The dark side of the 2 of Cups

[November]

Hello, I was wondering how to interpret the "dark side/negative side" of the 2 of Cups.

 

Could it represent lack of comprehension or also feeling unsupported from those you love? Feeling as if they don't empathize with you, although they should or at least you would expect to? 

 

Thanks. 

[Ferrea]

The two scenarios you describe fit perfectly within the spectrum of the negative side of the 2 of Cups, as I read it. It manifests as misunderstandings, quarrels of all sorts, and a clash of values.

[DanielJUK]

I think the negative side (and also reversed side if people use them) to all the 2's is an imbalance, instead of a harmonious connection. In this case, both sides don't match emotionally together. It could be someone takes longer to build that connection, maybe from past bad experiences or taking a longer time to trust. However it could be one side is cheating, unsupportive, uncommunicative and really not committing to the connection, these two cups are about meeting half way together in the same place emotionally. A mutual place between 2 people. This could be love or friendships or a business relationship but both sides have to invest emotionally in an equal way. If one side is not even offering their cup to the relationship, it needs fixing and communication or it is just not going to work out.

[Barleywine]

2 hours ago, DanielJUK said:

I think the negative side (and also reversed side if people use them) to all the 2's is an imbalance, instead of a harmonious connection. In this case, both sides don't match emotionally together. It could be someone takes longer to build that connection, maybe from past bad experiences or taking a longer time to trust. However it could be one side is cheating, unsupportive, uncommunicative and really not committing to the connection, these two cups are about meeting half way together in the same place emotionally. A mutual place between 2 people. This could be love or friendships or a business relationship but both sides have to invest emotionally in an equal way. If one side is not even offering their cup to the relationship, it needs fixing and communication or it is just not going to work out.

I fully agree with this observation. In esoteric number theory the Two can be about reciprocal or compensatory action, like a pendulum swinging between two extremes that only reaches equilibrium briefly at the bottom of each swing. It can become a kind of dance that tries to sustain itself like one of those perpetual-motion desk-top gadgets, but the momentum can eventually slow and stop like a mechanical clock that winds down. I call it the "tick-tock" effect of relationship dynamics. Although he was talking about the 2 of Disks, Aleister Crowley likened it to a spinning top that falls over soon after it starts to wobble. I once created a dysfunctional-relationship spread that used this pendulum model.

Edited February 10, 2025 by Barleywine

[FindYourSovereignty]

Depending on the question, of course, and the other cards in the spread, of course, it could further suggest that you don't need the support of another or others even though you feel you want it or deserve it. It isn't there, as others have shared, and is unlikely to be as they don't feel the same way or they may feel you have to do all the emotional labor, etc. because they don't see the expectation in the same way. I have found that all relationships evolve and shift out-of-the-honeymoon stage eventually. 

[JoyousGirl]

A lack of compromise is one variation on the theme. 

[lyredragon]

Well, she's meditative, holding those swords. Swords are about the principles governed by the air element, so ideas, innovation, joy, communication, the external sense of hearing and the inner wit of valuation.

 

Balance of the straight suits are about the balance of active energy. So this two is about the internal balance, where as the other straight suit, Rods, is about the balance of external energies. the left hand and the right hand are referring to energy channels. how we express and how we guard. how we process and how we direct. 

 

The shoreline theme in swords is about the ocean as a nascent thing. In several creation myths, they discuss the first thing divided is the sky from the sea, the ouranic from the chthonic. What can be freely seen unless it is obscured and what is kept hidden unless it is fished up. And that's what it means for the woman too. Blindfolded, she is actively listening rather than seeing creation happening around her. Ears pick up vibrations in the air. Meditation as she is doing harmonizes the creative (external) vibration with her internal state kind of like how a set of TV bunny ears works to pick up and clarify a signal.  

 

Inverted though, a crossed swords represents a scissor and shows that you are cutting off vital thoughts and inspirations just as that woman could be doing with those swords crossed near to her neck. You are stifling yourself and being too guarded with your thoughts, too stubborn with your opinions, or too constrained with your expressions.

[November]

28 minutes ago, lyredragon said:

Well, she's meditative, holding those swords. Swords are about the principles governed by the air element, so ideas, innovation, joy, communication, the external sense of hearing and the inner wit of valuation.

 

Balance of the straight suits are about the balance of active energy. So this two is about the internal balance, where as the other straight suit, Rods, is about the balance of external energies. the left hand and the right hand are referring to energy channels. how we express and how we guard. how we process and how we direct. 

 

The shoreline theme in swords is about the ocean as a nascent thing. In several creation myths, they discuss the first thing divided is the sky from the sea, the ouranic from the chthonic. What can be freely seen unless it is obscured and what is kept hidden unless it is fished up. And that's what it means for the woman too. Blindfolded, she is actively listening rather than seeing creation happening around her. Ears pick up vibrations in the air. Meditation as she is doing harmonizes the creative (external) vibration with her internal state kind of like how a set of TV bunny ears works to pick up and clarify a signal.  

 

Inverted though, a crossed swords represents a scissor and shows that you are cutting off vital thoughts and inspirations just as that woman could be doing with those swords crossed near to her neck. You are stifling yourself and being too guarded with your thoughts, too stubborn with your opinions, or too constrained with your expressions.

 

It's the 2 of Cups, not the 2 of Swords. Thanks anyway for sharing. 

[Misterei]

On a practical level, if I get 2 cups in malefic yoga--it's a contract not signed, an agreement not reached. A romantic partnership with conflicts. With certain cards it might be a breakup--in spite of the 2 people loving each other. Sometimes even people who truly love eachother can't make the partnership work.

[gregory]

Or loss of balance - as in obsessive and unrequited infatuation.

[lyredragon]

Oo. Well that's embarrassing. 2 of cups sorry. I already messed up so i will try again. Inverted, basically, drinking poison from one another's cups.  Even inverted you're still entangled because upright or inverted you still have a relationship of solidarity that is not easily broken. Less imbalance between each other and more about relationships that are consciously mutually destructive to one another.

[Chariot]

So many things depend on the context of the card positions and the questions asked.  But in my latest mood, to attempt to de-catastrophise tarot readings, I often interpret the 2 of Cups reversed as 'not being on the same page.'  If the upright card means two people are in harmony over whatever the issue might be, and who see things in a similar fashion, the reversal can mean they simply aren't on the same page with an issue.  I wouldn't always go so far as saying 'disharmony,' but more a lack of mutual comprehension.   "He hasn't a clue what she's on about..." "She's not getting through to him."  "She doesn't know what he truly wants."

Edited March 24, 2025 by Chariot