Two of Swords

Meanings according to Rider-Waite:

ASTROLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Moon in Gemini as an expression of deep inner doubts.

TWO OF SWORDS This card points to situations in which a person is gripped by powerful, literally gnawing doubts. Sometimes it is a desperate attempt to strain one's entire intellect in order to formulate a position and find a path to a solution. However, genuine conviction arises only when we comprehend a problem on the level of feeling as well. And this realm of the unconscious (on the card — the symbols of the sea and the Moon) has been cut off from everything else. The crossed swords are the boundaries of the intellect, closing off access to it. Thus, the card embodies that unpleasant position into which we fall when we rely too heavily on logic, refusing to heed our inner voice. The Two of Swords forms the opposite of the High Priestess, with whom it shares a kinship recalled by the seated posture of both figures. The blue tones, which embody the High Priestess's intuition, are here pushed into the background. The female figure in grey, on a likewise grey support, perhaps symbolizes the colourlessness of thought, empty reasoning — that very "dry theory" of which Goethe wrote. In folk tales, the symbol of such "all-corroding" power of doubt is often the grey wolf.

From the book: Hajo Banzhaf. THE TAROT HANDBOOK. Translated from German by E. Kolesov. Publisher: Center for Astrological Research, 1999.

TWO OF SWORDS Peace, Tranquility. First decan of Libra, from September 23 to October 2. Astrological equivalents: Mars, Venus, Chiron, the Seventh House. The sign of Libra symbolizes the human mind's comprehension of the external world, which (comprehension) first takes place on the level of abstractions. Libra is a partnership sign, for which mutuality and mutual assistance are important, helping it to attain the harmony necessary for the movement of thought; but in life there is something other for our consciousness — first and foremost, another person, whom we initially also perceive abstractly. The first decan of Libra is the impulse that drives thoughts to leave the maternal depths of the unconscious and (going beyond the bounds of the natural soul) to strive toward something new. This is thinking divorced from the flesh of Being, dissecting the world into two parts, weighing the possibilities "for" and "against" and drawing a logical conclusion. The TAROT card depicts a figure clothed in white robes with a blindfold over its eyes. The blindfold symbolizes concentration on the inner world of the human being. From reconciliation with oneself and readiness to accept any knowledge grows the inner truth. The figure sits upon a cube (the firm foundation of her convictions) in a posture of perfect equilibrium, holding in her hands two enormous crossed swords with their points upward. The crossed SWORDS are contradictory thoughts giving impetus to the work of consciousness. But conscious free choice is realized only at the moment when equilibrium is achieved between the two possibilities and nothing impedes it (the choice). Lose inner peace, and you will forfeit clarity of vision. In the background of the picture is the smooth surface of water: the emotions are in complete repose and under the control of reason. The first decan of Libra is characterized by good taste, sharpness of thought, and perfection of style. To it (the decan) are also proper sympathy, courtesy, delicacy, and an aspiration toward refined relationships; and it is ruled by the flexible Moon, which feels nuances well and knows how to adapt itself to and identify itself with the partner. The Moon endows those born in this decan with moral purity and allows them to be "perfect judges" in the sphere of human relationships, but it (the Moon) also gives this decan a certain indecisiveness, arising from the fear of destroying the old.

UPRIGHT POSITION In the upright position, the card symbolizes balanced forces, firmness, the possibility of moving forward (provided that the impulse has not died down). The impulse set by the ACE OF SWORDS, that is, Force, encounters the resistance of the Environment. It is, as it were, a vector directed against another vector. Thus, before us is the situation of the two, and indeed the two on its lowest level — collision. This does not mean, of course, that the card TWO OF SWORDS realizes the two on its very lowest level. The innermost meaning of this card is the working out of a certain resultant, the arrival at some constructed compromise. Therefore, the TWO OF SWORDS may also signify cooperation, accord, harmony (superficial).

REVERSED POSITION In the reversed position, the card symbolizes the dying down of Force, duality, falseness, dishonor, betrayal, "phony" friends, lies. On the level of the two of swords, a test takes place: is the desire truly strong? The will, having encountered an obstacle, either overcomes it or dies down. In the TWO OF SWORDS, Venus is realized; therefore, in this card two principal themes are clearly heard: that of the sign of Taurus and, of course, of Libra (Venus is the ruler of these signs).