Upright Meaning
The Two of Swords points to a defensive position that we may have adopted in response to some problem or situation - or to a mentality that has become entrenched because of the things we have experienced in our lives. This is an understandable reaction, but the result could be a deliberate closing of our eyes to all or some aspects of our circumstances. The woman in the image is holding her arms tense, the Swords held up and ready to strike: no-one can come near her, which is another result of retreating so far into ourselves that we view everyone else as a potential enemy.
The disturbed water behind the figure suggests troubled emotions and the Two of Swords can sometimes appear when we may be prone to outbursts as a result of attempts to repress our feelings. The card reminds us, that rather than being used defensively, the Swords can be put to better use as a means of cutting through the confusion and fear that swirls around us at this time.
Reversed Meaning
When the Two of Swords is reversed, we are ready to put down our Swords and lower our blindfold. This can be a scary, even overwhelming prospect, but we have come to realize that the alternative is untenable: we cannot keep those Swords up forever, nor remain blind to what is around us.
The card can often indicate indecision, or that we feel ourselves to be at an impasse. In this case, the reversed Two of Swords reminds us that we cannot prevaricate forever, or avoid having to come to a decision. Let your heart guide your actions and choose, always, with good intentions behind your actions.
The body of water depicted in the card and the presence of the moon both suggest intuition and links the Two of Swords to the High Priestess. Whereas the High Priestess is secure and peaceful in her deep inner awareness, the figure in the Two is not yet trusting her inner guide, but instead is trying to ward off the world and the threats she perceives that it presents to her.
