The Rider - Waite Tarot Deck - Starbridge Centre

Oswald Wirth' deck
CARD 11: LA FORCE, STRENGTH
Keyword:
Contemplation:
No illusions.
WHAT FORCES ARE YOU COMMANDING
A woman is standing with a huge lion, with her hands demonstrating that she is in control
of its jaws. The lion, which is her own animal nature, is affectionately licking her hand,
which shows that her instincts and drives are under control, they have no longer any
influence on her. The woman has a blue dress with a red middle and an enveloping red
cloak that is held loosely together by a yellow string between two buttons on her upper
chest. The two buttons holding her red robe reflects the secondary chakras to the left and
right of the heart, and they have to do with the rhythm of the heart, the essence of life.
The woman wears a hat with a five-pointed- golden crown at the top, representing the
kingdom of man. The brim of the hat is shaped as the symbol of eternity, the horizontal
number 8 (see also card I).
The right side of the brim relative to her is filled with golden laurels, symbolising the victory
of love and affection; which is essentially of a personal nature. The left side of the brim has
a thicker green border, and the inner golden part relating to compassion is squeezed
together, indicating that compassion does not have the proper space to unfold.
The love of the heart is victorious, but compassion, relating more to the pineal chakra in
the forehead and its clarity, needs more practise. The woman will have to develop more
detachment. The quality of oneness, eternity, as symbolised in the horizontal number
eight, can only unfold when there is balance and harmony between the personal aspect,
love, and the higher, non-attached aspect, compassion.
The card carries the number XI and the Hebrew letter KAPH.
© 2005 Starbridge Centre Ulla and Erik Sandersen
All rights reserved
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