Two of Swords: The Power of the Pause
You’re at a cosmic crossroads, and the Two of Swords asks you to stay right there. No rushing, no forcing, no premature leaps—just the quiet, almost unbearable stillness of the in-between. It’s the moment before a decision is made, before the scales tip in one direction or the other. And while society teaches us to move, act, decide, the Two of Swords reminds us that indecision can be a form of power.
The Symbolism of the Two of Swords
In traditional tarot imagery, the Two of Swords depicts a blindfolded woman seated before a vast body of water, holding two swords in perfect balance. The scene suggests a need for stillness, a deliberate refusal to see things in black and white. The swords represent logic and decision-making, but they are crossed—blocking movement, signaling a stalemate. The water behind her speaks to the emotional depth beneath the surface, while the crescent moon hanging in the sky reminds us that clarity often comes in phases, not all at once.
This is not a card of action; it is a card of contemplation, hesitation, and strategic stillness.
This week, the platypus steps in as an alternative guide to this energy. Just as the Two of Swords traditionally features a blindfolded figure, the platypus hunts with its eyes closed, relying on instinct rather than sight. It moves through murky waters, sensing what it needs without overanalyzing. This is the wisdom of the moment: you don’t need to see the whole picture yet—you just need to trust the pause.
Your Cosmic Compass for the Week
Monday-Wednesday: The Waiting Game
Ever notice how a platypus doesn’t hunt by sight? Instead, it uses electroreceptors in its bill to sense movement beneath the water. It closes its eyes, ears, and nostrils, relying entirely on instinct. That’s you right now.
With Mercury squaring Jupiter, new information is coming—but not yet. Rushing to conclusions will only lead to false starts. The universe is rolling out details in its own time, and if you push too hard for clarity now, you might miss the bigger picture.
Hold. Your. Position.
Thursday-Friday: The Emotional Check-In
The astrology gets even trickier as Juno moves into Sagittarius, making you question the balance between freedom and commitment in relationships. Meanwhile, Ceres in Pisces amplifies every emotion, making it hard to tell whether you’re longing for space, security, or something in between.
Maybe you’re second-guessing a commitment. Maybe a casual fling suddenly feels weightier than expected. Maybe a friendship dynamic is shifting, or a career decision is hanging in the balance. Whatever it is, don’t force an answer just yet. Clarity is brewing, but like any slow burn, it needs time.
Let yourself sit in the questions without demanding immediate solutions. Some choices need to be felt, not forced.
Weekend: The Release
If the week has felt like walking through fog, the weekend finally cuts through the haze. Mars goes direct, and suddenly, the indecision that’s been plaguing you lifts. If you’ve been paralyzed by overthinking, this is the moment the spell breaks.
That difficult conversation? It’s happening. That move you’ve been debating? It’s go time. That hesitation you’ve been clinging to? Gone.
Just like the platypus eventually dives in after its moment of stillness, so will you. And when the moment arrives, you’ll know—because instead of feeling forced, it will feel right.
What the Two of Swords Wants You to Know
- Indecision is not failure. It’s an essential part of decision-making.
- Not all choices need to be made immediately. Some things need to simmer before they become clear.
- Your intuition is louder when you’re quiet. Pause long enough to hear what it’s been trying to tell you.
- Avoid making decisions from a place of emotional turbulence. The best moves come from clarity, not chaos.
This card is about honoring the power of the pause. The moment before the leap. The breath before the words. The silence before the answer. Let it work for you.
The Symbolism of the Two of Swords
The Two of Swords is rich with imagery, each detail adding another layer to its meaning.
The Blindfold
The figure in the classic Rider-Waite tarot deck is blindfolded, suggesting a lack of clarity, a refusal to see, or an intentional withdrawal from external distractions. This isn’t blindness—it’s a choice. She’s tuning out the noise, stepping away from logic and reason to tap into something deeper. This week, the message is clear: your vision may be blocked, but that doesn’t mean you can’t see.
Just like a platypus hunts with its eyes closed, relying on instinct rather than sight, you don’t need all the details to know what feels right. Sometimes, your best decisions come from what you sense, not what you see.
The Two Swords
Swords represent the mind—thoughts, logic, decisions, and communication. The fact that there are two, crossed in perfect balance, suggests a stalemate, an internal debate, or a moment of mental tension where neither option seems better than the other. It’s the classic “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” feeling.
But here’s the secret: balance doesn’t last forever. Eventually, something gives. The mind can only hold two opposing truths for so long before clarity emerges.
The Moon
The crescent moon in the background reminds us that this is a phase, not a permanent state. The moon rules emotions, intuition, and cycles—this moment of indecision will pass, just like the moon waxes and wanes. The truth will come in its own time, and when it does, you’ll know.
The Water
Behind the seated figure, a vast body of water stretches to the horizon. Water in tarot represents emotion, depth, and the subconscious. The presence of water behind the figure suggests that while the decision seems purely logical, emotions are quietly influencing it beneath the surface. If you’ve been trying to make a “rational” choice, this card is a reminder: feelings matter. You can’t logic your way out of something your soul knows to be true.
