, but the quiet kind—the bravery to face our fears, tame our inner beasts, and handle difficult situations with grace. When Strength appears, you are called to approach challenges not with brute force but with patience, understanding, and gentle persistence. Your inner strength is greater than any external obstacle. Trust in your ability to overcome through love rather than fear.
View full meaning →Six of Swords
寶劍六
The Six of Swords shows figures being ferried across water from turbulent to calm shores. This card represents transition, moving away from difficulty, and the journey toward peace. It indicates physical or emotional travel away from troubled times.
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