78 Cards: Two of Swords

A couple times a month I take a look at a specific card in the tarot decks. These are chosen at random - I shuffle the deck and the card I draw is the one that is telling me that it wants it's story told. Eventually there will be a complete look at all 78 cards of the deck. Keep reading for a look at the Two of Swords

The Two of Swords symbolizes the confusion we face when we are forced to make difficult choices. In the Two of Swords card, there is usually a seated woman that is blindfolded while holding a sword in each of her hands. In the background, there is a sea surrounded by crags and rocks that serve as obstacles for vessels and ships, stalling progress and action. The woman in the card being blindfolded is a representation of a situation which prevents her from seeing both the problem and the solution with clarity.
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The swords that she is holding in each of her hands show that there are two choices that lead in different directions and are mutually exclusive to one another. It may also depict a stalemate, which means that the problem should be addressed with a logical and rational thinking. The Moon positioned on the right side of the card signifies may signify the role of illusions and deception in the difficulty that the woman has in making a choice.

Two of Swords Upright - Witches Tarot

When we see the Two of Swords in a reading, we are encountering a stalemate. Two equal and opposing forces are joined in battle, and there seems to be no end in sight. This wasn't what you had in mind when you chanced to walk down this path, and you find yourself caught in the middle. Without something, or someone to intervene, this may continue indefinitely. We find ourselves in a situation where we must make a choice, we can side with one part of the situation, or we can side with the other. Neither seems particularly appealing, which makes the decision even more difficult. But unless we move past this stalemate, there can be no more progress.

Two of Swords Reversed - Gilded Tarot

The situation we see in the reversed Two of Swords is a stalemate of a legendary kind, one where two forces are battling each other. This battle can be representative of both something internal or external, and you are forced to be in between and be the decision maker. However, because neither party seems particularly pleasing to work with, you may find yourself confused, the pressure is too much, and you are unable to make a decision.
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When you do make the decision, it will be choosing between two bad outcomes. Do not worry, the more important thing here is to make a choice, from then on, we can deal with whatever consequences come.

Advice:

It is time to stop hiding and face the situation head on. For too long now you have had your head stuck in the sand, ignoring the situation and hoping that it will just go away on it's own. Unfortunately that isn't the way that it works. Don't keep turning a blind eye - it's time to take off that blindfold and face the situation head on. The more you avoid it the harder it becomes, so you might as well address it now. It'll be a weight off your shoulders once you do.

Give this a try:

Let your “mind” drop from your head down into your chest. What decision would your heart make? Now, let your “mind” drop from your heart into your solar plexus/stomach area. What is this part of your body telling you?

Journaling questions:

* How does doing nothing serve you?
​* What if there were no wrong choice?