The Two of Wands is the second tarot card in the Minor Arcana’s suit of Wands and builds upon the seed of potential depicted in the Ace of Wands. It represents the desire to take action and formulate a plan toward a dream or goal.
The Two of Wands corresponds to the element of fire and to the 1st decan of zodiac sign Aries (0-9 degrees). This decan is associated with the beginning of spring in the Northern hemisphere and the emergence of new life after winter’s frost. Similarly, the new ideas or seeds of potential which took root in the Ace of Wands can now be nurtured by making plans for expansion.
Where the key meanings of the tarot deck’s Major Arcana focus on life’s overarching themes and events, Minor Arcana cards like the Two of Wands explore and reveal the more subtle changes impacting one’s day-to-day life. Similar to the Two of Pentacles, in which the card’s implicit tarot meaning speaks to a pendulum swing between two choices, the Two of Wands tarot card description considers the possibilities that lay beyond the fork in the road.
Two of Wands Keywords
Upright Keywords | Reversed Keywords |
|---|---|
planning, wistful longing, lofty aspirations, desire for expansion and discovery | fear of taking a risk, staying in one’s comfort zone, overly focused on future, restlessness |
Description of the Two of Wands Tarot Card
The Two of Wands builds on the theme of new potential represented by the preceding card, the Ace of Wands. The twos in the Minor Arcana, as with the significance of number two in numerology, are linked by the theme of duality. In the Two of Wands, this duality is seen as a kind of portal or gate that frames the young man and represents the threshold between the current reality and the longed-for future. That same threshold precedes the sense of progress and hopefulness found in the Three of Wands.
In the Rider Waite Smith deck, a young man dressed in richly colored red robes (symbolizing his passion and energy) looks out over the horizon while holding a globe in his hand. The globe is symbolic of the vastness of his dreams and the loftiness of his aspirations and speaks to his desire to conquer the world and attain worldly riches.
In his other hand, he grips a wand, which is affixed to the castle wall, suggesting that he’s still firmly anchored to the safety of home. He gazes out onto the horizon, overlooking the sea, which symbolizes his desire for travel, expansion, and discovery beyond his fortress walls.
Two of Wands Upright Meaning
In the upright position of a tarot reading, the Two of Wands speak to a growing awareness of a grand vision and the desire to map out a strategy toward the attainment of a cherished goal. There is a tension between desiring the comfort and safety of the known while simultaneously hungering for expansion, discovery, and travel.
The young man’s outward gaze and the globe in his hand conjure an air of wistful longing, a feeling of dissatisfaction with the current situation, and a desire to escape the confines of the familiar. This card can speak to a strong desire for enrichment through broadening your horizons intellectually or environmentally and a desire to stretch yourself to become the person you aspire to be.
As the young man contemplates all of his dreams and aspirations, he feels a sense of his personal power and agency. This card speaks to a need for growth, a connection to one’s deepest ambitions, and the propulsive force of desire that both motivates one to take risks and can also leave an aftertaste of perpetual dissatisfaction if not balanced with an awareness of the gifts in the present moment.
Love and Relationships (Upright Meaning)
The upright Two of Wands speaks to the excitement of discovery and the stirring of desire for growth and connection. It can symbolize your feeling that the relationship holds enormous potential and that it will be a vehicle for your personal growth and expansion. It can also speak to a desire for a new type of relationship that takes you out of habitual and familiar patterns.
This card can also symbolize that you (or a partner) are more focused on pursuing your desire for achievement in the world than on cultivating a romantic bond. It can speak to an individualistic orientation that privileges personal ambition over a romantic relationship.
Love/relationships upright keywords | Career/Finance upright keywords |
|---|---|
the excitement of discovery, great potential, desire for growth and connection, individualistic character | ambition, desire for achievement, strategy, melancholy |
Career and Finance (Upright Meaning)
The Two of Wands speaks to great ambition for achievement and the desire to pursue your dreams. You could be in the planning phase and may benefit from drawing out a map of strategy that will help you take concrete action toward your goals. You are fueled by a strong sense of your power, which motivates you to realize your big visions.
This card can also speak to a kind of longing or desire which is so deeply felt that it carries a twinge of melancholy. If you are feeling overwhelmed by the grandness of your vision compared to your current reality, this card suggests that you channel your energy by breaking down the big vision into smaller, actionable steps, which you can implement over time.
Two of Wands Reversed Meaning
In the reverse position of a tarot spread, the Two of Wands card can speak to a persistent focus on the future at the expense of being in the present moment. This card can appear when you are obsessing over what will happen but are neglecting to take the necessary action in order to realize those desires. It asks if you are overlooking the gifts in your life and if returning to the present moment can help to ground your energy.
This card can signify restlessness and dissatisfaction with the present situation. Perhaps you feel a strong desire to expand beyond mundane life and venture out into unknown territory (either metaphorically or literally). You could be feeling restricted by circumstance or because you still need to formulate a plan of action.
This card can also appear reversed when you are ruminating on taking action toward a dream but are stalling due to a fear of the unknown or fear of taking risks. The breadth of your vision requires you to take a leap of faith or venture beyond your comfort zone, but you are feeling unsure of your power or are afraid to risk losing your comfort and security. This card suggests reconnecting to your sense of agency and power and returning to the drawing board to formulate an actionable plan forward.
Love and Relationships (Reversed Meaning)
The reversed Two of Wands can indicate that you are getting lost in rumination on the future or the past and are potentially overlooking the blessings you currently have in your life. You could be trying to craft the perfect relationship in your mind, driven by an intense desire to plan your future and how your life will unfold. This card is a reminder that trying to control the future is preventing you from enjoying the present.
The Two of Wands reversed can also indicate that your focus on future planning is leaving you feeling a bit isolated and trapped in your head. It is an encouragement to reach out to others, enjoy the relationships in your life, and seek new connections outside of your normal comfort zone.
Love/relationships reversed keywords | Career/finance reversed keywords |
|---|---|
ruminating on the future or the past, obsessive planning, a need to release control, isolation | overwhelmed by ambition, fixating on the future, brink of expansion, the need to step outside of your comfort zone |
Career and Finance (Reversed Meaning)
The reversed Two of Wands meaning can indicate that you are feeling overwhelmed by the scope of your ambitions and desires and are trying to manage these feelings by avoiding decision making and fixating on the future. This card asks if you can return to the present moment and focus on what is currently within your control. When you focus on creating an actionable plan, you can find a balance between exerting control and letting life guide you.
This card can also appear reversed when you are on the brink of expanding into a new project or venture, but fear is keeping you stuck. This new phase of development may require that you risk stepping out of your comfort zone and into new territory. This card acknowledges the fear you may be feeling about long term goals, and encourages you to reconnect to your personal power in order to move forward with confidence and achieve financial stability or career growth.