Two of Pentacles
A young man, in the act of dancing, has a pentacle in either hand, and they are joined by that endless cord which is like the number 8 reversed. Divinatory Meanings: On the one hand it is represented as a card of gaiety, recreation and its connexions, which is the subject of the design; but it is read also as news and messages in writing, as obstacles, agitation, trouble, embroilment. Reversed: Enforced gaiety, simulated enjoyment, literal sense, handwriting, composition, letters of exchange.
A. E. Waite, Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1911)
A young man, in the act of dancing, has a pentacle in either hand, and they are joined by that endless cord which is like the number 8 reversed. Divinatory Meanings: On the one hand it is represented as a card of gaiety, recreation and its connexions, which is the subject of the design; but it is read also as news and messages in writing, as obstacles, agitation, trouble, embroilment. Reversed: Enforced gaiety, simulated enjoyment, literal sense, handwriting, composition, letters of exchange.
Getting excited with the possibility of a material project. Someone is making an offer that could later bear fruit. Exchange, developing, creating together, building up, use of natural, present, available power to invest effort in new projects. Willingness to try several things at once and to take risks to utilize talents. It needs flexibility and change is the support of stability. It means willingness to put money and energy to work and shifting resources, play with money. Transformation, friction, progress, renewal.
2 of Rainbows: Moment to Moment
As this figure moves across the stones, he steps lightly and non-seriously, and at the same time absolutely balanced and alert. Behind the swirling, ever-changing waters we can see the shapes of buildings; there appears to be a city in the background. The man is in the marketplace but at the same time outside of it, maintaining his balance and able to watch it from above.
This card challenges us to move away from our preoccupations with other spaces and other times, and stay alert to what is happening in the here and now. Life is a great ocean in which you can play if you drop all your judgments, your preferences and the attachment to the details of your long-term plans. Be available to what comes your way, as it comes. And don't worry if you stumble or fall; just pick yourself up, dust yourself off, have a good laugh, and carry on.
Tarot of the Ages - Mario Garizio ©1988 U.S. Games Systems, Inc.
The duality of the number Two is particularly strong in the Two of Pentacles because it implies both balance and change, a combination of the inactive and the active that at first seems rather absurd. After all, if something is constantly changing, how can it be kept in balance? Seeing that balance is also a dynamic quality is the key to understanding the energy of the Two of Pentacles. It's like a juggler who keeps his balls in constant motion but always under his control.
The Two of Pentacles is often a sign that a change in your life in general, and your financial situation in particular, is almost certain. This card embodies the principle of "life at the edge of chaos" - too much change and life falls apart, too little change and it stagnates. Constant change and self-improvement is the only way to develop the body and the mind, and the Two of Pentacles is certainly an advocate of this philosophy. If you have been feeling bored lately, have some fun for a change! But if you are not working at all because you're playing all the time, cut back a little. The principle of balance is the one that ultimately rules here. In terms of the material world alone, the Two of Pentacles is often a sign that you have several projects underway all at once. These projects can be work related, personal hobbies, or other matters. This card can even show the dynamic balance between family and career. It is usually a sign that you have everything under control, for the moment. But even a master juggler cannot juggle forever, and this card is often a reminder that you will have to cut back sooner or later. This could mean neglecting one project in order to finish another. Dropping one project is preferable to dropping them all.
Going hand in hand with this idea is the warning that trying to take on any more projects at this time would probably be a bad idea. When a juggler has perfectly balanced two balls, and a third ball is added, he may continue to juggle them dextrously - or they may all fall to the ground. In times like this, the Two of Pentacles tells you to be flexible. If an opportunity comes along that you can't afford to miss, but you already have a lot of projects to watch already, one of those may have to be sacrificed so you can take on the new opportunity. Above all, balance must be maintained in the face of sweeping changes.
Tarot of the Dream Enchantress ©2009 Lo Scarabeo