“Row, row, row your boat,

Gently down the stream,

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,

Life is but a dream.”

Two of Pentacles Description and Symbolism

A man juggles two pentacles. He has roped them into a figure-8, perhaps to stabilize the juggling act because everything in the picture looks like it’s about to fall over. The sea behind him has large waves with boats being tossed and turned by the turbulent sea. Even the man looks as if he is about to lose his balance. His strange large red hat adds to his unbalance. The Two of Pentacles is about balance and how to achieve it. How do you achieve balance with two pentacles? Are you balancing two jobs? Two men? Two women? Two unruly children?

The figure 8, which represents infinity, never stops flowing. It has a fixed point that propels the pentacles to go round and round. They never stop.  It is an indicator that nothing stays the same forever and that all things change with the motion of time.

The Two of Pentacles is a stage card. There are several stages cards in the Rider Waite tarot deck. They are the ones with the clear gray line that divides the front of the card with the background. A stage card reminds us that nothing is really what it seems. It all may just be an act, put on for show. This card reminds us the “Life is but a dream”…..so let’s flow with it and change when the time is necessary.

The Two’s are situated in Chockmah/Wisdom where matter has yet to descend. This puts an earth card like a pentacle in a difficult situation. They want to manifest and to stabilize, but they keep getting stuck in the astral, hence going back and forth.

Two of Pentacles Interpretation and Divination 

The simplest interpretation for the Two of Pentacles is the juggling of two projects. You work on one project and when a section is completed you go to your other project. These two projects are constantly moving up and down. They seem to flow infinitely. With all two’s there is a duality that needs to be examined. It can even indicate that with all dualities, you will need to balance them to achieve harmony.

The Two of Pentacles can also indicate someone who is indecisive. He/she can’t make up their mind. Do they or don’t they? They don’t know and they swing back and forth.

The Two of Pentacles can indicate the stock market as well as any type of gambling. The waves and figure-8 remind us that during a bull market your stocks are up, but the bear market will always follow and your stocks will go down.

The Two of Pentacles can also indicate car trouble. Swerving back and forth could damage your car. Keep both hands on the wheel and be alert to everything around you. Watch out for protruding curves.

The Two of Pentacles can indicate texting back and forth. Since it’s a slow moving pentacle it may take time before you or the other person respond. Letter writing is also indicated with the Two of Pentacles.

The Two of Pentacles is about change. The change that will happen in your life is for the better, so embrace it.

Two of Pentacles as a Person

As a signifier, the Two of Pentacles denotes someone who easily rolls back and forth with whatever life hands them. They understand that sometimes you have to take risks in life in order to keep the momentum going. This can have a very stabilizing effect on them and the people around them. They have lucky Jupiter on their side, winning it all one day and losing it the next, but this makes them very adaptable people, learning quickly from any mishaps. They have an excellent sense of humor and enjoy all kinds of comedy. They can see the humor in situations that might otherwise seem unbearable. They may especially like satire and dark comedies.

Two of Pentacles in Love

In love the Two of Pentacles may warn that your partner or love interest is juggling two choice or two partners. They may also be undecided about what to do, so they continue to fluctuate back and forth between you and the other person. You may feel very emotionally uneasy about the current situation and don’t know what to do.

The Two of Pentacles may also indicate that they are spending a lot of time at work while trying to juggle their current relationship. The Eight of Pentacles would support this.

The Two of Pentacles can indicate a star-crossed situation where they keep missing each other.

Two of Pentacles as Feelings

You are physically feeling a lot of aches and tension that result in upper back pain.

If you are asking about how someone feels toward you, they may feel undecided, uneasy and tense around you.

Two of Pentacles as a Strength

There is a strong ability to write, so use this as a strength. Communicate ideas and feelings back and forth and be secure in the knowledge that every step you take is a step in the learning process.

Another strength would be a lucky period in stocks or gambling. If you are in an up period in the market, sell now.

Two of Pentacles as an Obstacle

You are trying to juggle too many things at once. As an obstacle the Two of Pentacles warns that you may be at risk of dropping on of the balls. Two of Pentacles as Advice

The Two of Pentacles advises you to harmoniously change with the flux and influx.

Two of Pentacles as the Outcome

In the outcome to a romance reading, the Two of Pentacles suggests constantly messaging back and forth. The relationship doesn’t get resolved. If this is an ongoing relationship, it suggests that there is a change that occurs due to external factors.

Two of Pentacles Professions

Gambler. Bank Teller. Stockbroker. Day trader. Comedian. Joker. Card Player. Driver. Writer. Communications.

Two of Pentacles Reversed

Letters and writing still go back and forth when the Two of Pentacles comes up reversed, but they may get lost in the mail or get returned. The Two of Pentacles reversed indicates a lack of receptivity. You could be sending emails and not be getting a response. You could be organizing only to have it fall apart moments later.

Plans can change and upset you. You may not know how to deal with the changes and everything falls down around you. You may lose your footing and drop the balls.

Two of Pentacles Tarot Card Combinations