Let’s be honest: there’s a thin line between being assertive and being closed off. Like the Nine of Wands in tarot, the Cactus charm reminds us what resilience looks like—but it also nudges us to ask: are we truly protecting ourselves… or just bracing for the worst out of habit?
Cacti are the ultimate survivors—thriving in dry, barren landscapes, storing water like tiny desert superheroes. To make it out there, they grow spines. Armor. A fortress of don’t mess with me. The Nine of Wands feels like that too: worn out but still standing, alert, and ready for the next battle.
But here’s the wild, beautiful truth: Cacti bloom. Not just survive—but burst into color, sometimes in the most unforgiving, cracked, sun-scorched earth.
Isn’t that amazing? Even when the environment doesn’t feel welcoming or safe, these plants somehow grow something gorgeous. What if that’s you, too?
Softening Is Still Strength
If you’ve been feeling a little prickly lately—guarded, on edge, or plain tired—ask yourself:
What would it take for me to feel safe enough to bloom?
Survival is admirable, but you didn’t come here just to survive. You came here to thrive—to soften, open, receive love, and share your magic.
So this week, maybe your growth doesn’t look like pushing through.
Maybe it looks like softening a little.
Letting a little light in.
Trusting that even in harsh conditions, something beautiful is still possible.
I’m here for it. I’m here for you.
Until next time, ever upward 
P.S. 
Check out this video where I share one of my favorite ways to combine tarot 
and charms 
—featuring the 9 of Wands and the Cactus charm, two powerful symbols of resilience 
and unexpected beauty 
.
Flashback alert! Last week’s blog has all the feels! 
