2 of wands- ick!

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 13 Feb 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Butterfly	13 Feb 2003
2 of wands is an absolute thorn in my side, I can never get the essence of this card. Everytime I get it in a spread I just cringe. Help me please!

Moongold	13 Feb 2003
Hi Butterfly, I had to smile when I saw your name and remember that Wands equate with fire. That could be a simple explanation! What Tarot suite corresponds with your birth sign just as a matter of interest? You could be either fire, water, air or earth as each Tarot suite generally corresponds with a particular element but you probably know all that. When does 2 wands appear for you.....alone or in another spread ? In a spread the other cards could be really important and give context to the wands card 2 Wands can be about creativity and energy or it can represent power. It depends on your personal situation and the other cards, if any. So 2 wands could be suggesting that you get cracking, that you take control of a situation or that you need to be really imaginative. Or it could mean that you're in some kind of power struggle. It has been Wands weather here a bit lately with all the bushfires and the incredible drought and heat. Queensland is always warm but I haven't heard too much about bushfires up there. I think you've had some Cups weather lately, extending to floods. You can share some of that with us if you like! Best wishes, Moongold

Major Tom	13 Feb 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Moongold 2 Wands can be about creativity and energy or it can represent power. It depends on your personal situation and the other cards, if any. Great explaination Moongold. :) I've also seen it as advice to work with others toward common goals. ;)

firemaiden	13 Feb 2003
This card bugs me too, (no pun intended), it is too much like the 3 of wands. Major Tom, how can the 2 of wands be advice to work with others toward common goals, when it shows a man alone looking off into the distance holding a globe? It looks like it ought to be about the loneliness of power. Oooooh...... I see, you mean, because if you don't get others involved, this is what will happen?

vijeno	13 Feb 2003
I also have a problem here... mostly with 2 Wands in connection to 3 Wands and the tree of life... 2 Wands: Joan Bunning: Personal Power, Boldness, Originality R/W: The figure there stands in a firm castle looking at the outside (his property?), holding the world in his hands. Tree of Life: Chochmah - Wisdom, male, giving, throwing out, unformed. 3 Wands: Joan Bunning: Exploration, Foresight, Leadership R/W: The figure stands there viewing the ocean, with a view ships (his?) on it... To me it always seemed like he was letting go, was so sure he didn't need to worry. Tree of Life: Binah - Intelligence, female, receiving, taking what Chochmah gives and forming it into something meaningful. I was never able to integrate JB and RW with the Tree of Life. vijeno

Major Tom	13 Feb 2003
Quote: Originally posted by firemaiden how can the 2 of wands be advice to work with others toward common goals, when it shows a man alone looking off into the distance holding a globe? What's the man doing there? What do you suppose he's thinking about? Don't you suppose this could as easily be a woman? Thinking about people overseas perhaps? Perhaps he checks his globe to see where they are? Maybe s/he wants to do something - so s/he's checking around the world to see who else wants to do the same thing. Or, maybe s/he's staring off into space. :laugh: }) :laugh: Maybe s/he's wishing s/he were somewhere else. Overseas travel could be involved. ;) I see the 2 of Wands as the effort/energy sent outward and the 3 of Wands as effort/energy sent back. Part of the reason I'm still trying to convince Diana to be the 2 of Wands and Solandia to be the 3. :laugh:

theredhead	13 Feb 2003
I'll put in my .02 for what its worth, had these 2 cards come up a lot for me in readings lately. The 2 is about choices/action/ having the whole world before you, standing alone looking out, this is a person withdrawing to think, contemplate, weigh, decide. In the 3 you have made your decision, acted upon your decision, and you are waiting to see the first fruits, or your ships to come in, and see what your actions (or choices) have become. In the 3 he is done thinking, and now he is watching and waiting for the results, the first steps toward what he was working towards. trh

firemaiden	13 Feb 2003
Hey Tom! :D What's that expression in latin for a metaphore that's "pulled out by the hair?" Just kidding! :P No, no, really, I am just kidding, I like that very much. Looking off into the distance, and thinking about where in the globe to go. (Silly question really, Italy of course!!!)

Major Tom	13 Feb 2003
Quote: Originally posted by firemaiden Hey Tom! :D What's that expression in latin for a metaphore that's "pulled out by the hair?" (Silly question really, Italy of course!!!) What? Too self-depreciating? :eek: Hmmm...wondered how I ended up in England.

Dark Inquisitor	13 Feb 2003
Most of the time in my readings the 2 of wands upright is representing focus, paying attention to things. Being on top of things going on around you. Planning the route. Reversed, it means not paying attention --it's a heads up that something is around you are not looking at. An opportunity or situation you are not seeing. Maybe a person who might have an attention deficit disorder too. Once, when it was upright in the postion of the unexpected for someone who was leaving for a trip that day, I told her to make sure she brought the map & checked for unexpected detours & changes . She confessed she had sort of forgotten to pack that. In a different reading for a man with a problem child, it meant he was watching his son like a hawk to stay on top of things. Tarotphelia

Butterfly	13 Feb 2003
Thanks, guys, great food for thought. Siezing the world... so to speak. I can rememeber that there was a great thread quite a while back comparing the two and three on wands. If I recall it may have been started by Kiama. When I searched I couldn't find it, but it's there somewhere! Moongold, strangly enough there is heaps of fire in my charts (particularly sun in leo! mars in Aries), and I love nothing better than sitting by a fire. And while the far north of the state is having floods, south east is in one of the worst droughts in years, with serious water restrictions in place on the Gold Coast. So get into line for that water buddy- LOL

ihcoyc	13 Feb 2003
All the twos have to do with two-ness: of binaries, of things that are complementary, balanced, in equilibrium; or in contrast, of equal opposites, evenly matched sides, ranked like a chessboard. Applying this to the business of Wands, and the basic message is that "it's your move. " You cannot be sure of success, but there is an opportunity here that requires action. "Cast thy bread upon the waters; thou shaltl find it after so many days." The RWS images for the 2 and 3 are rather hard to tell apart, but the difference seems to be that the 2 is watching his ships sail out to sea, while the 3 is watching his ships come in.

blackmon487	14 Feb 2003
This card deals a lot with the power of one's Will to accomplish great things in the world. Without the initial vision there can be no final success, and without determination the goal can never be reached. The Two of Wands is a card that embodies one's determination to go out into the world and succeed. It is much the same as the Magician's power, yet with the 2 of wands it is the energy of the Magician brought down to a more manageable level, a level at which you can direct its course. When this card's energy enters your life, you will find the ability to make your dreams into reality, to achieve your highest ambitions. Now is the time to understand how we create our own reality and destiny. It is also time to learn how we can use that to our advantage. Boldness and daring are unlimited when this energy is under your control, so go into the world and show your power to everyone. All of the Twos are associated with unions, and the Two of Wands can show that it is a good time for friendships, but beware of relationships where all the power lies in the hands of one person. Personal power is another theme of this card. The Two of Wands is a reminder that we are always in control of our lives, and though we may be surprised by events from time to time, the reins remain in our hands waiting for us to use them. This is why it's important to plan ahead, and know where you are headed before you set off on your journey. There is no place for uncertainty and hesitation, but fortunately, this card gives you the energy to rid yourself of those. You deserve to be the creator and the ruler of your life. Allow your inner power to show itself - you'll be surprised by what you accomplish. I to had problems with this card and have found several site's which have given me more insight. But I thought you may enjoy the information above, it is from the page of James Rioux, ATA-CPTR. http://www.ata-tarot.com/resource/cards/index.html ENJOY!

Maan	14 Feb 2003
What helped me understand this card better was the picture of it in the fey tarot. I think someone posted the pic in the thread about the fey tarot. Just look it up and see for yourself!

miranda	20 Feb 2003
Quote: Originally posted by firemaiden This card bugs me too, (no pun intended), it is too much like the 3 of wands. Major Tom, how can the 2 of wands be advice to work with others toward common goals, when it shows a man alone looking off into the distance holding a globe? It looks like it ought to be about the loneliness of power. Oooooh...... I see, you mean, because if you don't get others involved, this is what will happen? those 2 do look allot alike.. also the 3 of wands is a posotive card.. yet hes got his back to you

The 2 of wands- ick! thread was originally posted on 13 Feb 2003 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.