Alchemy with the Lion
meditations on Strength's symbolism
In honor of our tarot archetype for the year, Strength, let us become intimate with its primary symbol: the lion. We will continue to pull at the threads of this archetype throughout the year, while we grapple with its magical intention.
In medieval alchemy the lion is a symbol that illustrates alchemical processes. There are green lions and red lions, the lions fighting one another, and the lion devouring in the Sun. They are the great beast of the animal kingdom, and so in poetic ways mirror the presumed (and inflated) stature of humankind in our Earth ecosystem. The lion is an apex predator, and humans have assumed the role of apex being, with more than a touch of hubris. Ultimately, there is majesty and power within the symbol of the lion.
Through the alchemical symbolism of the lion, we can see how we might approach the task of transformation. “In alchemy the lion, the "royal" beast, is a synonym for Mercurius, or, to be more accurate, for a stage in his transformation. He is the warm-blooded form of the devouring, predatory monster who first appears as the dragon.” ( Jung, C. G. Fabricius, 1976, p. 295). While the lion is this “royal” animal, it originated as a beast, a wild primal creature that represents our untamed nature. If the lion is this Mercurial agent, then it is fluid, a true agent of change. Metallic mercury’s superpower is that it has the ability to shapeshift from solid to liquid states. Mercury is meant to be molded, to transmute and transmit information. Moreover, based on Jung’s assessment of the Lion, this animal represents a specific stage of transformation.
Esoterically, each major arcana of the tarot represents a stage of transformation. So what is the lion pointing us towards? Golden cloaked, the Lion is also the zodiacal symbol for Leo, ruled by the Sun and elemental fire. Here, we are being asked to consider what is transformed through heat, or through illumination. The very act of the maiden placing her hands in the jaws of the mouth of the Lion is an invitation for the primal beast to speak and elucidate its intentions in a mercurial way.
Our task when working through the esoteric undercurrents of Strength with this majestic beast is to befriend what feels unruly, overpowering, and othered. The maiden so gently makes contact with the beast, in a way offering a safe and comforting space for the mercurial agent to shapeshift. Questions of, “who am I?” “what lurks in the shadows?” and “how can I safely express this?” all come to mind when channeling the wisdom of this archetype. When working with mercurial energies we must remember that the substance is not one thing - rather it is a gateway to many things. The Lion on the Strength card might at once represent our fear of intimacy, our erotic desires, and our morbid fascinations.
The personal and collective shadow is a collection of things, and they tend to find expression through a changing array of actions and emotions. There is no one way to approach our shadow material with the intention to love it, shift it, befriend it. There are many ways to be with the multifaceted nature of ourselves.
At the Strength stage of the Major Arcana journey we have already mastered the egoic aspects of our nature. Strength then drags us into the wilderness of our psyche in ways that can feel overwhelming and confusing. The Lion presents us with an opportunity to harness the incredible power of our untamed self, but in order to do so, we must be willing to go beyond what we know, to shapeshift into a lion tamer, or a non-judgmental friend, or an empowered dominatrix. The Lion represents both what we are deeply suspicious of and what we desire to embody. The only way to crack through the paradox is with mercurial wit and wisdom.
What is it that you are fearful of around you and within you?
What would it look like to embody those aspects in your own way?
When you think of yourself as a shapeshifter, what comes to mind?
Throughout our collective Strength year, a guiding question might be, “what stage of transformation am I experiencing?” and “how might I best support, catalyze, and stoke the process of transformation I am currently navigating?” Be like Mercurius the Lion and boldly venture to transform. See what happens when you are more willing to shape shift.