Arieli's Two of Swords

Month: Tishrei (Days of Rain)

Numerology: The number two indicates choice, duality, and the attempt to find balance. In Pythagorean philosophy, the number two (dyad) is the principle of separation and creation. Twos suggest dialogue, communication, and the potential to create something. According to Joanna Powell Colbert, twos mean balance, receptivity, attraction, or a test of choice. The second sefirah on the Tree of Life is Chokhmah, Wisdom.

Arieli’s Two of Swords: A tallit covers the head and torso of a person kneeling, with upraised arms, before two pillars. Beyond the pillars, two hands holding swords part thick clouds. Beyond the clouds is a long pool of water that leads, between foliage, to a tall structure. The image is suggestive of the Beit HaMikdash and Gan Eden. The Temple faced west, in the direction of the Garden of Eden. The vision beyond the pillars of the Temple, is suggestive of the two angels and fiery sword that God placed in Gan Eden to keep humans from the Tree of Life. (The words for ‘sword’ and ‘angel’ used in the biblical story, keruv and cherev, are similar.) It is also suggestive of the gates of the Heavenly Temple, God’s home since the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem.

Arieli assigns these meanings to the Two of Swords:
Upright: a lofty dream, aspirations and faith, heartfelt prayer, vision, expectation, hope
Reversed: what you desire is visible, but beyond your grasp

Arieli’s description of the card: This card shows a person, kneeling and calling out to God, before a portal guarded by two swords. Gan Eden is partly visible through obscurity and haze. God drove us out of paradise and it is not easy to return. Just as God set a flaming sword to guard the way to the Tree of Life, so here two swords guard the gate to Gan Eden and deter those who may try to enter. During Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, early in the month of Tishrei (represented by the Two, Three, and Four of Swords), prayers, especially penitential prayers, in synagogues continue with hardly any pause. It is customary to pour our hearts out to our Creator during this time and a person immersed in prayer may see a glimpse of Gan Eden. [Arieli has conflated a number of gates from Jewish tradition in this card: the gates of the earthly Gan Eden, the celestial Gan Eden, the Temple, and heaven. The liturgy on the evening of Yom Kippur reminds us that the gates of heaven are always open to heartfelt prayer.]

The RWS Two of Swords: Seated comfortably on a small stone bench, near the sea, a blindfolded woman holds two swords aloft with crossed arms. The tide is out and a waxing crescent moon indicates it’s the middle of the night. (In The Robin Wood Tarot, the blindfolded woman sits upon a ruin while the surf behind her is more active.)

Traditionally, the Two of Swords card signifies: The combination of suit and number suggests being of two minds, indecision. The blindfold, reminiscent of Lady Justice, also suggests the idea of neutrality or impartiality. Often this card means a refusal to face the reality and acknowledge change. However, wiser people understand it to mean honoring the past and refusing to let anything sidetrack you from your ideals. The blindfold may indicate that you are looking within for guidance and insight. “The suggestion of harmony and other favourable readings must be considered in a qualified manner, as Swords generally are not symbolical of beneficent forces in human affairs.” Reversed, it may suggest: releasing the past, making a difficult decision, or betrayal of self.

Comparison between the cards: The RWS figure is alone and silent. Arieli’s figure calls out to God.

Hebrew Letter Correspondence: The numeral 2 is the letter בּ, which the Sefer Yetzirah connects to the moon and wisdom.

Relationship with Major Arcana: The Two of Swords is related to the second sefirah on the Tree of Life: Chokhmah, wisdom. Wisdom is the bride of God and she was present when heavens and earth were created. She is a female figure in Jewish literature.

However, 16th century Lurianic Kabbalah, linked Chokhmah with Father and Binah with Mother. Perhaps that is why Arieli has assigned the Two of Swords and his Magician to Chokmah.

Tarot has a couple of bizarre twists on mathematics. In one system, you add the digits of a card to reduce it to a single number. In the other system, you reduce a card’s number by ten. Thus, each of the following cards has a value of two:

2=2 Arieli’s Magician (RWS High Priestess)
11=1+1=2 Arieli’s Wheel (RWS Justice)
20=2+0=2 Arieli’s Sun (RWS Judgment)
12=12-10=2 Arieli’s Justice RWS Hanged Man
22=22-10=12-10=2 Arieli’s World (no RWS card)

The only obvious connection between Arieli’s Two of Swords and his Magician is a pillar suggestive of the Temple.

The RWS assignments work especially well with Robin Wood’s High Priestess and Hanged Man, as all three figures seem to be looking inward for knowledge.

Magical uses according to Tyson: to mend a quarrel; to restore peace or arrange a truce.