"You are choosing or naming a feeling or relationship.   You are accepting and validating what you feel.  You maybe publicly or consciously claiming, naming or nurturing an emotional or sensitive part of yourself." - Gail Fairfield

Twos symbolize formation, polarity and the coming together of opposites.  Cups are associated with the element of water, with emotions, love, pleasure in life, matters pertaining to the unconscious, intuition and inner planes.  The 2 of Cups offers a message of joining, an emotional relationship, being part of a couple.

On the Legend card, Ferguson depicted Tristram and Isolde on the 2 of Cups.  They were definitely in love and a chalice bearing a love potion helped cement the deal.  This card shows the emotional connection between the two, or between any two people.  I don't think it necessarily needs to be a romantic relationship, although that is usually the meaning given.  But I've often thought it can also symbolize an emotional connection between any two people - family, friends as well as lovers.  I think the other facet of this card that is appropriate here is the focus of both partners on each other.  This pair is not focusing their energies anywhere but on each other.  At this moment their connection to each other is the priority.

In my own life I think this card is a reminder that, just like a garden or a pet, relationships need to be tended.  I can't assume that just because I "love" someone I can ignore them.  I need to make sure that other person feels valued, appreciated and loved.  The other person needs to know that I care about them and have an interest in his or her life.  I don't know about others, but I know that I can sometimes be self-centered and focused on my own issues.  I think the point of the twos in general is that it's time to move beyond being self-centered and allow someone else to enter your consciousness.

Twos are about expanding your reality to include the perspectives and realities of others.  In order to maintain a partnership we need to learn about compromise and sharing, concepts not natural to most of us.  When it comes to the 2 of Cups I think the message is that we need to share of ourselves; we need to be emotionally open and allow someone else to get close.  How many times have you seen people in a relationship that might have some sexual tension but no genuine caring for each other.  Or maybe there is someone you call "friend" but you don't truly like the person.  Perhaps your relationship is one of convenience because you live near each other or work together.  There is no true emotional connection, merely a going through the motions like actors on a stage.  To me, that is the anti-thesis of the 2 of Cups. 

It is about relationships but I think what it is reminding us is that we need to truly connect with others on an emotional level before we can move forward.  If we cannot learn the lessons of the 2 of Cups then we will always be immature and stunted on an emotional level.  Moving from the potential and promise and maybe even isolation of the Ace to the connection and interaction of the 2 of Cups is a step towards growth and maturity.  We all need to learn how to deal with others on an emotional level to be truly mature.  And it can sometimes be a slow process. 

When I look back at some of my relationships, especially those from my childhood, I was often self-centered and selfish.  I didn't really consider how my attitudes and behaviors impacted others in my circle.  I know that I hurt some of my friends by things I said or did.  And I am very sorry and regretful about those things now.  I also know people hurt me without realizing it.  But I also realize that if I didn't go through these experiences I would not have developed into the person I am now.  And I'm still a long way from fully learning the lessons of the 2 of Cups.  I'm on the path but I'm a long way from the end of the journey. 

I think a large part of those lessons have been learned because of my relationship with my husband.  Because I had to learn the hard way that hurting him ends up hurting me too and that making him happy brings me joy, I've come closer to embracing the full benefits of the 2 of Cups.  Maybe that's one of the keys to understanding the energy of the 2 of Cups - that bringing joy to a loved one through your actions brings joy into your life too.