The Two of Swords is a card depicting an individual sitting in front of flowing water, holding two swords that are crossed across their chest. They wear a blindfold and a long white garment that covers their whole body. Behind them, the Moon illuminates in a clear sky.
Two of Swords Keywords
Upright Keywords | Reversed Keywords |
Confusion, blindness, in the middle, conflict, inner turmoil, illusions, deception, crossroads, stalemate, burdens, defensiveness, avoidance, lack of clarity, mental imbalance, overwhelm, lack of intuition, caught in a web. | Making an assertive choice, having new purposes, coming to a conclusion, intuition unblocked, exposure, removing the blindfold, being open-minded, calm decision-making, clarity, clearer perspectives, having free will, going within to sort out the confusion. |
Imagery & Symbolism
River: The water in the river is symbolic of the healthy flow of emotions.
Blindfold: Covering the eyes can suggest a lack of foresight and not seeing what is ahead or around you.
Moon: In divination, the moon represents emotions and intuition.
Stool: In divination, stools and chairs can represent groundedness and rest.
Rocks: The small rocks behind can suggest obstacles.
Mountain: In divination, mountains represent difficult situations that must be overcome.
Two of Swords Tarot Card Meanings
UPRIGHT
The Two of Swords is a card that appears when you are confused or struggling to choose what to do within a situation. In this circumstance, it is better to take a step back so that you can see the situation and the choices clearly that you must make.
It is important not to rush into a decision because others have told you to, and you must use your intuition during this time. You will likely be unable to see the outcome at this time, due to your fear of what may happen.
REVERSE
The Two of Swords indicates that any confusion and clarity around decision-making will soon disappear. You will be able to clearly understand the decisions you want to make that have previously given you stress and conflict. You must trust in the decisions you want to make and your intuition, as your spirit guides will be guiding you and giving you subtle intuitive hints. Ultimately, you should make the decision with your heart rather than your mind.
LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS
UPRIGHT
In a relationship reading, the Two of Swords will indicate that there is an important decision that needs to be made. The decision will likely bring about conflict, which may cause you to be trapped between the choices that you wish to make and the choices others may need to make. This can sometimes be a matter of choosing between your head and heart.
REVERSE
The Two of Swords can indicate that you have concluded after spending some time meditating on the outcomes. You may have been confused before, but after weighing up the benefits and finding some needed clarity, your choice has become clearer. It may be possible that the answer involves the input of your partner or a romantic individual.
CAREER, JOB & BUSINESS
UPRIGHT
In a reading that is work-related, the Two of Swords indicates that there is confusion and conflict regarding the decisions you want to make for your career, work, or professional life. You may be prone to make rash decisions rather than taking a step back and weighing up the pros and cons of your options. You may also see an illusion regarding the choices you wish to make or choose with your mind rather than your heart.
REVERSE
The Two of Swords in a career, job, or business-related reading can indicate that you have concluded the decision you want to make regarding your professional career. This is most likely a decision that has caused you internal conflict for some time and may pave the way for your future. You may still worry and have tension regarding whether or not you have made the right decision, however, you must trust your intuition at this time.
FINANCES & MONEY
UPRIGHT
In a financial-related reading, the Two of Swords indicates that you are weighing up on financial options. You may be confused about what the better option to take is. This choice may involve investments, big financial purchases, or money-saving strategies that will benefit you in the future.
REVERSE
The Two of Swords can indicate you have made your choice after a period of delay or meditation. You have spent time weighing up the positives and negatives of your choice, and now have a clear view of the possible outcomes of your financial decisions. It is important you know that there will still be fear and unease around the outcome your choice will have, however, it is impossible to know the results unless we go through trial and error.
WELLNESS
UPRIGHT
In a health reading, the Two of Swords can indicate inner turmoil regarding the decisions around your wellness. It is possible that a tough and stressful situation has triggered your wellness negatively and you are burdened with too much pressure. You may feel as though the choices and decisions you make are entirely on your shoulders. You must rest and take time out to make a choice that you truly resonate with.
REVERSE
The Two of Swords can indicate that a final decision has been made regarding a situation that has been causing you stress. The decision may be regarding your health of yourself or someone else's health, or it could be a situation that is causing you ill health. This can be supported by the Four of Swords, which could suggest that this situation has impacted negatively your health. You must rest and recuperate your energy after this stressful time.
