Each tarot suit has its own meaning. Pentacles are associated with the element of Earth, and the energy of prosperity, growth, and fertility.
Cups are Water, which is tied to the emotions. Swords are Air, which carries the energy of logic and the intellect.
Wands are Fire. The element of Fire is all about movement and energy. It’s the power of creation and destruction.
It can represent innovation and creativity, or intense struggles. These cards show up in a reading when there’s a lot of transition and movement going on.
About Two of Wands
- Keywords: Progress, decisions, planning, the potential for new discoveries
- Keywords (Reversed): Lack of progress, lack of planning, fear of the unknown
- Yes or No: Maybe
- Yes or No (Reversed): No
- Element: Fire
- Zodiac Sign: Aries
In the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot, the Two of Wands is represented by a man dressed in the colors of fire — reds and oranges. He stands atop a castle or tower of some sort, beside a stone adorned with fruit and flowers.
There are two staffs to either side of him. One hand rests on the staff to his left, while his other hand holds a small globe. He gazes out over the countryside around him. In the background, there are rolling hills, mountains, a lake or sea, and small cottages.
This card is very rich in symbolism. The man’s castle represents security — he’s safe atop it, where nothing can reach him. It’s only by venturing out that he can actually come in contact with the water, lush greenery, mountains, and other people.
His castle is decorated with a flower and fruit motif, and he holds a globe in his hand, but these are just images of the real world outside of his castle walls. If he really wants to experience them, he has to step out.
That isn’t to say that the outside is inherently better than the safety of his castle. The castle is safe and comfortable, even if it isn’t as stimulating.
On the other hand, mountains represent struggles. Water represents the emotions, including the unpleasant ones. The viewer doesn’t know anything about the cottages or people in them. Are they friends or foes?
See also: Check out Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot decks here.
Two of Wands Meaning (Upright)
The Two of Wands appears upright when you have two choices in front of you. These often, but not always, relate to travel. The man in the castle holds a globe and stares out to sea, suggesting that he’s considering traveling.
You may be experiencing a sense of discontentment with your life right now. Making a change may not make things better, just different. It’s up to you to decide the correct path for you.
This card comes after the Ace of Wands in the Wands cycle. Where the Ace represents a new beginning, this card is progression. The man is looking at his globe and the sea, forming a plan.
You can’t wait for happiness to simply come to you. You have to make an actionable plan and follow through, and now is the time to figure out what you need to do. Will you stay where you are, or will you move forward?
Two of Wands Meaning (Reversed)
When reversed, the Two of Wands highlights a fear of change or a deep sense of indecisiveness. The man no longer wants to go to sea. Instead, he’s chosen to stay safe within his castle walls, even if it means his life stays the same.
It can also signify a lack of planning. As mentioned above, the Two of Wands is the next step after the Ace in the Wands progression.
It represents choosing not to take that second step toward realizing the potential embodied by the Ace. This can happen for a lot of reasons, including a fear of success or feelings of impatience.
See also: Check out alternate Tarot decks here.
Two of Wands Meaning – Love & Relationships (Upright)
Most people desire stability in their relationships. After all, if you’re happily and mutually in love with someone, why would you want that to change? With this in mind, it makes sense that the Two of Wands isn’t really a positive omen when it comes to love.
For people in relationships, it can signify feeling trapped or discontented. There might be a “grass is always greener” mentality.
It may also represent the desire to take things to the next level and deepen your commitment to your partner, though this meaning will typically be backed up by other cards in a love spread.
For single people, the Two of Wands can signify having a choice between two partners, or a partner and remaining single. One option may be more adventurous and intimidating, while the other is more comfortable.
Two of Wands Meaning – Love & Relationships (Reversed)
When reversed, the sense of discontentment is amplified. If you’re in a relationship, you or your partner may feel that you’re staying because you fear being on your own, and the relationship is continuing out of a sense of safety rather than passion.
It can also indicate differing life goals when it comes to moving or travel. One partner may want to live somewhere else, while the other wants to stay where they are.
For single people, the Two of Wands can represent a choice between two options that don’t seem very desirable. The card’s orientation indicates that now isn’t a great time to make a choice like this.
You have more options than you realize, so give yourself time to see them. Don’t rush into making a decision at this moment. Let the situation evolve so you can make a more informed choice.
See also: Check out the current top 100 Best-Selling Tarot books in the USA here.
Two of Wands Meaning – As Feelings (Upright)
Upright, the Two of Wands indicates an excitement about moving forward. Twos are partnerships, and the suit of Wands represents swift motion.
This card, specifically, is all about the desire to link up and make progress. The person in question sees you as a suitable partner and they’re excited about the idea of a relationship.
Two of Wands Meaning – As Feelings (Reversed)
Reversed, the Two of Wands is indecisiveness. This person either isn’t sure how they feel about you or fears the unknown too much to want to commit.
Something is making them want to keep things just the way they are for now. It’s also possible that this person has discovered that you’re everything they want, but they still aren’t happy.
Two of Wands Meaning – As Reconciliation (Upright)
When upright, the Two of Wands is a good omen for reconciliation. This person has discovered that you were a good team.
You might not get back together romantically just yet, but it’s highly likely that you’ll become good friends or business partners.
That might be just what you need to become romantically involved again.
Two of Wands Meaning – As Reconciliation (Reversed)
When reversed, the Two of Wands isn’t a very good sign. There’s fear here — either fear of getting back together, or fear of being alone.
On one hand, fear of reconciling means that it’s not likely to happen. On the other, fear of being alone isn’t a good basis for a relationship.
If the relationship rekindles, it’s likely to just repeat the same patterns as it did before.
Two of Wands Meaning – Careers, Business & Money (Upright)
In a career or business spread, the Two of Wands represents a decision. This can be fairly straightforward, like deciding whether to stay at your current job, or pursue another opportunity.
For entrepreneurs, it may represent expansion or travel plans related to growing your business. In either case, now’s the time to lay the groundwork for your future prosperity and success.
Financially, the Two of Wands is a sign of stability. The man in the card is safe and comfortable inside of his castle and privileged enough to be able to consider traveling at his leisure.
You can take this opportunity to enjoy this period of stability and make plans to invest your finances for the future.
Two of Wands Meaning – Careers, Business & Money (Reversed)
When reversed, the Two of Wands in a career or business reading can mean restriction. It may represent an opportunity that was passed up, leading to regret, or a business decision that just didn’t pan out like you’d hoped.
In a money reading, it represents financial instability and a lack of balance. You might have made a financial decision that didn’t work out for you and are now feeling the pinch.
This isn’t a great time to make investments. Instead, work on balancing your income and expenditures first.
Two of Wands: Yes or No?
Upright, the Two of Wands is neither a “Yes” nor a “No.” It’s usually interpreted as more of a “Maybe.” Twos represent balance and choices, so, the outcome of your query will depend heavily on choices you have yet to make.
When reversed, the Two of Wands is a “No.” You might be focusing on the wrong priorities right now, which is holding you back from the outcome you desire. On the other hand, you may simply be asking the wrong questions.
The Two of Wands is when the suit of Wands starts to get moving. The Ace represents the seeds of a new beginning, and the Two is the planning stage.
When this card shows up, it’s a call to lay the groundwork to progress toward your goals.
See also: For more Tarot Card Meanings, check out our list of all 78 Tarot Cards and their meanings here.
As an Amazon Associate, Terravara earns from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to readers.