We continue into the Twos of the tarot. What once was a seed is now a sprout! We move on from central identity in “The One”, to the power of connection and duality.

The Quality of the Twos

The Twos in Tarot are about progression into plurality. Each suit shows us exactly how this plurality occurs. There are also themes of balance with the Twos, which means there’s yearning for harmony as well. With the Twos there are seemingly disparate ideas that exist in the card which are meant to come together to drum up the creativity and excitement of the threes.

Also with the Twos, there’s also a sense of tension and release. For instance, Two of Cups speaks of alliances, which means overcoming –and/or accepting– differences to come together and form a union. With the Two of Swords, you get equal yet opposing views, with a need to balance both wants of the heart and the head. To release this tension, there must be a dialogue. One must acknowledge the other to put things into balance.

The Twos bring these themes to our attention and remind us that there is more than just ourselves: there’s also an other. Yin and yang, anima and animus, night and day; some things can’t exist without the other, which is why tension exists. We’ve developed discernment, so now there needs to be a way to relieve this tension.

Numerology of Two

The was a point in occult philosophy where two was considered an evil number According to 15th century occult philosopher Cornelius Agrippa, because the number two is the number of the “middle,” it creates discord and confusion¹. However, this signification also meant that two was a number about spiritual enlightenment. Like Eve in the garden with the seductive snake, the number two symbolized a bite from the apple of knowledge.

Twos in numerology are related to the moon. The moon, archetypally, is about intuition and dreams. Spiritual knowledge comes through your intuition, so the number two signifies sitting with something internally to bring the subconscious to the conscious.

Receptivity Makes Progress: The High Priestess

When I think about resolving tensions, I think about taking a passive, receptive approach. The High Priestess represents the liminal space, the “go-between,” the witch. They represent the formation of ideas from within. The feminine energy here indicates possibilities that come from within.

When we look at the image of the High Priestess in the RWS system, there are two pillars a black one with the letter B, which stands for Boaz, and the white one with the letter J, which stands for Jachin. Both are names for pillars in temple of Solomon, representing the wisdom of Solomon. The High Priestess sitting between these pillars shows her as the guardian at the door of the physical realm and the unknown, and accepting the wisdom of what both these realms bring.

When we sit with the receptivity, we take a moment to arrange these ideas into something; this is the first instance of planning the creation. This is is how we progress to the threes and decide this is something worth birthing in the world.

Keywords for the Twos in Tarot

Upright Keywords:

• Duality
• Connection
• Union
• Intuition
• Dialogue
• A need for balance
• A decision to be made
• Finding balance between two things
• Receptive

Reversed Keywords:

• Tension
• Opposing views
• Too passive, especially for fear of disturbing the balance
• Swinging between extremes
• Imbalance
• Not listening to your intuition
• Miscommunication

Twos in Tarot Overview

Two of Wands

Planning and decisions follow the spark of the Ace of this suit. In order to make those dreams happen, a clear plan needs to follow. The Two of Wands asks you to pause and reflect on how you want your life to go and figure out the first steps to get there.

Two of Cups

This card is sign that union and partnership are closer than you think. The Two of Cups presents the ability to hold two people have an affinity for one another. Cooperation is possible because of mutual respect and admiration. This a great relationship card and can be a soulmate indicator.

Two of Swords

The Catch-22 of tarot. This card indicates that there’s a difficult choice to make, and so we’re stunted by indecision. The Two of Swords can indicate choosing between two difficult options. The moon can reveal a decision that blocks the heart, but the chance for a new beginning as the phases progress. The unstill waters show tumultuous feelings as well.

Two of Pentacles

The Ace indicates an opportunity within reach and, now with the Two, this is about making it happen. The Two of Pentacles shows us that managing our time and resources is key to success. New responsibilities means new stress, so staying nimble and light is vital.

1. “Three books of occult philosophy written by Henry Cornelius Agrippa of Nettesheim … ; translated out of the Latin into the English tongue by J.F.” In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A26565.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed November 4, 2024.A26565.0001.001/1:16.5?rgn=div2;view=fulltext ↩︎

Deck used: Before Tarot by U.S. Games Systems