CARD NUMBER 62. – Two of Swords.

 

Upright. – Benevolent protector. Sincere friendship. Success.

Reversed. – Deceptive affection. Betrayal of friends.

“Learn the wisdom of compromise, for it is better to bend a little than to break.” – Jane Wells

Having A Conversation

The conversation that comes with developing ideas is oftentimes comprised as more than one voice. These conflicting voices may come from both within and without, and reconciling them may seem like a nearly impossible task, especially if they seem to be completely different. However, the more that you facilitate a healthy conversation between them, the more you may begin to realize that they are far more similar than you initially realized. There are many times where two different viewpoints which would initially appear to be in complete opposition actually have the same end goal, and have only come to butt heads due to a disagreement over methodology. By taking time to calmly and maturely consider each voice, you will be better equipped to make a sound decision that is informed by all possible perspectives. There is an issue that you have been trying to find a solution to recently, but there are a number of voices that are pulling you in many different directions. You may have a variety of interests within yourself that are individually influencing your decision-making skills, making it difficult for you to commit to a single plan of action. You may also be in disagreement with the other people that are involved in this decision-making process, making it difficult for you to move forward as a team. No matter where these various perspectives are originating from, it is essential that you resolve this issue before taking the next step forward. Find a reasonable compromise between each voice that is currently participating in the conversation and ensure that all participants are in agreement before doing anything so as to avoid any possible disagreements on this issue in the future. In crafting this compromise, be sure to include every perspective so that none can argue that the interests of some are being prioritized over those of others.

A romantic relationship is a constant back and forth between two minds, both of which interpret the world and its problems in its own unique way. Dedicating yourself to another person does not mean that you have to agree with them on every single issue; to do so would be to potentially jeopardize your ideals and sacrifice you individuality. The challenge then that comes with such a relationship is being able to address your disagreements in a mature and productive manner so as the find the best solution for both of you. The ability to do so will not only help you to avoid the stress and pain that comes along with disagreements over topics that you are both passionate about, but it will also ensure that you and your partner are always on the same page. Recently, you may have found yourself ankle-deep in a particularly tricky disagreement with your partner. Perhaps you haven’t decided whether or not the two of you are ready to move on to the next step in your relationship, such as is the case with marriage or introducing a new member to the family. Or perhaps the two of you are looking into moving to a new area, but can’t come to an agreement over where you want to move to. Right now, even though you may be dead set in your way of thinking, your best bet is to take a moment to calm down and listen to the argument that your partner is presenting. This is not to say that you need to completely let go of your opinions; instead, you may need to be the one to introduce the possibility of a reasonable compromise. While you may not agree with your partner’s way of thinking, you should still try to understand why they feel the way that they do. By gaining a deeper understanding of their thought process, you may begin to see that their thinking is far more similar to yours than you originally thought.

SWORDS. TWO.

A hoodwinked female figure balances two swords upon her shoulders.

Divinatory Meanings: Conformity and the equipoise which it suggests, courage, friendship, concord in a state of arms; another reading gives tenderness, affection, intimacy. The suggestion of harmony and other favorable readings must be considered in a qualified manner, as Swords generally are not symbolical of beneficent forces in human affairs.

Reversed: Imposture, falsehood, duplicity, disloyalty.

We aren’t always going to agree with our coworkers on the best way to do our jobs, especially in situations where there are very little guidelines to be followed. While you are all most likely looking to achieve the same outcome, it can be difficult to come to an agreement over the methods that will be used to reach that point. One person may want to reallocate resources so as to give certain team members a better ability complete certain tasks. Another person may advocate for the addition of new team members so as to spread out the workload, greatly reducing the responsibilities of each individual member. There are many situations where the potential solutions proposed by each person can’t be done all at the same time, and you may be forced to find a single solution that satisfies all parties. These negotiations aren’t always easy to facilitate, and can oftentimes devolved into particularly ugly disagreements. You may have found yourself in such a situation at work as of late where a number of people are all trying to reach the same goal, but have gotten distracted with squabbling over the nitty-gritty details. If there is no one else trying to facilitate negotiations, then it may be time that you step forward as the voice of reason. What good points have some of your coworkers made? What suggestions can possibly work simultaneously and in conjunction with each other? Is there a plan that has already been proposed which would address the vast majority of the group’s concerns, but has been widely overlooked due to the stubbornness of each participating party? In order to move forward, each of you will need to be able to let go of some of your demands; thus is the nature of compromise. Take some time to have a calm conversation with everyone so that you can all be on the same page, and be open and honest about your goals in moving forward.

Disagreements don’t always need to be a bad thing; sometimes, they can lead you to a possible solution that you might not have otherwise considered. When The 2 of Swords appears in the reversed position, it may be a sign that a disagreement that you are currently dealing with is actually a blessing in disguise. Take this as an opportunity to combine the interests of all parties into something that will reasonably satisfy all participants; you will be surprised to find that this is oftentimes the most innovative and dynamic solution. Even if you don’t initially agree with them, if another person is passionate enough to exert the effort to disagree with you, it is because they are highly invested in the issue at hand. Use this as an opportunity to combine your passions to face the challenge ahead as a team, even if you have to let go of some of your demands.