Strength

The toothpick bird and the crocodile share an affectionate yet dangerous interaction. The crocodile needs the bird to clean the debris between its teeth, while the bird gains a full meal in return, though it must take the risk of entering the crocodile’s mouth. This delicate symbiotic relationship makes them dependent on each other and turns them into one another’s “strength.”

Here I want to emphasize not only the idea of “gentleness overcoming force,” which is already widely known, but also their mutual reliance for survival. The crocodile represents aggression and the masculine aspect that protects the bird, while the bird represents the feminine aspect. The debris within the teeth symbolizes “fear or desire,” which the bird carefully “cleans” and “soothes.” In life, your aggressive side must work together with your gentleness. To achieve this balance, you must first have a clear understanding of yourself and a sense of self-love. You need to acknowledge and trust all aspects of yourself, strengths and weaknesses alike, in order to navigate these shifting states. For the process of discovering who we are, this is the greatest power. The reeds in the background symbolize tenacity and resilience.

If you need to accomplish something, drawing Strength means it may be somewhat difficult. You likely have just enough energy to complete the task. For example, if you are job searching, you may have to go through several rounds before finding a suitable position, and even in a good environment you may still feel tense. Compared with The Chariot, your ability to control the situation has improved and you are more confident, but progress is still slow.

Keywords: Balance, self-care, determination, sense of destiny, instinct, growth and integration, patience, trust, cooperation, resilience, handling things seriously, easing major issues.

There may be situations that spiral out of control. It can be seen as the crocodile swallowing the bird, with all tenderness disappearing. This feeling is especially noticeable in interpersonal relationships. One person may suddenly erupt over something that seems minor but is actually significant, causing an unpleasant and embarrassing scene, while the other person can do nothing except learn from the experience.

Keywords: Loss of control, accidents, outbursts, tragedy, important lessons, physical aversion, rejection, self-loathing, danger.