An Unusual Strategy

From the Llewellyn Tarot, the Chariot; from the Beasts of Albion, the Hedgehog:

Manawydan, son of Llyr ("the sea"), was an unusual god who was humble, patient and preferred to use his brain rather than his brawn. As a result of his resourcefulness, the spell over his home was lifted and his wife and stepson returned. The Chariot symbolizes training our emotions and instincts to pull in tandem with our rational intellect so that we make progress toward our goal. Rather than smash through roadblocks (ending up in a ditch) or turning around to go home in a huff, we develop patience and the ability to adapt to our changing circumstances. Such adaptability is what the Hedgehog represents. Miranda Gray writes, "The Hedgehog's agility, good memory for places, acute hearing - which can pick up even the sound of a worm moving underground - and solid defensive spines have allowed it to adapt readily to modern life." This little animal is a reminder that force has limited power when we're dealing with reality; it is much more beneficial to develop the ability to change.