Two of Swords
Blindfolded and arms crossed, you keep balance by not deciding. Look at what you’re avoiding.
- Card
- Minor Arcana · Swords (Air)
- Upright keywords
- Balance, Holding back, Inner conflict, Looking away
- Reversed keywords
- Making a decision, Confusion, Information overload, True feelings surface
- Yes or no
- Depends on conditions
Traditional correspondences Golden Dawn: Lord of Peace Restored / Thoth: Peace / 1st decan of Libra · the Moon / Sephirah: Chokmah (Wisdom)
Upright meaning
Holding a fragile balance by not deciding. Look at what you’re avoiding.
A blindfolded woman sits with two swords crossed over her chest, the sea and a crescent moon behind her. The Two of Swords is a stalemate: avoiding a choice, keeping the peace by not looking. Upright, it says you can’t stay here forever. Take off the blindfold and face the decision.
Reversed meaning
The stalemate breaks; true feelings or decisions come out.
Reversed, the tension breaks. Information overload or emotions may force a decision, or truths come out. Choose rather than let things choose for you.
For ways of reading reversed cards, see how to read reversals.
Love
Avoiding a difficult conversation or decision.
Truths coming out; time to decide.
Work
A stalemate or difficult choice.
Overwhelm. Gather facts and decide.
Money
Putting off a financial decision.
Forced to decide.
Relationships
Keeping the peace by not taking sides.
Tensions surfacing.
Health
Tension held in the body.
Release of tension.
Tarot does not diagnose physical conditions. If you have symptoms that worry you, please see a doctor.
Mind and spirit
Inner conflict between head and heart.
Facing what you avoided.
As a person
Someone indecisive or guarded.
Someone finally speaking up.
Timing
Things stay stuck until you decide. In the calendar, late September to early October is also a guide (roughly September 23 to October 2).
Advice
Take off the blindfold and choose.
Make your decision before it’s made for you.
Questions to ask yourself
- What am I avoiding?
- What would I choose if I weren’t afraid?
- What information do I need?
A common misreading
The Two of Swords isn’t only negative. A pause can bring peace, but not if it becomes avoidance.
The story of this card
Two brings duality to the mind. Thought divides into options, and the mind hesitates between them.
The Waite deck’s picture and symbols
In the Waite deck a blindfolded woman in white sits on a bench by the sea, holding two swords crossed over her chest. A crescent moon hangs in the sky.
History and differences between traditions
The Golden Dawn named it Lord of Peace Restored. Crowley simply called it Peace.
Words for today
I face my choices with open eyes.
I trust myself to decide.