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.

"You are validating or claiming a psychic or intuitive experience.  You are choosing to open up to that inner part of yourself and accept your own psychic talents.  You could also be connecting with some private feelings or choosing a secret relationship." - Gail Fairfield

Sharing, being part of a joyful, joyous couple, having an emotional connection to another human being - all of these are aspects of this card to me.  Of course drawing it reversed does change that association a bit.  It seems especially appropriate today because we attended a wake for a friend's oldest brother.  He passed away after a battle with cancer and is survived by his wife.  When I see the surviving spouse at a wake or funeral, I almost cannot comprehend their pain.  In the past year or so I've seen several instances of a wife surviving her husband's passing.  In those instances these have been long-term relationships - a marriage of almost 60 years, another of almost 40 and a third relationship of almost 30.  In two cases the surviving spouses probably have a number of years ahead of them - years without their beloved partner.  

This makes me ponder what I would do if I lost John.  It's not that I do not believe I could survive such a tragedy (just as I believe he would survive if I pre-deceased him).  It's that I hate to even consider such a situation.  We are so entwined in each other's lives that it is almost impossible to fathom being without each other.  Neither of us considers the other to be our "best friend"  because that seems so trite and cannot begin to describe the depth of our connection.  We are soul partners in the deepest and truest sense.  And I think losing each other - regardless of how or why, would be like losing a part of ourselves.  

At the same time, we both realize that is it very likely that one of us will outlive the other.  Or there is even the possibility, regardless of how unlikely it seems right now, that we might part ways at some time.  It is not something we want to believe but it always remains in the background.  Of course that's not really the issue that this card brings to mind.  It's really about the pain and sadness that follows any kind of emotional breakup - whether it's a long term marriage or a short-term dating relationship.  Whenever we entwine our hearts with someone else's we open ourselves us to untold joys and take the risk of enormous pain.  I think that's part of the human condition - we are willing to take the risks because the benefits can be so wonderful and enriching.  Perhaps this card is reminding me that I should not lose sight of what a blessing I have in this relationship because there is always the possibility it might end someday.