January 7, 2022: II of Cups and II of Pentacles; Elemental Dignities 7

Well, looks like we can further explore that II of Pentacles by comparing it to the II of Cups.

The image on the II of Cups shows two Cups of clear water tilted toward each other, as if they were clinking together in a toast.  Above them circle two golden fish; above the fish is a golden arrow, broken in half.  The keywords for this card are connection, partnership, union, and romance.

We had the II of Pentacles in yesterday's card throw, in the same position, the second card.  There is that number 2 again; more on that in a bit.  The card image shows a playful white ferret playing on top of a precarious arrangement of gold coins, balanced on top of three gold nuggets (with the smallest nugget at the bottom, adding to the precariousness of the image).  Ferrets are playful and this one is showing us that he is able to balance and still move around, shifting his body and his attention as needed.  The keywords for this card are fun, indecisiveness, juggling, and finances.

Both of these cards show an awareness or initial manifestation, the II of Cups an awareness of emotions or feelings and the II of Pentacles an awareness of body and body energies.  Together they tell of a potential to achieve some exciting accomplishment.  But they also offer us the opportunity to explore Dignities, Elemental Dignities and Numeric Dignities, in order to add to our interpretation.  

First we will examine the number 2.  The number 2 represents balance, polarity (such as night/day), duality (such as yin/yang), comparison, and bonding, and it offers both connection and direction (because it represents "distance between").  The number 2 can also be seen as a gateway (two pillars can represent a gateway), and in the Tarot the Minor Arcana II cards show us the first time the element associated with the card is manifested in a pure form (the potential of the Ace manifested without the influence of the following numbered cards).  This means each card presents an energy that is pure or at face value, without the influences of such things as catalyst, motion, stillness or action taken.

Next, let's examine the two elements in play: Water and Earth.  Water represents cold that binds together and wet that adapts.  Earth represents cold that binds together and dry that shapes.  The connection created by cold that binds together means that Water and Earth are passively friendly; they are helpful to each other but in a passive way.  This usually represents a reaction to something (either deliberate or instinctive) rather than an action.

Let's think about how Water and Earth interact in nature.  Water affects Earth by reshaping it, either by diluting Earth, softening Earth, or activating the fertility of Earth.  Earth affects Water by holding or shaping it by imposing form onto Water.  Earth can allow Water to flow, or it can slow or entirely prevent Water from flowing.

That means the II of Cups and its partnerships and attractions could be encouraged by some action taken in the physical world.  This could be some balancing, some addition of funds or nourishment, or even the addition of fun.  Whatever action that is taken in the physical world is supported and augmented and encouraged by some kind of partnership.  Two cards that combined tell of the initiation of some lighthearted and positive accomplishments that will happen through the combined efforts of two people (and these two people could be adversaries in the past).