The Card of the Day: The Two of Swords

"Making peace with in-between."

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The Two of Swords symbolizes making peace with the feeling of being “in between.” In between life stages, in between jobs, in between relationships, in between projects, in between moving situations, in between friendships, in between career goals, in between big plans, etc. The card advises you to find your center in the midst of the transformations swirling around you. The truth is, we are always in a state of "in-between" somewhere in our lives. The Two of Swords illuminates that the place in your life that feels unresolved, is precisely where life's greatest magic is happening.

What feels uneasy or unresolved in your life? Is this "in-between" situation making you anxious about the future? Can you be at peace with not having everything completely figured out right now?

The figure on the Two of Swords is also in between. She is in between the land and the sea. In between the new moon and the full moon. In between the two swords she is holding. Yet, she is in a pose of complete balance. The woman is also blindfolded. This symbolizes that she can't see what is coming. But look how calm and centered she is. She has accepted not seeing with her eyes because she is at peace with her center, with the core of who she really is. She's okay with not having everything figured out. She's accepted being "between the worlds." "She knows that "in between" is where the magic of the natural world happens.[1] She has wisdom.

In nature, the in-between time is at dusk or dawn, and it is magical. At dusk all the animals get ready for the transition to night. The birds excitedly chirp for their companions to come roost for the night. The quiet deer come out of hiding to drink at the pond. The owls rise and call to one another. The light in the sky transforms. The atmosphere at sunset stirs and the winds begin to gust. The clouds glow in shades of violet-pink and golden-orange. If you witness this, there is an indescribable sense of peace and tranquility during this “in-between” time. This is how Nature illustrates “in-between. Nature guides us to experience serenity amid transition.

The Two of Swords asks you to make peace with the area of your life that is still in between. It reflects Nature, where twilight leads to night, then followed by dawn. The “in-between” time is where your higher-self is most alert. The lessons you are currently learning are making you wiser, stronger, and more aligned with the center of who you really are. Your best potential is manifesting.

You are exactly where you need to be, and everything is transitioning perfectly.

*Two of Swords in a Love Reading

New Relationship

The Two of Swords often represents a love interest who is still in a state of “in-between.” They may be transitioning out of a past relationship or could be in the process of a personal transformation. Be patient, manage expectations, and move slowly. You may have to accept where this person is at in their life now, instead of falling in love with their future possibilities.

Long Term Partnership

The Two of Swords can signify a long-standing issue that remains unresolved. Perhaps an honest conversation can result in a compromise. It’s time to bring clarity to amorphous issues. The Two of Swords can also symbolize a truce. You may be in the process of making peace with your partner, or their position.

Seeking Romance

If you are single, you are likely undergoing a process of personal transformation that is still incomplete. Although you feel in limbo now, you will soon find the closure you seek. Slow and steady steps are needed now. Sometimes the Two of Swords is also associated with friendship. Socializing with friends may indirectly place you in the path of a potential admirer.

*This excerpt is a sneak peek at my upcoming book “Tarot in Love: Consulting the Cards in Matters of the Heart” from Llewellyn Books and available for preorder Fall 2022!

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[1] Ted Andrews, Enchantment of the Faerie Realm (Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 2013), 24.

Ted Andrews often wrote about the magic that occurs during what he called the “’tween times.” These include dawn, dusk, noon, midnight, equinoxes and solstices.