Podcast episode 10: Birth of the "other" and the 2 of cups

The 2 of Cups card from the Rider Waite Tarot deck. A couple exchange chalices while watched over by a winged red lion.

When this card appears in a reading we meet the union of opposites and a sense of bliss. This is a card of harmony, but also of respecting the energy and boundaries of others. It represents a mutual commitment, but warns against smothering the desire for closeness with being needy and clingy. 

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Click here to listen to TarotCraft podcast episode 10 – the 2 of Cups.
 
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Transcription begins
 
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Welcome to the TarotCraft podcast. I’m Allison Jean, a Tarot enthusiast from Australia. Please join me on this journey into the mystic depths of Tarot and divination.
 
You can find the link to the transcript for this episode in the show notes, or go to my blog at www.Tarotcraft.com, that’s t-a-r-o-t-c-r-a-f-t dot com.
 
Image description
Two people face each other. One figure is taller and wears brown boots, yellow tights, a white shirt and a black and yellow patterned tunic. On their head is a wreath of red flowers.  The other figure is shorter and wears red shoes, a white gown and a long, pale blue tabard. They have a wreath of green leaves on their head.
 
Both figures each hold a golden chalice. The taller figure gives an impression of movement.  They appear to be taking a step forward and reaching out a hand to touch the chalice of the other figure who appears to be very still. They both have their faces tilted slightly, looking down at the chalices.
 
The Caduceus of Hermes topped with a red winged lion is between the two chalices. This winged lion is the alchemic symbol for turning lead into gold. The base of the caduceus touches both chalices. 
 
The illustrator of the deck, Pamela Coleman Smith, was a theatre designer and a number of the cards appear to show scenes played out upon a stage. This card is one of them and may indicate a scene from Romeo and Juliet. 
 
Beyond the stage we see green rolling hills and a white house with a red roof surrounded by trees. The Roman numeral II is at the very top of the card.

In numerology, the number 2 represents synergy, diplomacy, working behind the scenes to support and encourage others.  It also represents both duality and division.
 
In the Ace of Cups the seed was planted. The Ace shows hope for the future and what might become, but the energy is directed inwards.  In the 2 we become aware of the “other”.  You could say that the Ace is the baby in the womb and the 2 is the baby being born, now separate from, but still depending, on its mother.
 
When this card appears in a reading we meet the union of opposites and a sense of bliss. This is a card of harmony, but also of respecting the energy and boundaries of others. It represents a mutual commitment, but warns against smothering the desire for closeness with being needy and clingy. 
 
As this is the suite of Cups, we are dealing with the energy of the Element of Water and our feelings. A desire for deep emotional commitment is shown in this card. It may be a romantic connection or the connection between friends and comrades.  There is nurturing, caring and compassion, but also reluctance to speak up and risk rocking the boat.
 
If reversed, the connection may have become toxic or dysfunctional. There may be strings attached to remain in this relationship, or past hurts have made someone suspicious and unwilling to be vulnerable.  Someone may be trying to impose expectations or limitations upon the other, or you may be allowing others to walk all over you and damage your self-esteem. Depression and low self-confidence is a risk now.

However, if conflict arises, it is likely to be swiftly resolved as this card shows an energy that has a tendency to return to equilibrium as quickly as possible.
 
If this card is indicating a romantic relationship getting started, I’d expect to see some other cards to back that ups, such as The Lovers, the Ace of Wands, any of the Cups court cards, maybe the 4 of Wands or the Star.
 
In a work or career reading, it could be a business partnership that doesn’t have the usual boundaries, such as being in business with a family member or friend.  In this case, you need to be careful to set up a sound structure for the business so everyone is aware of their responsibilities and each person’s expectations.
 
In terms of area of business, I’d expect this to come up for spiritual entrepreneurs, counsellors, therapists and people who work with the wellbeing and emotional health of others.  It could even represent the relationship between a Tarot reader and their client.  All these relationships are susceptible to what I call “leaky empathy”, so having a very clear boundary of “where I end” and “where you start” is imperative.
 
As a piece of advice for how to handle a situation, you are advised to be open, accepting and take things at face value, but be aware that at some point, the honeymoon will be over and you may see some cracks begin to appear.
 
If you’d like to delve into this card a bit deeper, you could create a spread for each aspect of the card. The winged lion represents the alchemic process of turning base metal into gold. You could pull a card while asking how you can turn the situation into gold. Try pulling a card for each figure and ask what wisdom they have for you in relation to the situation you’re facing. One figure is the active force and the other is the active force. So, you could also ask what action you need to take and pull a card for that, and you could ask what you need to consider and reflect upon – what you need to just “be” with - and pull a card for that.
 
In the beginning of this podcast, I mentioned “stage cards”.  Have a flick through your deck and take a look at a few cards like the Page of Cups, 2 of Swords and 10 of Wands. The foreground is flat and has a thin double line at the back. It looks like a stage. So another thing to consider when you get one of these “stage cards” is that someone might be playing a part or acting, rather than being their authentic self. I wouldn’t jump to the conclusion that that is a negative or manipulative thing. It could be useful information that the person in question isn’t comfortable showing who they truly are, or they are showing you what they think you want to see.  So keep an eye out for the stage cards and if you get more than one in a reading, have a think about whether it might indicate someone is not showing their truth.
 
In a three card “Past, Present, Future” spread the past position could show love falling away, or love increasing, depending on the cards in the present and future positions. I think a three card reading is really the most useful when we are reading for ourselves. A yes/no one card reading is no different to tossing a coin, and the coin toss is way more objective.
 
When I was first learning the cards, I picked a few keywords and wrote them on the actual card in the white margin around the edges. Some keywords for the 2 of Cups could be:

• Blossoming
• Unity
• Connection
• Togetherness
• Fertility

 
Now let’s look at the Invitation, Gift and Challenge of the 2 of Cups
 
The Invitation of the 2 of Cups
You are invited to open your heart to receive another’s love and affection, leading to a new partnership or a more in-depth understanding of an existing connection.
 
The Gift of the 2 of Cups
Unconditional love and acceptance are offered to you now. You are perfect and whole just as you are.
 
The Challenge of the 2 of Cups
The challenge of this card is the temptation to be caught up in the honeymoon phase of a relationship or project and when the monotony of the everyday intrudes, to move on to a new relationship or project. You may have a tendency to resort to addictive behaviours.
 
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Thank you for joining me on the TarotCraft podcast. This is Allison Jean and you can find my page on Facebook at TarotCraft, and you can also join the private group, TarotCraft Group.

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