Inner Strength, Outer Strength: Tarot Key 8 Through a Masonic Lens

When arranged in three rows, the Keys have a relationship with each other.  Key 8 is placed directly below Key 1 (the Magician), and it is easy to see their shared attributes.  They both display their central figures on a yellow background, they both feature the lemniscate (sideways number 8, or symbol for infinity) above their figures’ heads, and even the garments worn by the figures are similar (white robes, with red accents – red outer robe for the Magician, red rose garland for the woman in Key 8).  More deeply, Key 1 is said to represent the attribute of concentration or focus, while Key 8 symbolizes the control one should have over one’s baser instincts.  It only is intuitive that the concentration displayed by the Magician is a similar manifestation of the self-discipline displayed in Key 8.  If we can concentrate our thoughts effectively and prevent our minds from wandering, we have a tool we can use to control ourselves so that we respond to pressures in a positive manner.

Even if the Mason internalizes the lessons of this Key, he is still very much a work in progress.  Strength over one’s passions is a necessary attribute to gain along one’s journey, but it does not mean the journey is over, as evidenced by the purple mountain peak in the background of the Key.  Much like in other Keys, mountains or hills represent a final goal or destination, or at least a sub-goal along the way.  We cannot successfully navigate the Path without self-control, but self-control is not sufficient in and of itself. 

The red lion as depicted in this Key also has a history in the symbolism of alchemy.  There, the red lion is associated with the final stage of the process of transmutation, that of rubedo or reddening.  Some effort, some power has already gone into the Great Work to get it to this final stage, where it can be considered “tame” and perfected.  Once again, Bro. Case associates the red lion with subhuman forces, which are controlled by the subconscious (the woman on the Key), which are in turn directed by the self-conscious – if we tame this lion, we discover the “secret of strength,” one we can use for the betterment of ourselves and those around us.      

As you can see, this seemingly-simple Key has layers of meaning, and reflection on it can remind us of some profound lessons.  Masons are taught to “circumscribe our desires and keep our passions within due bounds towards all mankind,” keeping our fierce animal nature tamed and harnessed by self-control and concentration.  Note that the lion is still there, and we – like Hiram in our Masonic legend – will still need to rely upon its strength and courage when we need to, provided we concentrate it the right way.  In the end, we are reminded that sometimes true strength comes from within, and that by having a strong inner control of our passions we are enabled to make our rough ashlars ever smoother regardless of the challenges life presents us.