The 9 of Wands can indicate that the battle is almost complete and that defending the position is perhaps more important than fighting at the moment. Is there anything else you would add to the interpretation?

In Victorian times, people used flowers to communicate messages of love and friendship to each other. Both the type of flower and the color of the flowers meant something. We can use the same symbolism to share messages today, or we can use information from the flowers we see to get messages from our spirit guides. And it’s more than just red or yellow roses conveying a message.Think about flowers like poppies, which are associated with veteran soldiers, or sunflowers, which have come to symbolize the Ukrainian resistance. I have a couple of flower-based decks in my collection. I got one to help me identify and “read” flowers in walking divination sessions. Do you have any flower decks in your collection? Also, feel free to share your favorite flower (including color) with the group. You can tell us what it means to you, if you’d like.

Or more precisely, the time spent in the cocoon. There are times in all of our lives when we need to get quiet and still. We need to pause and reflect, to digest all that we've consumed. We need to think about where we've been and where we're headed, who we were and who we are becoming. That in-between state can a little bit scary because we just don't know what's going to happen. For modern humans -- adults especially -- it can be frustrating because we're supposed to know. We're supposed to have it all together. And we're supposed to just charge forward and do all the things even if we don't really know where we're going or who we're becoming. We still have to go to work and clean the house and socialize and be there for others, despite the fact that we are basically a ball of goo that's not yet in its final form. I've been thinking about metamorphosis lately. Not only the active part of it, but the passive part of it as well -- the surrender to the darkness and stillness and transformation. Even if I don't fully know what I'm becoming. We need to learn to honor that time. That's where the alchemy lies, the transformation happens. It's not when the caterpillar is crawling around and consuming everything it needs to support it. It's not when the butterfly emerges with delicate wings that need to fully dry out and heal before it can fly (that's another precarious time that I might talk about later on). And it's not when the butterfly is flying around in its glorious, colorful majesty. The time spent changing from one form to the next is the important part. You can't interrupt it or the caterpillar/butterfly might die. You can't rush it, because these things can't be rushed. You simply must accept that that is part of the process of the caterpillar's transformation. It is a necessary step. It is vital. So if you find yourself in a dark place where you know that changes are happening, but you don't know exactly WHAT is happening or how things will turn out, maybe think about it as a place of personal transformation and metamorphosis. Accept that it is necessary. Trust the process. Become the butterfly.

Do you have any intentions for the week ahead? Are you noticing any signs popping up for you? Any stalker cards? One tip I’d like to share: While you’re starting out, it might be best to stick with one deck. That way, stalker cards and repeating messages will be easier to spot. Feel free to share your pull for the week along with your interpretation. We can all add insight if anything comes up.

As most of us know, crosses are often associated with the Crucifixion of Christ -- but could they have other meanings associated with them? Please let me know what you think crosses could mean if they come up either in a reading or in a live/walking divination session. Card from the Gilded Riverie Lenormand deck