Exploring the imagery in the Two of Wands
Lately I have been thinking about how important it is to give ourselves something to look forward to, and to continue to focus on pouring energy into things that feel inspiring.
I think that when we all work on putting good into the world – whether that be through your creativity, acts of kindness, spiritual gifts, or anything else that lights you up – it makes a difference in the world. All of these things have a ripple effect.
A couple of years ago, I read Julia Cameron’s book Walking in This World. If you’re familiar with Cameron’s work, she wrote the popular book The Artist’s Way about creative process. Walking in This World is a later title of hers, which talks about how to sustain and maintain your creativity once you’ve gotten started.
In it, Cameron wrote about how important it can be to maintain a creative practice, even when it feels hard and life is busy. Her reasoning is that putting energy into doing something you enjoy gives you energy back.
I needed to hear that when I read it at the time, and I’ve held onto that nugget of wisdom since. When I make time to write, any stress or frustration dissipates. It doesn’t matter if I am writing something good, or if it’s messy and needs work. What helps is that I am writing, period.
And when I am putting time into something that is important to me, everything else falls into place. I don’t greet chores and responsibilities with resentment. I don’t have that nagging voice in the back of my head saying, “Why haven’t you gotten any writing done?”
Because I have done it, and doing it makes space in my life for all the rest.
Sometimes just showing up for yourself is enough.
And this is what I often see when the Two of Wands is at play in a reading. One of the most common concerns clients bring to tarot readings is that they feel they give all of their time away to other people and priorities, and have little left for themselves at the end of the day.
They know they have more potential than what the day-to-day grind allows them to access. They talk about projects left on the backburner and old dreams left to the wayside.
Starting something can be easy. We’re all familiar with the spark of inspiration and excitement of a new idea: It’s the doorway of the Ace of Wands, the great idea that seems to be handed to us by the universe.
But once we get into the Two of Wands, now our hands are full. In the Rider Waite Smith imagery, the figure has got the whole world in his hands – literally.
He clutches a wand in the other, and leaves another to the side.
Sometimes I look at that neglected wand as all the things we put aside when we try to be everything to everyone all the time.
Realistically, we can’t take on all of the world’s problems, no matter how big our hearts.
Moreso, the figure in the Two of Wands is looking backwards, unable to move forward into the future until they reconcile their priorities.
What needs to be put done so that something else can be picked up?
What kind of energy is waiting to be accessed when we stoke the flames of inspiration and keep that fire lit?
These are questions that I often see lying beneath the surface of this card.
And of course, once we move into the Three of Wands we see a whole different vista, looking off into a new horizon, with one hand working, the other free to grasp at whatever opportunity may come next. A remember that when we leave room in our lives for what matters, everything can start to change.
Is there something you’ve been neglecting that you’d like to get back to this year?
Is there a practice or process you would like to sustain this year?
If so, reflect upon the Ace, Two and Three of Wands as a series of talismans to help you follow through on your inspirational endeavours.
Until next time,
Liz
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