The Lion - King of Beasts
The lion appears throughout Tarot as a symbol of courage, sovereignty, primal strength, and solar power. As one of the four Kerubic creatures, the lion represents Fixed Fire—the sustained, controlled burning of will and passion. In its highest aspect, the lion signifies spiritual courage and mastery over animal nature.
Lion Appearances in Major Arcana
Strength (VIII/XI)
The woman gently closes the lion's mouth, representing courage that masters force through love rather than violence.
View Card →Wheel of Fortune (X)
The lion appears as one of four Kerubic creatures in the corners—Fixed Fire, representing sustained will.
View Card →The World (XXI)
Again as Kerubic creature, the lion signifies mastery of the fiery element in cosmic completion.
View Card →Symbolic Meanings
Solar Courage
The lion is a solar animal, associated with the Sun, the sign of Leo, and daytime courage. Unlike the wolf (lunar, instinctual fear), the lion represents conscious bravery—the courage to face challenges with eyes open. This is moral courage, spiritual courage, the lionhearted warrior who fights for what is right.
Sovereignty and Kingship
As "King of Beasts," the lion symbolizes legitimate authority, natural nobility, and sovereignty. In heraldry and royal symbolism, the lion represents the divine right to rule. In Tarot, it suggests the authority that comes from mastery of self rather than domination of others.
Tamed Passion
In the Strength card, the lion being gently closed by the maiden represents the taming of animal passions through love rather than force. This is not suppression but integration—the lion's power channeled rather than destroyed. The spiritual aspirant does not kill the lion (asceticism) but befriends it (transmutation).
Fixed Fire - Leo
Astrologically, the lion corresponds to Leo, the fixed fire sign. Where Aries (cardinal fire) is the spark and Sagittarius (mutable fire) is the wildfire, Leo is the sustained flame—the hearth fire, the eternal flame, the candle that burns steadily. This represents enduring passion, consistent courage, and sustained creative power.
The Four Kerubim
In Ezekiel's vision and the Book of Revelation, four "living creatures" surround the divine throne. These Kerubim appear in the Wheel of Fortune and World cards as the four fixed signs of the zodiac, representing the four elements mastered:
- Lion (Leo) - Fixed Fire - Will and creative power
- Eagle (Scorpio) - Fixed Water - Transformed desire
- Bull (Taurus) - Fixed Earth - Material stability
- Angel (Aquarius) - Fixed Air - Higher consciousness
Together, these four guardians represent the totality of creation held in perfect balance—the four elements, four directions, four seasons, four worlds of Kabbalah. The lion's position signifies the transformative power of will directed toward spiritual goals.
📚 Primary Sources: The Lion in Tarot
Related Across the Mythos
Strength (VIII)
Taming the lion