Today is Ostara — the Spring Equinox, when we have equal daylight and nighttime. Like its autumnal twin, Mabon/Fall Equinox, today is a day of balance.
In my tarot workshop, I usually pick a 2 card in the Minor Arcana to do spreads on balance, but this year, I wanted something different. I chose Strength, from the Major Arcana, because although the notion of having calm, personal power for controlling that raging lion is typically the most prevalent interpretation, if you peer a bit deeper, it’s really all about balance. Rather than focusing on external issues we may be faced with, and have to take charge of, using both strength and calm, let’s look inward.
We have a range of emotions, and often they are in conflict. We can be furious with our children or spouse, but we can’t act that out on them. We have to subdue that “lion” and find another way to express our disapproval and get the situation back under control.
A nod to balance is the infinity symbol over the woman’s head, which is also a perfectly balanced shape. The figure eight isn’t a figure eight without both halves, just like the Yin and Yang symbol.
An interesting side note on the Strength card is that it was not always the 8th card in the tarot. It was originally the 11th card, however, when A.E. Waite developed the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, with the iconic symbols created by Pamela Colman Smith, he decided that Justice (11) and Strength (8) needed to trade places. In his mind, this was a better logical progression of the story arch of the Major Arcana, and in his opinion, more correct astrologically. Tarot decks that precede the RWS deck show the Strength card as 11, and the Justice card as 8.
Whichever position your Strength card is in based upon which deck you use, the card itself is still one of balance. However, unlike the Two of Pentacles, where balance is still a challenge, and things are still in the trial and error stage, the figure in the Strength card is firmly in control. She isn’t tentative. She the boss, lion not. The lion imagery also appears on another card of balance, the Two of Cups, which is the card of new relationships. Note that the Roman numeral two above the lion’s head is II, which is quite similar to our number eleven, 11. I’m not sure if that is mere serendipity or not, but it’s intriguing to imagine that it was intentional. Pamela Colman Smith was quite intentional in every detail of her artwork.
Here is my tarot spread for the Spring Equinox:
Shuffle your deck until it feels like enough, and decide ahead of time whether or not you will read reversals. There isn’t a “right or wrong” way regarding reversals — it is a matter of preference. No fair turning a reversed card right-side up after the fact, however!
Cut the deck into three stacks and regather. Hold your cards and focus upon this question: “What do I need to know about my internal balance?” or “What do I need to know about my struggles?”
When you feel ready and connected to the cards, and the Universe, draw four cards, in whichever fashion you prefer: from the top, from the bottom, spread in front of you, or all in a jumble.
Position 1: “What is my infinite nature?” Or, “What is my infinite divine connection?” This position connects to the infinity symbol above the woman’s head, representing our divine connection to the infinite Universe. The questions are meant to clarify how able you are to receive those divine messages, make sense of them, and incorporate them into your life and decision making.
Position 2: “What is the source of my strength?” Or, “What will increase my strength?” This position queries into how best you can manage to balance opposing forces in your life, or to deal with a difficult person or situation. It asks what strategies or approaches will best serve you.
Position 3: “What is the source of my patience?” Or, “What will increase my patience?” Part of the woman’s success in subduing the raging lion is patience. Should she dive right in, fists and sword swinging, the lion will engage in battle. Her strategy is to approach the situation with calm, firm, patience. The lion doesn’t resist because it does not feel threatened, and doesn’t respond with protective or aggressive behavior. This position asks you to find your patience and use it to the best benefit.
Position 4: “Where must I have balance?” Or, “What forces in this situation are in opposition?” This position asks for clarification on what the source of the confrontation, challenge, or conflict is. Are you contributing to your own conflict? Are you a bystander in the conflicts of others? Maybe your own feelings about the situation are conflicted, and generating confusion.
On this day of balance, may you have the strength and patience to find the best solutions to whatever conflicts you face, whether internal, external or both.