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Bohemian Gothic Tarot

TWO OF SWORDS

Lighter or more conventional meanings

Putting up barriers, which may or may not be necessary * Refusing to take part, distancing yourself from others * Defending yourself against threat or attack * Being deliberately unapproachable.

Darker, shadow or more hidden meanings

Blocking or thwarting a serious attack * Defending yourself against abuse * Putting up a barrier against someone who is trying to help you * Becoming withdrawn and paranoid.

The woman on this card looks dwarfed by the spiky towers around her. She's standing, blind folded, on a roof and, in her light, sleeveless gown, is very exposed to the elements. There is nothing to be seen except her blindfolded figure, stones, slates, the sharp towers and the cold night sky - it's a harsh scene with nothing to soften it.

The Two of Swords is about putting up barriers. The issue, when interpreting this card in a reading, is to decide if these are a necessary protection or not. Sometimes it's important that we block out the world and gain some peace and security for ourselves; we may need time to recover, or simply time to think. In other circumstances we could build defences around ourselves that do more harm than good. Maybe we are hiding from something we should confront, or we are imagining or exaggerating a threat that isn't really there.

The blindfold is a significant element in the imagery as the curious thing about it is that it's seemingly worn voluntarily. There is nothing to stop this woman simply reaching up and removing it, but she chooses not to. Again, the question is about the wisdom of this choice. She could be protecting herself from some event or person that she doesn't want to see right now, or she may be refusing to recognise something that she would be better to acknowledge bravely. This card challenges us to decide when it's best to play safe or, alternatively, the moment to take the risk of confronting the thing that's threatening us. There are times when it's better to look the other way and avoid conflict, but sooner or later there usually comes a time to face up to it.

Some further ways to consider this card

Ask yourself why the woman chooses to wear the blindfold. What would she see if she took it off?