Lust Tarot Card Meaning

Keywords (Upright)

• passion
• divine intoxication
• spiritual strength
• embodiment
• fearless desire

Keywords (Reversed)

• repression
• fear of power
• excess
• shame
• loss of direction

Thelemic Context & Why the Change

In the Thoth Tarot, Aleister Crowley radically reimagined the traditional Strength card as Lust, moving it from Trump VIII to Trump XI. This shift was not cosmetic—it was a profound statement against Victorian repression and in favor of Thelemic liberation.

“Lust is not taming the Beast—it is joyously becoming one with it.”

Crowley kept the core correspondences: Teth (ט) as the Hebrew letter, and Leo (♌︎) as the astrological ruler. But he infused this archetype with Thelemic fire, redefining Lust as fearless union with True Will through ecstatic surrender. It is not about restraint—it is about embodied courage, spiritual passion, and the holy intoxication of being fully alive.

Symbolism in the Thoth Tarot

The imagery bursts with unapologetic power:

• Babalon, the Thelemic goddess of divine feminine force, rides the Beast of Revelation—naked, radiant, holding the Holy Graal brimming with liquid light. Her posture is not submissive, but sovereign.
• The swirling reds, golds, and violets evoke Leo, fire, and the sephira Binah, the cosmic womb of understanding and transformation.

This card is a hymn to embodied divinity. Lust is not mere indulgence—it is sacred intoxication with purpose.

Lust Tarot Card Meaning: Upright

When Lust appears upright, it calls you to embrace your full spectrum of power—spiritual, creative, erotic—without shame or fear. It is an invitation to become whole by merging with your deepest Will.

Key Upright Interpretations:

• Spiritual Passion: Live boldly and joyously, expressing your divine purpose without reservation.
• Creative Surge: A wellspring of energy rises within—channel it into art, love, leadership, or transformation.
• Union with Will: Let go of self-censorship. True power comes not from controlling the Beast, but from riding it with delight.

The Lust tarot card meaning upright is clear: step into sacred ecstasy. Claim your life as a dance of divine embodiment.

Lust Tarot Card Meaning: Reversed

Reversed, Lust signals disconnect from your inner vitality or fear of owning your inherent power. It may show up as shame, repression, or losing yourself in hollow indulgence.

Key Reversed Interpretations:

• Suppressed Desire: Denying instincts or refusing to honor true passions creates inner friction.
• Fear of Power: You may hesitate to lead, shine, or express sensuality fully.
• Scattered Will: Without purpose, intense desires can spiral into burnout, fantasy, or dependency.

“Reversed, this card cautions: sacred fire misdirected becomes smoke—clouding rather than illuminating.”

Summary: The Power of Ecstasy

Lust, unlike the traditional Strength, does not demand taming. It asks for holy union with your deepest instincts and True Will. Upright, it reflects fearless embodiment and spiritual joy. Reversed, it highlights blocks, fears, or misuse of vital force.

“This card asks a singular, profound question: will you drink from the Graal—and become who you truly are?”