2 and 3 of wands???

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 14 Jan 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Nina*	14 Jan 2005
Well, after 7 years with the tarot I still get confused about these two :): What is the exact difference (I'm most of all thinking about the RWS OR look-alike pictures). Would someone please help with this, I'd be very grateful :D Blessings Nina

Thirteen	14 Jan 2005
A lot of folk get confused by these two. Try these two threads first: http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4103 http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1523 One way to think of the difference between them is this: 2: In this one the guy as to decide which project to put his energy into, which wand to carry. Because you can't carry both (think about carrying those two wands, two walking sticks if you will. Awkward and useless no? You only need one to do the job!). So it's a decision card. Other two cards (pentacles, swords, cups) are a way of balancing or merging things, but not Two wands because you can't split your energy--split your energy, and the two things suffer because you haven't enough energy to do right by either. Focus all your energy on one thing, however, and it will really benefit, really take off. 3: In this one, the guy with his one wand is gazing out to sea (I'm using typical RW imagry here). So, time has passed since making that decision, and this guy has invested all his energy into this one wand. Now the results of that investment are beginning to appear, like ships you put out to sea finally returning from a voyage. This is the results card, and it usually signifies successful results. Like all "3's" this is what was birthed from the uniting of the "2's"--in this case, from the unifying of your energy into one decision/wand.

Nina*	15 Jan 2005
Hi Thirteen :) Thank you SO much... you've been very helpful... I'll take a closer look at the two threads you mentioned :D Nina

tarotbear	16 Jan 2005
Try thinking this way ; in the Two of Wands he is waiting for his ships to come in. He made the plans and set things in motion, but they will happen at their own speed and cannot be made to happen faster. In the three of Wands his ships have come in. It will be up to you to decide if the ships are full, signifying great things, or if the ships are empty, signifying that the plans were ill-made, had bad timing, or it matters out of his control intervined.

Fudugazi	16 Jan 2005
I would say, rather, two of wands is about deciding which ships to send out, and how; taking time to think aobut the wisest course, letting oneself be guided; preparing, gestating a project. Three of wands is sending those ships out then waiting for them to come home. It implies both action and follow-up up on the action, but the cycle is still young. Four of wands is celebrating their arrival, because they were full of goodies! ;)

linabeet	16 Jan 2005
2 - Making the decision about which path to follow. 3 - Taking the first step, making a commitment to the chosen path by taking the first action. That's my 2 or 3 cents.

Sechat	17 Jan 2005
A slightly different angle might be this: 2 of wands concerted advance -- harnessing different energies to move forward purposefully, different energies that remain separate but are made to work together. shadow side would be erratic advance -- those energies are not directed therefore you are pulled all over the place. 3 of wands strategic drive -- diverse energies that combined birth new energy, shaped by future goals. shadow side is an aimless drive; the synergy is unrealized because there is no clear objective and/or vision. peace, sechat

The 2 and 3 of wands??? thread was originally posted on 14 Jan 2005 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.