(The above image is a copy of The Two of Cups card in a standard Rider-Waite Tarot deck. The 3 symbols pointed out above are explained below.)
Card Description
While the the Ace of Cups focused on the individual, the Two of Cups focuses on relationships. It widens the previous call for love and creativity by applying it to other people. The Two of Cups encourages mutual respect among others and characterises love as an act of healing.
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For more information about The Two of Cups card, check out A. E. Waite’s description here.
Point 1 – THE TWO FIGURES
In the Two of Cups, two figures stand facing each other holding two cups. Both figures show only half of themselves. The figure on the left, a woman, is dressed in the colors of The High Priestess, the divine feminine. The figure on the right, a man, is dressed in the colors of The Fool, the divine masculine. Together, their separate halves complement each other in a yin/yang paradox similar to the two figures in The Lovers card.
Point 2 – THE RED LION
Above the two cups, there flies the head of a red lion. The color red almost always illustrates passion while the lion normally symbolizes sexual energy. Taken together, the red lion reinforces the allusion to The Lovers card mentioned above.
Point 3 – THE STAFF OF HERMES
Between the two cups, there stands the Staff of Hermes, or a caduceus. The caduceus is a traditional symbol for the medical field and emphasizes the healing properties of water, the element associated with the suit of cups.
Tarot Reading
Upright
An Upright Two of Cups encourages the interdependent flow of love and respect for relationships both romantic and platonic. While the Ace of Cups emphasized love generated from within, the Two of Cups emphasizes love generated between two people. Perhaps you are beginning a new romantic or professional partnership. If you make sure those partnerships are founded on mutual respect, they will certainly flourish.
Reverse
A Reverse Two of Cups reminds us that everything starts from within. In order to have relationships based on mutual respect, you must first respect yourself. A Reverse Two of Cups suggests that perhaps you are not sincere in some of your relationships. It encourages you to look inward and to first love who you are in order for others to then do the same.
For more Tarot Card Meanings, check out our blog here.
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About the author: John Taylor is a content writer and freelancer through the company Upwork.com. You may view his freelancing profile here. He has a B. A. in English, with a specialty in technical writing, from Texas A&M University and a M. A. in English from the University of Glasgow. You may view his previous articles about Tarot here and his LinkedIn profile here.
