Two of Wands...as outcome

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 20 Jan 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Star Spirit	20 Jan 2004
I have a pet peeve lately! I keep doing/interpreting readings where the 2 of Wands is in the outcome position, or something of that nature, in the spread. To me, this card usually means making a decision, having a decision to make, two choices, etc. (not always, mind you, but most of the time). I've found lately that if I do readings asking what the querent should do in a situation, what path they should choose, what choice they will make, etc., I will get this card in the Outcome position, which to me, simply tells me they'll be making a choice, but doesn't tell me what the choice is! Yes, no, this, that....I have no idea! It's really starting to bug me....:) So I'd like to ask, has this happened to anyone else? What does this card mean to you, and how would you go about interpreting it in an outcome position? I thought about using upright for yes, reversed for no, but I just have no idea if that would work... Any insights are welcome :)

Thirteen	20 Jan 2004
Well, actually what it's telling you is that the querent will make the RIGHT choice--as 2/Wands is usually a pretty positive card in that. By "right" I mean a choice which will bring results, as the 3/Wands indicates--choice made, results on their way. Also, as you can guess from Wands, the choice will likely favor taking action or gaining power or going for something the querent is passionate about--rather than playing it safe or sitting around thinking about things instead of doing. So if the querent had said to me, "this job offer excites me. Do I go for it or wait for some other?" then I'd read that 2/Wands outcome as, "You're going to go for that job and it's going to be the right move!" If, however, you feel the deck is being coy, why don't you put down a clarification card over that 2/Wands?

jmd	20 Jan 2004
I tend to agree with Thirteen. Perhaps incorrectly, I presume you are referring to the 'Celtic' Cross [cc] spread when mentioning the outcome card. If that is the case, then there is also another method which you may find helpful in determining the 'choice' which you are reading in the card. At times, I may connect the outcome card in the CC spread to the 'Crowning' card. Here, it may give indications as to what to look for when making the decision, or what advice to follow, or indeed what forces are in play in the situation as it unfolds. Hope this helps also in some way...

Star Spirit	20 Jan 2004
It seems to happen in any spread with an outcome, really. Thanks you guys! That actually did help me out a lot. Seems I was a little mixed up on it. Ah, but there is the joy of reading reversals.... :D

WalesWoman	20 Jan 2004
I could be way off here, mostly likely am, but two of wands to me is having success, but finding out it wasn't all it was cracked up to be and not finding the satisfaction you thought you would from it. That the success can actually be confining, making your world smaller, which would then lead you to the three of wands, expanding your horizons based on the security of past achievements.

miss_apples	20 Jan 2004
maybe it means that the cards cant tell them what choice to make and that the querent has to decide that for themselves.

Star Spirit	20 Jan 2004
Wales Woman - Interesting take! miss_apples - Unfortunately I've tried that one, but I find it ridiculous most of the time, especially if that was the question they asked in the first place. There's no reason it shouldn't be revealed, after all tarot is about truth. Makes me think I just need to use a better spread. Thankfully I'll have a book of those soon.

lark	20 Jan 2004
Sometimes when I get this card in the outcome position I ask the person, if they have formed a plan in there mind. Even if they may not actually be moving on the plan, they have usually imagined it working out one way or another. And so that card is a good indicator of where their inner sense of knowing is directing them. As the Reader, when I see it as an outcome, I know that the person has usually already set up a planned direction they want to follow in their mind. And they might just need my encouragement to voice it. And trust that it's the right direction to move for success. Because the two of wands upright to me is about moving in the right direction, following your plan, and having that inner sense of success.

Star Spirit	20 Jan 2004
Thanks lark!

The Two of Wands...as outcome thread was originally posted on 20 Jan 2004 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.