Katie-Ellen Hazeldine – Two of Swords
The Two of Swords: Truce, waiting, calm before a storm, keeping the peace, ignorance, fact gathering, indecision, difficult decision.
The Two of Swords (Moon in Libra) is my focus card for October, as seen in a vision during sleep. Readers may sometimes ‘see’ a card without physically shuffling the deck. Sometimes I ask a question before I go to sleep and may be woken with a virtual card draw. It’s something that can happen with long familiarity. The software, if we think of the Tarot in those terms, is permanently uploaded.
In General
The Two of Swords most particularly represents the first decan of Libra, 23 September to 3 October, and would appear to be picking up events and influences at the very beginning of October but which could set the overall pace and tone for the rest of the month.
Globally
The Two of Swords can describe a seesaw, and internationally it looks like another tense month of watching, waiting, diplomatic stand-offs and considerable tensions, though in most cases globally not advancing to outright disputes or conflict.
The Coronavirus presents a continuing see-saw. Any new crises this month, if they occur, seem more likely to arise during the first ten days or so of October when we are in Three of Swords territory.
In the UK
Further localized lockdowns have been happening and seem highly likely to occur sporadically during the foreseeable future, and this could mean until at least February/March 2021 although, whether rightly or wrongly, the Tarot has not shown me a return to a national blanket lockdown within the UK such as we had in March.
The Two of Swords in respect of the UK in its final round of trade negotiations with the EU is uneasy, as if we don’t know that already. The PM has intimated that 15 October is a definitive date so far as the UK government is concerned, and if so, this timing corresponds with the Four of Swords denoting a recovery from struggle or illness. In-between, we will have had the Three of Swords, a card of severance. There will have been an almighty struggle meantime and possibly the die is in effect already cast even before we reach the 15th.
At Home
October kicks off with a confident, possibly even somewhat headlong Aries Full Moon. Hooray, we’re like spring lambs again. Let’s all leap around in the meadows. We can get a lot done with that go-ahead energy. But when in doubt, we need to watch and wait and keep our own counsel.
The airy Two of Swords is ruled by the Moon, suggesting a month of intense moods, and confused or contradictory situations.
The Two of Swords calls a halt, a truce. Watching and waiting can be difficult, as well as tiring. It can be tough on the nerves. But this thoughtful card suggests that nothing of lasting value can be achieved at this time by rushing an important decision, or by upping the ante or forcing an issue. Smoothly does it.
In terms of personal relationships, Libra is a great charmer, even though it can also be tough, an ‘iron fist in a velvet glove.’ There may well be opportunities for glamour, romance fun and flirtation during October- there’s a lot of Venus energy, but if existing relationships are strained, a little goodwill goes a long way, and the priority as identified by the Tarot is keeping the peace this month even if you feel you are treading on eggshells. Even if you’d much rather bash the beloved around the head with the saucepan.
In Summary
The Two of Swords is the minor arcana card equivalent of the Justice card which rules the whole of Libra and this same note is repeated at the time of the New Moon in Libra on the 16th.
It’s about keeping our balance by using our intellect; clear, cool thinking. It’s about sticking to the rules, fair play, due process, and the rule of Law, practicing detachment in recognizing that the bigger picture affects us considerably, but we as individuals are not at the centre. This is a time to bring reason to bear and this is not easy when our feelings are running high.
This card may sometimes indicate headaches, especially if they are migraines due to stress, or eyestrain- literally, or even new glasses or a trip to the opticians as suggested in the illustration of this card.
The message from the Tarot this month seems to be that whatever comes our way, we can handle things best by keeping our cool, not ducking tough decisions but being careful not to rush them and as we get to mid-month…be a little careful who you talk to and who you trust with your confidences. Not everyone is reliable or deserving.
October is by no means all ‘bad news,’ but the Two of Swords indicates a key theme of ‘workable compromise.’
Ice kings, ice queens of cool. These are interesting times and we don’t want them to get more interesting. Let’s focus on what is right in front of us and hold our nerve.
Katie-Ellen Hazeldine, BA Hons, is a Tarot and Rune reader/consultant, writer, and historian in the UK, and has been reading professionally since 2006. Website – True Tarot Tales. Twitter: @truetarottales
Kyra Oser – The Lovers
The tarot card I drew for October is The Lovers. If you’re a regular reader of these Tarot Tuesday articles on Jessica’s site, you’ll notice this card has been drawn more than once this year. That’s probably not a coincidence, as partnership is a recurring theme in 2020 and one that will become even more critical in 2021. More on that later. For now, know that the cards have recently been reiterating the value of emotional connection over material accumulation.
In General
The Lovers is about relationship choices, commitments, and how we reflect one another even more profoundly through close partnerships and relationships. In your own life, October’s card brings you an opportunity to communicate in innovative ways. Perhaps you’ll reach out to friends and family you haven’t talked to in a while as the world rapidly changes and you seek to share stories of these transformative times with those who share a history with you. Or, if you’re looking to connect with a new partner, be the person you want to date so you can 1) detach from outcomes, and 2) be more likely to meet someone who matches not only who you are, but also what you want. Overall, this time of heightened connectivity is further strengthening our most solid relationships so when we are together again, there will be an even more sense of working together toward a common goal—mainly the bigger matters of world peace and environmental manageability.
Globally
In global news, expect U.S.-China tensions and increased conflicts in Eastern Europe to become more prominent in news headlines. Climate news will focus on unprecedented flooding this fall and winter, followed by a change in landscapes. These shifts on our world stage will make it clear as to who we most want to spend our time with. Old bosses, relationships that have outlived their time, and even unhealthy, long-term family connections will fall away, to be replaced with relationships you consciously choose in 2021 and beyond. Truths will come to the surface. Only the most genuine associations will remain, and this shake-up will be an improvement for everyone involved. Many of us have been basically collectively waking up, me included. You are not alone. As our relationship to the environment shifts and the call to stop manipulating our ecosystem becomes louder, standards for personal relationships will heighten, too. Another theme of this card is sexuality, and in these times that means an extended period of waiting for the much-anticipated post-plague sexcapade. We’re not there yet so just sit tight until the time comes. It’s going to be a while.
At Home
Meanwhile, expect humanity to get creative about new ways to “hook up” through technology, including reaching out to farther expanses of the universe beyond the Milky Way Galaxy, particularly through sound and specifically with the magic of music. Connecting with distant galaxies while social distancing on Earth will generate news headlines that comment on the communicative ironies of our times. What will this technology look like when it comes to forming new relationships? I see online town squares rife with added scents and tactile sensations that are also a hybrid of social media and 3-D video games, a symbolic burning of money as one of the early activities in these town square meetings, “Politically Incorrect Cafés,” and students attempting to take over schools with demands for a more direct, egalitarian democratic system in academia. I’m not suggesting any of this, just sharing a futuristic vision I had while in meditation.*
In Summary
In sum, we’re moving into a period when tensions between peace and war will increase, with peace-loving people of every age and especially younger generations demanding a permanent end to military warfare. At the same time, those in power who are drawn to destruction for profit will amplify their attempts to impair humanitarian efforts by engaging in heightened global conflict. In terms of what you can do (besides becoming or remaining politically active and informed), the message of this card is to be the change you hope to see in society. In other words, if you want more peace and love in your life, be peaceful and loving. If you want to be loved, love, but don’t expect reciprocation from any particular source. Stay in the energy of imagining you’re sending universal love to all other beings, and trust in the infinite source of life that brought you here in the first place to give you all you need when the time and place is optimal for the spirit of who you are, what you seek, and the nature of your destiny.
You can read more from Kyra at her website here.
NOTE: Please consult with your financial advisor regarding all financial decisions.
