My keywords for the Two of Swords are guarding, protection and mastery.
From Sasha Graham: “Balance of the mind. Meditation and deep thought.”
Using the Waite deck, I had always had an idea of this card as expressing a guarded nature. Someone unable or unwilling to show their heart to anyone. Isolation and alienation.
But one day last summer when I looked at it I saw a master. In Pixie’s depiction the moon dominates the sky. The turbulent waters are in the background. The character sits perfectly calm and balanced in the middle, willingly blindfolded. And what an incredible feat of strength to hold those swords in that position.
Balance, strength, security and precision are achieved through meditative practice.
The old spiritual comes to mind. “No storm shall shake my inmost calm.”
Retreat inside the Meditative Palace. The answer you seek is seeking you.