Swords are associated with reason, thought, logic, will, courage, verbal skill, matters pertaining to the mind and survival in the world and the element of air.  Twos symbolize formation, polarity, balance, duality, and the coming together of opposites.  The 2 of Swords is often considered to represent a stalemate or a delicate balancing act. 

Janina Renee "Generally, the 2 of Swords suggests a need to hold off, refrain from making decisions, commitments, involvements, or taking other actions until you can assess others' positions or deal with conflicting factors that may arise to stall your plans and efforts. . . The 2 of Swords also offers advice on coming to terms with the dualities, opposition, and contradiction inherent in the human condition."  "In the reversed position, this card indicates that you have been overcompromised - perhaps you have been giving too much away in your desire to preserve peace and harmony - and now you are advised to break away and assert more of your own rights.  You also should withdraw from relationships where there's not enough mutual interest and understanding to arrive at an agreement."

Fairfield:  "You are identifying or affirming a new belief, attitude or opinion.  You are claiming it as "true" for you.  You are identifying, claiming and choosing affirmations for your life."

I have been feeling a bit unbalance lately.  It's as though I'm trying to block out negative energies and thoughts and failing miserably.  It's interesting - looking at the advice I found in Renee's and Fairfield's books it seems like Renee's description of this card when it is reversed rings true right now.  Fairfield's description seems like where I need to move towards.  I think the message of the cards is that I need to move beyond being overcompromised and reconnect with my "true" self.  For some reason when I looked at these cards the song "Walking on Broken Glass" flashed into my brain.  It's as though if I take one wrong step I'll find myself cut to ribbons.

I know this isn't true in a physical sense but in a spiritual sense it just might be.  If I can't get myself back to that points of knowing who I am and what I believe then I run the risk of cutting my "true" self into bits.  Not exactly the most healthy situation.  Of course what frustrates me even more is that I really do know this.  The Tarot is just trying to give me the kick in the ass I so often need.