The Two of Swords with Herbal Pairing Bilberry
We gaze at a demure lady in the Two of Swords who sits blindfolded, crossing two swords in front of her of heart protectively. She is at a stalemate, unable to make any important decisions, a scarf wrapped around her eyes that blocks her eyesight. We see a crescent moon above her, urging her to tap into her subconscious and intuition, reminding her to let her instincts be her guide. The large body of water behind her, perhaps the sea, says the same. Here are some very clear tools to help reach inner clarity, but she is at a loss, possibly torn between two opposing choices or paths that need to be weighed carefully before she can move forward. Impartiality and objectivity often lead to wise choices – as long as they are not denying specific personal truths or inconvenient facts. So often we can kid ourselves into thinking that we can detach from our emotions and make completely objective choices. Is our head clear? Are we seeing all the possible solutions? How honest are we being with ourselves? Are we blind to certain truths due to how severely those truths threaten us?
When we are confused or when no road seems to be the right road, we can become defensive, protective, close-minded and tense. Like the lady in this card. Fear guides us at this point, and we become slaves to its narrow and tight control. The Two of Swords shows us just how blind we’ve been lately – either out of our own volition or because we’ve somehow allowed ourselves to be duped by someone else. It’s time to drop the swords and remove our blindfold. Knowledge and awareness ultimately make us stronger and more resilient – no longer do we need to remain hypervigilant, with swords drawn to hide our fragility and ignorance. When this card appears, we need to take a good hard look at ourselves and not hold anything back. It might be difficult to accept the truth, but our obliviousness keeps us weak. We don’t have to remain trapped and defensive. Freedom is close if we can open our eyes.
The perfect antidote for the Two of Swords is Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), a type of tart cousin to the blueberry found growing in Europe and Northern America. Rich in anthocyanins, a potent antioxidant, WWII Bomber pilots would eat Bilberry jam before a flight, believing that the tangy berry helped increase night vision. Studies later revealed this claim to be inconclusive, though research did discover a link between its consumption and improved vision in people with glaucoma, plus an overall reduction in general eye fatigue and dryness. Bilberries contain vitamin C and phenolic acids, which aid in making this little berry a superfruit, helping to balance blood sugar levels and reduce insulin resistance, lower blood pressure and has even been shown to improve long-term and working memory in older adults.
The Two of Swords and Bilberry show us that we all have blind spots – the choice is whether to become more aware, even if some of our truths are harsh or unpleasant, or to remain blinded, defensive and unforgiving. If we aren’t afraid to be open-minded, we may be able to set ourselves free with what we discover about ourselves and others. It’s time to look at our problems with new eyes. The solution is there, we just can’t yet see it.
*Tarot reading is based on the Rider-Waite Tarot Card deck, illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith
References
E R Muth, J M Laurent, P Jasper. “The Effect of Bilberry Nutritional Supplementation on Night Visual Acuity and Contrast Sensitivity.” National Center for Biotechnology Information, 5 April 2000.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10767671/
Petre, Alina, MS, RD. “9 Emerging Health Benefits of Bilberries.” Healthline, 10 March 2023. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/bilberry-benefits
Pollack, Rachel. Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom. San Francisco, Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC, 2007. P228 - 229
Whyte, Adrian R, Cheng, Nancy, Fromentin, Emilie, Willams, Claire M Williams. ”A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Study to Compare the Safety and Efficacy of Low Dose Enhanced Wild Blueberry Powder and Wild Blueberry Extract in Maintenance of Episodic and Working Memory in Older Adults.” National Center for Biotechnology Information, 23 May 2018. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6024810/