The Medicine of a Flying Lion 🦁 Two of Cups - (Twos in Tarot)
Tarot reading for the week of 20/02/23 🍸 Be brave, do friendship and a deep-dive into the meanings of the Twos in Tarot
Another week, another little email.
I am currently enjoying my beloved being in the UK with me, meeting friends I haven’t seen in over a year and eating my way round London. As the winter wears on and the beginning of our third season of farming comes into sight I feel I am grasping every chance I can. Each moment with my people in my home country is more precious for being fleeting. And yet there is still more to do.
Thankfully, without getting covid (as I did the last time I visited) I am able to fit as much in as possible. But the eternal message of taking time to rest, scheduling it, and sticking to it, has echoed through. Today, as you read this, I will be resting. It will be an enforced period of slowing the fuck down and reading the new Monk and Robot book by Becky Chambers. What are all your rest rituals? How do you unwind? I would love to know…
When shuffling the card for this week four jumped out at me. For some reason, I took those cards to mean they were for me. The message that echoed through was that I should be open and purposeful with my emotions. But also to trust my intuition and to not burn too hard and too bright. Any guesses on what those cards would be? Anyways when I shuffled again the same card came out. A message for the collective (trusting my intuition on that one). Here it is, a lesson for us all.
Tarot for the week of 20/02/23: Two of Cups
What a wonderful card to come into the week with. The balancing of forces, the melding of emotions. This card to me symbolises partnership. This doesn’t have to just be people, the two of cups can be the partnering of ideas, projects or talents. The bringing together of groups over a common goal.
When I think of this card I think of those coming before and after it. Before it comes the Ace of Cups which can symbolise the beginning of a new relationship or emotional endeavour. It also can be the bringing forward of emotions, the bubbling up to the surface something that can no longer be ignored. On the other side, the Three of Cups is a card of unity, sisterhood, and rivalries. It’s an initial celebration. A reminder of all victories, however small, need to be marked. So between these two cards, the Two of Cups is the combining of forces or ideas, the push to work together. To put aside differences.
As always with my interpretation of the cards there are no genders assigned to the two figures. They are just two people entering into an endeavour together. Not only do I love their jazzy little outfits (and those boots, I mean, my god) but their balance; no party seems to have the upper hand. No one gives more than the other.
I also love the imagery of the lion with wings, a ferociousness but combined with lightheartedness. And the twin snakes, reminiscent of the symbol of medicine in ancient Greece. Through bravery, hope and a joining of forces we can bring medicine.
This week ask yourself: Where can I bring unity? What endeavours can I help with? Where can I lend a hand? Where can I be brave? How can I try something new with lightheartedness? How can I let something be new? What medicine do I need? What balms can I give to others? Where can I build a partnership? How can I remain open with my emotions? How can I be receptive to the emotions of others?
As always I would love to hear what this brings up for you. How do you interpret this card and whatever else you want to share with me. Has the Two of Cups come up in any of your readings lately?
Since I’m in the mood to tell you a little more I’m going to go over the meanings of each of the Twos in the Tarot. I am currently using the Smith-Waite Deck and my interpretations are based on years of study and various sources.
If you have been with me for a while you may remember when I went over the meanings of the Aces in Tarot. By signing up for the newsletter, you hopefully have accessed the Tarot Basics Workbook I have created for you. The Workbook goes through the meanings of each of the court cards of the Tarot along with the suits and an outline of the Major Arcana. If you are new here or are yet to sign up, welcome!
The Twos in Tarot
Where the Aces of the Tarot are the seeds at the beginning of the minor journey of the court cards the Twos are that of initial unity. I once had it explained to me that the twos are our parents, with the trees being our first friends, the fours and fives our peers in education and work and the sixes our making of community. While I like to think of this when it comes to the progression of small arcs in our life story I think it’s important to weave in the other interpretations of the Twos. The twos can also represent a choice or action to be taken, a decision to be made. Often decisions are made alone but two or more options are weighed up.
One divination trick with the tarot, when trying to make a decision, is to flip through the deck to the corresponding two and the cards on either side are the two outcomes or choices. Since each of the suits of the tarot has its own associations, each is good for different types of decisions. As I go through each of the suits I will also tell you which decisions that Two will be most helpful with.
Two of Swords
Within the Tarot, Swords represent ideas, intellect, and the brain. It’s representative of the element Air. And within this card, there is the balance achieved when one is truly alone with their thoughts. In it, we see a blindfolded figure and in each hand, they hold a sword. In a precise a purposeful way the swords seem to be used to hold back the edge of the card. To keep out all external factors or ideas. The waning moon in the sky and the silent tide in this card also speak to internal stillness and to tapping into one’s intuition.
This card is useful for cutting through the bullshit. If you feel like there are a lot of conflicting opinions about what should be done and need a little help getting to the root of what you think, this is the card for you. However, be aware that in the reversed position this card may mean that you are cutting off external information that may be helpful to you. We are not islands, and listening with discernment is recommended if you get the Two of Swords reversed.
Two of Wands
Wands are actions and are associated with the element fire. While the Ace was about lighting a fire under you, the Two is about sustaining it and bringing balance. The Two of Wands was the general reading back in early October, at that time it signified a crossroads. In this card, the central figure looks out at the possibilities of the world. They hold in their hands the world, they could travel anywhere but they also have an idyllic set-up right where they are.
This card is useful for long-term plans, which may seem like it is the realm of pentacles, but give me a second to explain. To work towards a far-off goal, a distant dream (as is seen later in the wands court cards) one needs passion and concerted action. You cant build a fire, a movement, on just a spark. You need kindling, logs, and more logs. The flame needs to be tended. In this respect when looking for long-term outcomes the Two of Wands can help to see how to tend your flame, and how to keep momentum. And what may happen if that flame goes out…
Two of Cups
Now we get to the emotions of Cups, and the element of water. Interestingly the Two of Cups is the only Two in the Tarot with two figures instead of one. Here there is more balance, more cohesion, or at least from external sources. As the figures exchange cups, they show that interpersonal exchanges are what bring balance to one’s emotional life. The heavy symbolism is also of bravery, hope and medicine. It’s our interactions with others that will save us in the end.
For choices and decisions that involve our emotions and those of others, this is the best card to seek out. It may not always show you the two solutions but I often use it to try to figure out what each party in a partnership may be hoping for or wanting. In almost the exact opposite of the Two of Swords, when this card is reversed it may mean that you are putting too much stock into how an outside party may react and should seek out guidance from yourself alone.
Two of Pentacles
Pentacles are associated with the material and practical and, of course, the element Earth. Though pentacles represent earth this card actually has a stormy sea in it, behind the central figure and their lovely little hat, there are ships on rolling waves. While the figure is on dry land the balancing of the pentacle coins in their hands has an air of risk to it, just like the tumultuous sea beyond. It feels to me that this card lacks the patience of the other twos, there seems to be a decision that needs to be made sooner. Just like the ships must steer a course to avoid being wrecked.
When it comes to juggling outcomes and weighing up extremes this card is the one to go for. Pentacles being associated with money also adds a financial element to interpretations. Seek out this card in your deck when weighing up more risky decisions or ones where you might be financially affected. If you find this card in the reverse it may mean you are rushing into a decision and would do well to practice patience, there may also be a loss incurred from a hastily made decision.
I am available for Written and Zoom Tarot Readings. Readings via voice note are also available. If you’re interested in getting a reading but have no idea what to ask here is a selection of questions I have answered in my time to get you thinking.
Answering your questions is always such a pleasure and I would love to help you work through things with a fresh pair of eyes. Interested? All my offerings are sliding scale to make them as accessible as possible. I am also always available to chat and always open to trade etc.
Catch you in the ether,
M
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Edits: Iona Glen
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