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Generally, all Twos:
- Express balance, receptivity, and attraction of their suit, or element.
- Reflect the themes and wisdom of the Priestess.
- Symbolize polarity.
- Can represent Act Two, the confrontation, of your story; or a plot point such as the Catalyst, Inciting Incident, or the Call to Adventure; if you break Act Two down into two parts, this can represent Act Two-Part One, the response; or the increasing awareness step of your character’s arc; antithesis.
- Are a test of choice, the first test within the mini-dramas mentioned in the Numbers in Tarot post.
- For additional info on Twos check out Tarot Notes Take a Number series on Twos.
What I See:
We have gone from the one to the two, a couple, and awareness of another. Fire keywords like passionate, dramatic, and instinctual come to mind as I look at this card. I get a sense of yin and yang. Strengths balancing weaknesses. I think of Beltane Fires and dancers and building sexual attraction. This is a test of choice…will they or won’t they? Beltane also reminds me of fertility, we’ve left the darkest time of the year and it is time to celebrate life. Is it me or does the flame on that one torch look like a dancing devil?
General Fire element/Wands suit:
Please refer back to the Ace of Fire
Light (upright) Reading:
Attraction to a person, idea, or project has energized you.
- Keywords: Development, Achievement, Pride, and Collaboration.
Shadow (upside down or reverse) Reading:
You doubt the attraction or your ability to handle the resulting changes of the choice.
- Keywords: Agoraphobia, Overwhelmed, Disillusioned, and Abuse of Power.
Plots:
Traditionally, this cards depicts a man often holding a small globe in his hand. Stories focused on a nobleman or businessman, ‘master of all he surveys,’ comes to mind. Also, the man is usually standing above a bay giving mind to a fortress. Perhaps a story about a siege. How about a Helen of Troy retelling?
According to Tarot for Writers by Corrine Kenner the Two of Wands can also suggest the “‘sadness of Alexander amidst the grandeur of this world’s wealth.’ In antiquity, Alexander the Great reportedly was at a loss once he had no more worlds to conquer.” How about a ‘money isn’t everything’ tale?
Yet looking at this card, one of the four Celtic Fire Feasts come to mind. Perhaps lovers. Perhaps a handfasting or a wedding. Or look at another culture, Native American Fire Ceremony where “[we] bring something to burn that we would like to rid from our past (in Full Moon) or a prayer request of something new (in New Moon), that will burn, turn to smoke, and release into the ethers.” Perhaps a vision quest. Maybe those crossed torches mean a challenge, a truce, a mixing of cultures/races? A funeral pyre?
- Two Themes: Balance, Attraction, Receptivity, Duality, Reflection, or Choice.
Characters:
“Will the fire warm you or burn you?”
- Suit Archetype/Feudal Class: Peasant or Servant Class.
The personality enneagram, a nine-pointed array of personality types, might also be a useful reference for character building.
All Twos are E2: Helper and/or Giver
- Self Image — I help
- Passion — Pride
- Virtue — Freedom
- Narcissistic Trap — Service
- Avoids — Needs
- Speaking Style — Flattering or Advising
E2 people are relationship oriented. They are concerned with what others think of them, image and prestige. They see themselves as being for others and often believe they know what’s best. They dislike being alone and may feel sad or inadequate.
Additionally, look up one of the Fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) for personality traits.
Image: Gaian Tarot by Joanna Powell Colbert from Llewellyn Worldwide
Angela Brown said:
I can’t help noticing that both man and woman are cupping the other’s arse. The musculature in the woman’s arms shows strength in equality to the definition of the man’s arm as well. His advantage is in height, where she appears to make a conscious choice of looking up to him instead of downward cast eyes. This card really brings to mind the tit-for-tat, or rather the balance you mention. There’s not “anything you can do I can do better” coming from the card. No, not that. But the complement is beautifully displayed.
Raelyn Barclay said:
The gripping of arses….sexy 😀
Equality, conscious choice, and complement are great keywords to add to this card. I love what you bring to these posts Angela. Thanks for stopping by!
Maria Zannini said:
Darn! I wish I had known about this card earlier. This would’ve fit in perfectly–or rather, more precisely with the plot of my new pirate story coming out. Live and learn.
Raelyn Barclay said:
Is that the one where I went on a ‘lust’ search for you? (As in tarot keyword for anyone whose mind just stepped into the gutter. LOL.) I’m learning as I go here, too. And when is this coming out?!
Thanks for stopping by Maria!
Maria Zannini said:
Yup. Mistress of the Stone should be out at the end of August.
Raelyn Barclay said:
Awesome! Adding it to the list 🙂
Brinda Berry said:
I see two people who’d better kiss before their hair goes up in flames. Her arms are really buff. 🙂
Raelyn Barclay said:
Sorry, your comment was held hostage in the spam folder, LOL. It is a sexy card, I agree. I so envision a wild pagan orgy going on outside the frame of the picture 😉
Thanks for stopping by Brinda!
Nadja Notariani said:
Wow! This card evokes a sense of power as well. Each party, the masculine and the feminine look to be wielding power over the other, each completely focused on the other – and oblivious to the possible danger of the fire.
Raelyn Barclay said:
They are definitely a powerful couple and, as you said, completely focused on the other. That focus screams to me of lovers and the passionate nature of the fire element. I love this image 🙂
Thanks for stopping by Nadja!
Ciara Knight said:
I can see the power in the couple that mimics the power of fire. I think that is cool.
Raelyn Barclay said:
Mimics the fire…that’s interesting. I hadn’t really thought of that but I do see it now that you’ve mentioned it.
Thanks for stopping by Ciara!
Nicole said:
I love that your cards are different than the traditional deck. I ne’er really associate Wanda with Fire… Very cool!
(Also, the ne’er is courtesy of my iPhone. Autocorrect can be strange sometimes, but this was cool enough to keep.)
Nicole said:
But then, Wanda should have been Wands. Can’t win ’em all.
Raelyn Barclay said:
LOL, damn auto correct, eh?! Actually, seeing ne’er makes me think of poetry 🙂
This is a very elemental deck and heavy on the Mother Earth imagery but for the most part fits with the Rider Waite deck. As for wands and fire — wands are made of wood therefore can catch fire. Swords, despite some decks making them the fire element, are air because they cut through the air. Simplistic maybe, but how I remember it, LOL.
Thanks for stopping by Nicole!
Claire Hennessy (@1ClaireHennessy) said:
Sexy card! Every time I read your series it makes me want to go and revisit my tarot cards but I can never find the time – I need to clone me!!
Raelyn Barclay said:
LOL, I know what you mean! Outside of doing this series my sitting down with the cards has been sadly lacking. Now a clone…that might just be the ticket 🙂
Thanks for stopping by Claire!
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