Sketchbook - Two of Swords

I spent a lot of time over the last couple days trying to imagine some sort of harmoniously double-bladed apparatus. I thought about the way incisors work together to chop up our food, or the way propeller blades achieve lift even though they oppose each other. But none of these things seemed like anything I wanted to draw. Then I thought about bees -- how an entire swarm of creatures, each armed with its own venomous barb, manage to work together for the good of the hive. The bees pictured above may look like they're squaring off, but ultimately they know that all the pollen they gather is going back to the same place. Their swords are always visible, but never unsheathed.

Previously On Arcanalogue: Two Of Swords

Summary only...

"Opposing Ideas Expressed Simultaneously..."

What do you see when you look at the rare "million to one" apple that was discovered in Devon, England? A freak of nature? A marvel of genetic variety? Perhaps all you see is a tasty snack that would be unusually easy to divide and share.

Looking at it with my Tarot glasses on, I see two opposing ideas expressed simultaneously, with a relatively harmonious outcome. This is the suit of Swords at its safest and simplest -- clear boundaries, delicately balanced priorities, seamless integration.

This could describe a condition that exists purely within, or it could describe your relationship with a rival. Either way, once this balance becomes upset for any reason, you have to enter some pretty prickly territory to regain it. The Two of Swords implores you to make your decisions carefully and discreetly with a mind toward avoiding upset for as long as possible. Try to relax into this groove and see how far it carries you. Remain cool, impartial, and just. People will think you're beating the odds in your successes, but really you are just paying attention with every fiber of your being. [Via]

Previously On Arcanalogue: The Two Of Swords

Summary only...

Two of Swords

1. Peace restored
2. An end to a quarrel
3. Truth and untruth.

-- David Allen Hulse, The Western Mysteries

Summary only...

"An Appeal To Wisdom And Insight..."

There is no such thing as peace in this world, not really. Peace can only exist within individuals, and even then there is still a degree of tension as one struggles to maintain it. As George Bernard Shaw said, "Peace is not only better than war, but infinitely more arduous."

The Waite-Smith version of this card illustrates this idea nicely -- the swords look heavy, the person wielding them looks uncertain, and the moon hovering in the background is a nod to this card, which hints at the deep personal significance of the matter at hand. The Alchemical deck has a similar feel ; the swords are crossed, but not clashing, and we can't tell enough about the warriors to know who the aggressor is, or who the victor might be if they come to blows. We're still essentially blind to the situation; the owl's penetrating eyes stare out at us, an appeal to wisdom and insight.

This is surely not the kind of radiant inner peace endorsed some of the Trump cards; this is peace as a long-term strategy for survival in an uncertain world. Hell, even nuclear weapons are mostly symbolic at this point -- every nation needs at least one, so they can prove how civilized they are by refraining from using it. In the pragmatic sense, peace is worth far less unless one first acquires the power to make war.

Yvonne Lee Schultz' porcelain reproductions of James Bond's Walther PPK offer the perfect symbolic balance between the heft of high-power weaponry and the art of playing it cool. "Its coolness and comfortable grip increase the qualms of the user," says Schultz, "leaving him in a quandary between the pleasure of luxury and violence." Perhaps she was inspired by Charles Krafft, whose porcelain hand grenades and assault rifles are equally delicate tools of aggression.

Hovering over a decision may seem intolerable, but taking the time to do so (rather than leaping in with guns blazing) gives you an opportunity to commune with yourself and determine your true intent. The swords may be heavy and your arms may ache to use them, but victory is ultimately the byproduct of aligning your actions with your true intent. Bare your teeth like an animal if you must, but you'd better hold off on biting anyone until your more evolved instincts give you permission. [Via]

Previously on Arcanalogue...

Summary only...

Two of Swords

Who is this a portrait of? If you think you know, then get up, walk three or four yards away, and then look at your monitor from across the room. Who is it now? The two portraits are merged into one image --it's the distance we view things from that determines how we interpret what we see.

Rather than taking your own point of view for the gospel truth, it's important to remind yourself that reality has many layers, both subtle and otherwise. You're not right -- and neither are your opponents. Rather, both perspectives occupy a single territory, and your peace of mind will depend entirely on your ability to share it. The Two of Swords points the way toward this delicate balance, urging peaceful solutions and a fair and harmonious approach to opposition. It costs less mental and physical energy to make peace than to fight a war. [Via]

Summary only...