Two of Wands tarot card

Two of Wands: The Card of Planning, Future Vision, and Discovery.

Last Updated: March 19, 2024.

The Two of Wands is the second card in the suit of Wands (also known as the suit of Rods or Staffs) and one of the fifty-six suit cards from the minor arcana. In divinatory tarot, the Suit of Wands is associated with the element of fire and traditionally signifies creativity, inspiration, ambition, determination and willpower. Each card of this suit represents aspects of our lives such as career, travel and spirituality.

Divination practices such as cartomancy can help us make decisions, offer guidance, and help us tune into our intuition when we are at a crossroads in our lives. Understanding the meanings of each tarot card can help you sharpen your interpretative skills so you can get the most out of your readings.

The Two of Wands is a card that’s here to point out a time of being between 2 decisions, but now is not the right time to actively be making a choice between the options in front of you. This is a time to contemplate what action is necessary, to have as much knowledge in front of you as possible for you to weigh up your pros and cons effectively. There is a desire to expand beyond your current comfort zones, to see the world for what it has to offer, to figuratively spread your wings and fly. The curiousness is nibbling at your ear and this card advises you to turn to your intuition for guidance on what’s the best course of action for yourself. Do you stay, or do you go?

In this article, we will discuss the meanings of the Two of Wands in various tarot reading contexts as well as the different symbols and nuances that can be found within this court card.

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Pictorial Symbolism in the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck

The artworks from the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck contain deeper esoteric meanings that tarotists love to decipher. The Two of Wands is represented by an individual standing between two tall wands, holding a globe in their hands, and looking out at the vast world in front of them. Looking onward, this individual represents the inner wanderlust and ‘what ifs’ we experience as humans, the desire to leave our comfort zone, no matter how scary. 

Two of Wands from the Rider-Waite-Smith deck

Holding the globe in their hands represents the power they have over their world and their domain right now, this is where they are at their safest, but being safe doesn’t always mean being happy. This card reminds us that whilst where we stand may be where we’re at the top of our game, basking in our own personal power, that nigging thought of “what’s out there?” can only be answered by taking that leap of faith.

The two of Wands key correspondences

Upright keywords

Decisions, two paths, waiting, options, partnerships, planning, moving, wanderlust, discontentment.

Reversed keywords

Unsure, restricted, fear of the unknown, worried about change, playing things safe, not taking chances, cancelled or delayed travels.

Yes or No

Neutral

Numerology

2

Element

Fire

Ruling Planet

Mars

Astrological Sign

Aries, Mars in Aries, March 21st to March 30th

What does the upright Two of Wands mean in the Tarot?

Right now, you are between two decisions, yet unable to come to a conclusion as to which direction you take. You aren’t ready to make that choice, and the presence of this Two of Wands is imploring you to make sure you assess your options carefully before making a choice. Long-term decisions should never be made in a split second. 

The discovery element of this card is pushing you to explore, expand, and push beyond your existing comfort zones. Knowledge is power, and that power will help you make all the decisions that you need for your future, you may even be looking to travel abroad, across the seas, or at least travelling beyond your usual grounds – somewhere drastically further afield. 

Follow your intuition, and you’ll know what’s best, and use this time to further educate yourself in order to make the best decision possible based on your own future and the path you choose.

Upright Two of Wands

When pulled in the upright position, the Two of Wands is associated with decisions, two paths, options, partnerships, planning, moving, wanderlust, and discontentment.

What does the upright Two of Wands mean in a love reading

If you’re in a relationship, then the presence of the Two of Wands can indicate that things aren’t particularly the best between you and your partner right now. So, unfortunately, this isn’t a good omen to receive! You both may be feeling withdrawn from one another and the relationship as a whole. 

But whilst this card can signify two choices, it may also be pointing out a decision to be made between your current relationship, and a lover. So, it can indeed be pointing towards cheating – whether this means in a physical or emotional sense; a decision may need to be made on where interests truly lie. 

Or, on the other hand, if none of this relates to you, it could simply mean that you and your partner are potentially considering moving country, perhaps travelling or bringing a more spiritual element into your relationship. If you’re single, then you may be faced with making a decision between two very different romantic interests right now! 

Both have their own appeal, but you need to decide what’s best for you and your future.

What does the upright Two of Wands mean in a career reading?

When it comes to your job, the appearance of the Two of Wands suggests that you may be looking to choose between your current job or a new one! You may be unsure if stopping where you are is the best choice, especially when a fresh new opportunity may seem daring and exciting – but you still need to actively weigh up both options. 

Jumping a ship isn’t always the best option, but standing still isn’t always the answer either. Things must be weighed up. Or if you’re staying within your current company, then perhaps you are facing a different role or two. This could affect your tasks, your job title, and everything involved with your work life. 

Don’t make a decision without fully establishing all pros and cons, future-you will be thankful! 

The Two of Wands as feelings/emotions

If you are asking the tarot how someone feels about you, pulling the Two of Wands suggests that this individual is looking to progress beyond your current stance with the relationship/connection you have. 

They want to take things to a new level. This will be someone that’s weighing up all options and very much planning their next move on what’s best for the future – this person sees exciting times lying ahead! They are enticed by the idea of what things can become, and how things can grow and change between the two of you for the better.

The Two of Wands as a person

As a personality archetype, the Cautious Decision-Maker Two of Wands represents someone that is seen as the patient leader. This will be someone that’s self-assured and seems to have things figured out, almost as if they just always know what to do and when to do it. 

Usually associated with a calm yet dominant presence, this won’t be someone that’s ‘in your face’, but their aura carries an aspect of authority and importance, and people typically will have their attention drawn to this individual – and they know to watch and listen. 

The Two of Wands as advice

When asking for advice, the presence of the Two of Wands is suggesting that right now you need to pause until you properly assess what’s the best course of action. You need to stop and reflect in order to see the bigger picture to follow the right direction for you. 

What is the zodiac or astrological sign associated with the Two of Wands?

In traditional tarot, the Two of Wands is associated with the astrological sign of Aries. The astrological sign of Aries is represented by the ram, which is a symbol of determination, leadership, and independence. These qualities are also reflected in the Two of Wands, which suggests that the person receiving the card may be at a crossroads in their life, considering different options and making decisions about which direction to take.

Is the Two of Wands a yes or no card?

The Two of Wands is neither a clear yes nor a clear no, but very much a ‘maybe’ card when it comes to these types of questions. On one hand, it cannot guarantee something is the right option, but it also isn’t saying that it’s wrong either. Not everything is clear or guaranteed in life, but chances must be made in order to see what the outcome is. 

This Two is imploring you to tune in with your own intuition for guidance on the direction you require, follow your heart, you’ll know what to do. Gather all the knowledge and facts you require before proceeding, and see what other cards in your tarot spread have to say.

Below are some of my interpretations, as an experienced tarot practitioner, based on different types of questions:

Question: “Will I get the job?” 

Card interpretation: The Two of Wands popping up in this context could be telling you one of a few things. Firstly, it could be suggesting that perhaps you may be moving up the ladder within your existing job if you haven’t been applying for work elsewhere, or you may indeed be facing a new job opportunity – and thus having the decision to make on if you stay or if you go! This may be the type of job that requires you to travel, or potentially even stay abroad for periods of time (if not permanently move). But don’t rush into any decision without weighing up your pros and cons, and remember that the safest option isn’t always the most successful one in the end. 

Question: “Is this new person in my life good for me?” 

Card interpretation: The Two of Wands here could be indicating that this new individual is about to introduce you to a world of a new adventure. New and foreign experiences could be at hand with any friendship and connection established with this charming person. They will be the type of person to show you that dreams can be chased and achieved, so may offer you some learning opportunities along the way – things you can keep a hold of to assist with your own life path and successes!  

Question: “Will I achieve my current goals?”

Card interpretation: Do those current goals of yours, do they truly align with what your heart and soul desire? Are you chasing what you genuinely want? Or are you chasing things you felt you once needed, but have gone after it for so long that you’re hesitant to pull back and change plans now? It’s never too late to return to the drawing board – especially when it comes to your truest desires. Listen to your heart, tune in with your emotional state, and what do you want? It’s okay to pause, reflect, and plan anew. 

Question:  “Should I start my own business?”

Card interpretation: Whilst you may desire to start your own business, is it wise to be doing this alone? It’s okay to have a business partner, or to link up with other businesses if necessary, as the solo approach isn’t always the only path! You can ask for help and assistance, that’s 100% allowed. But if you do wish to go down this path, then this Two is urging you to make fully-fledged and thought-out plans before taking any sort of action whatsoever. You must do this carefully, and know the ins and outs of what you’re doing, for this to be successful. No rushing.

What does the reversed Two of Wands mean in the Tarot?

The reversed Two of Wands acknowledges how concerned you’re feeling about the unknown. You can be holding yourself back out of fear of what’s beyond your comfort zones. This behaviour can lead you to be settling for your life, and not search for something bigger and better things. 

You may want bigger and better, yet feel uncertain about how to achieve it, which way to go, and what to do. Even though you may be feeling disappointed during this time for whatever reason, this card is calling for you to turn inward and assess which direction you’re going in. 

Are you following the path that truly pleases you and makes your heart sing? It’s okay to stop and reassess what you’re doing. It’s better to do that now than to carry on with great uncertainty and to still have to come back to the starting line at some point, better to do that now so new progress can be made sooner rather than later!

Reverse Two of Wands

When pulled in the reversed position, the Two of Wands is linked with being unsure, restrictions, fear of the unknown, worried about change, playing things safe, not taking chances, and cancelled or delayed travels.

What does the reversed Two of Wands mean in a love reading?

Sometimes staying in a relationship, just because it feels like the easiest thing to do, doesn’t always mean it’s the best or the healthiest option. Are you and your partner genuinely happy together? Or are you just going through the motions, just because? You may be staying put due to your own fear of the unknown of what follows the breakup, what’s next? Where do you go from here? 

You can’t stay in your comfort zone just because this is your ‘norm’, you could also be facing a matter of differing opinions, especially when it comes to travel. Does one of you wish to move and the other does not? This relationship could be holding you back. It’s okay to not line up with your partner anymore, what’s not okay is just hanging around because you’re scared to take action. Don’t do that to yourself. 

However, if you’re single, then you may be assessing whether you want to remain single, or perhaps get back with an old flame – simply for the sake of having a relationship. An old ‘norm’ may seem more comforting than the idea of progressing forward on your own. Don’t fall back into old connections just for the sake of it, especially when that isn’t truly your best and healthiest option. You may feel like you have very few options in front of you, but that isn’t necessarily true. 

Don’t rush into something without taking the time to properly assess what you can and should do, the easiest and ‘safest’ option isn’t always the best choice in the long run.

What does the inverted Two of Wands mean in a career reading?

You may be sitting in a job that, at the time, was the better option because it was the safest one for you, probably one that felt the most secure and/or one that felt the most familiar, so you were drawn to the comforting aspect of it. 

But something well-known doesn’t always mean it’s the most fun, the most daring, or the most worthwhile option. And right now, you may be feeling as though you should have stepped out of your comfort zone significantly more for a more exciting job. Things at work right now may be feeling a little bit lacklustre like you can’t do much, as if you have restricted paths in front of you. 

You may not be achieving what you set out to do, and naturally, that’s going to lead to disappointment. You may be facing problems and obstacles you missed at the start, and now they’re starting to rear their heads.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the 2 of Wands tarot card is a powerful symbol of decisions, two paths, options, partnerships, planning, moving, wanderlust, and discontentment. When this card appears in your reading, it is often a sign that you are at a crossroads and need to make an important decision that will have a significant impact on your future. It may represent two different options or paths that are available to you, and you may be feeling a sense of uncertainty or indecision about which path to choose.

Despite its association with mysticism and occultism, the tarot has grown to become much more than a simple “fortune-telling” tool. For many tarot practitioners, it is a complex system made of symbolic imagery and psychological considerations (Jungian archetypes for example) that can be used for self-exploration, meditation, and personal transformation.

The 56 lesser arcana cards relate to the day-to-day events of our lives, the more mundane aspects of our existence. Even though that part of the tarot is about the “smaller picture”, it symbolizes the constant choices we make that shape our lives, our characters, and ultimately our destinies.

Have you ever had a reading where the Two Of Wands appeared? What was the outcome? What does that card mean to you personally? How do you interpret this card in your own tarot practice?

Share your thoughts and experiences with me in the comments below. Additionally, If you want to know more about the different tarot cards, feel free to check out my complete list of all 78 tarot cards and their meanings.

amy

Written by Amy

Outside the weird and wonderful world of my craft, I like to cosplay and fully dive into the fantasy genre across all forms, from books to video games and everything in between.

Learn more about the Suit of Wands

This page is part of our comprehensive list of the 56 minor arcana tarot cards & their meanings. If you enjoyed the read, then you’ll love the following articles.