Strength is the 8th card in the Major Arcana.  It symbolizes inner strength and fortitude; the ability to see things through no matter how difficult it becomes.  It also represents the triumph of inner spirit and will over our more aggressive, instinctive impulses; out soul over our more animal nature if you will. 

"Positive:  The compelling drives that you feel right now are there for your protection and well-being.  They support your continued efforts to survive and take care of yourself.  You might not be clear about why you're doing this but it's important to follow your impulses.
Upright:  This may indicate an obvious, physical, compelling force.  Something outside you is strongly urging you to take a certain action.  You may feel irresistibly drawn to a particular person of your may be struggling to create a farm in rocky soil.  Your fierce determination to pursue your goal doesn't seem logical but does seem irrefutable."

Looking at the lion tamer on the Halloween Strength card, I first thought she was checking the lion for a sore throat.  He seems to be in pain or ill.  And certainly part of a lion tamer's tasks would be to tend to her creatures.  She is being gentle and careful not to cause the lion more pain and in turn, the lion is not trying to hurt her.  They trust each other.

On the Bohemian Gothic Strength card, the lion does not seem happy or trusting.  In fact he seems somewhat dazed as though under a spell.  Is the winged woman leaning on him holding him prisoner?  Would he prefer to be free of his chains; able to move about freely?  The winged demoness certainly trusts her magic.  She seems to have no fears that the lion might break free and hurt her.  She rests on him casually and carelessly.  She is not concerned or frightened by his potential strength.

Although they take two very different approaches to their mastery, both females on these Strength cards exude confidence and faith in their own abilities to control these lions.  I need to find a way to express that kind of self-confidence and belief in myself.  I think lately I've been acting a bit too much like a tame lion - cowed and well-behaved.  Maybe it's time to change places and become more confident exerting my own gifts and talents to control things around me.  I don't need to use force (which can sometimes be my default mode - I roar and rage about like the lion but never actually do anything), instead I should try a more gentle approach.  I can still be true to myself and my own style, but as the saying goes you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.  Perhaps a confident yet calm approach to all things will be more in my favor.  It's time to be persuasive rather than bombastic, convincing rather than intimidating.  Having people agree with me because they're afraid of my anger is not really helping anything.

So I need to put a leash on my inner lion for a while and start exploring my inner lion tamer.  Maybe she will manifest as a bit of a devilish personality but I think I can handle that.  As long as I use charm and persuasion rather than more devious means I think things will be fine.  So I need to focus my energies on getting more comfortable with that aspect of my nature.  I've never been comfortable with anything that even remotely suggests duplicity or dishonesty.  Rather than approaching situations with a more diplomatic, subtle approach, I have used the truth as a weapon (to quote my mother).  Now is my chance to learn to be more subtle, diplomatic and take a less aggressive approach to things.  This may prove to be quite a challenge for me.