The 2s

The 2s are about pairing, partnership, harmony.  "Two heads are better than one" goes the old saying, and accordingly, the 2s allow us to take the spark from the Aces and nurture it through collaboration.  This collaboration may be with a person, but even more often it is a union of thought-systems, ways of life, or action.

2 of Swords, Rider-Waite Tarot

The figure on the 2 of Swords protects her heart with crossed swords, and yet this card isn't really about being on the defensive.  If it were, she wouldn't be blindfolded.  She would want to see any potential threats. And she certainly wouldn't be sitting calmly, barefoot and seemingly in her nightgown, outside at night.  With her formal upright posture and blindfold, she resembles traditional representations of Nemesis or Justice (but with an extra sword and no scales).  The sea, night, and the moon are all symbols which have traditionally been associated with the depths of the subconscious and with intuition--forces which are rather antithetical to the clear, cool logic of the suit of Swords.  Can these opposing forces be reconciled?  The 2 of Swords represents a truce, a moment of calm when both sides cease firing and cool down a bit.  At these times, we close our physical eyes and turn inward, deeply examining our own motives and methods.  This moment is a breathing space, fitting the stillness and peace of the scene on the card.  It cannot last forever, of course, but ideally it will spawn constructive solutions to conflict, be it internal or external.

2 of Cups, The Llewellyn Tarot

The 2 of Cups is very similar to the Lovers of the Major Arcana.  Both represent a harmonious and emotionally fulfilling partnership.  This may or may not be a romantic pairing, but the card does urge you to follow your heart where it leads you.  There is a mutual natural affinity between you and the object of your desire, and together you can achieve more than either could separately.  The 2 of Cups represents a union that is sincere, nuturing, meaningful, and mutually beneficial.  

2 of Pentacles, Shadowscapes Tarot

The scene on the 2 of Pentacles is a dynamic one, with the coins being apparently juggled by a person balancing on one foot.  In the background of the Rider-Waite image, ships roll on huge waves.  At first glance, it's easy to draw a parallel between it and our too-often-hectic lives.  We struggle to balance the demands of family, relationships, kids, work, finances, health, etc. etc.  But as I discussed in a previous post, there is a deeper meaning to this card:  harmony.  Note that I did not say "balance."  There is a reason we have to struggle to find balance--it's not natural.  There are moments of balance in nature, but they don't last.  Everything and everyone in the universe is interconnected like an incomprehensibly complex Rube Goldberg machine, and the tiniest movement in one place triggers movements everywhere else.  I believe a more realistic goal is harmony with the constant ebb and flow of conditions in our lives.  Another way to look at this is to consider what we mean by balance--this is not the balance of a set of scales, one thing weighed against another; it is the kind of balance that allows you to keep your footing no matter how you are buffeted or how the ground tips.  The man on the 2 of Pentacles is experiencing this latter kind of balance, constantly moving with the eternal flow like the ships on the waves behind him--we are just seeing a snapshot of that motion.  All the struggle, the sturm-und-drang of our crazy lives is a sign of being out of harmony with them; and so, I argue, this card doesn't tell you to fight vainly for impossible balance, it tells you to center yourself and try to find a way back into harmony with your life.

2 of Wands, Golden Tarot

In the 2 of Wands, the initiatory spark of the Ace of Wands has found a purpose.  With the Ace, you feel an urge; with the 2, you are directing that urge.  Consequently, you have the world in your hands.  All things are possible for you now, as you stand at the brink of manifesting your desires.  You will find new opportunities are abundant at this time.  Take action now.  Claim your personal authority.  Start where you are.  You will discover new worlds as you go.