Card of the Week: Two of Cups

There is an ancient African proverb, originating from Swahili, that means, “Unity is strength.  Division is weakness.”  This is true of groups, but also true of the aspects within oneself.

The Two of Cups signifies harmony, the power that comes from a balance of different sources.  It is important to maintain equality and mutual respect, whether in a romantic relationship, a strong friendship, a business partnership or other important relationship.  In personal reflection, it can represent the exploration and interaction between the mind and the soul.

Inverted, this is a cautionary card, suggesting to pay attention to mixed messages as an unbalanced craving by one faction in a relationship can weaken its mutual stability.

In “The Enemy Within” some unusual magnetic ore from the surface of planet Alfa 117 accidentally contaminates the Enterprise’s transporter.  When Captain Kirk beams aboard, it malfunctions and materializes him as two physical beings, both appearing to be Kirk but each with incomplete personality traits.  The intelligent Kirk slowly begins to exhibit weakness and indecisiveness, while the strong Kirk shows signs of savagery and barbarism, including attacks on Yeoman Rand and Technician Fisher.  At first, Spock and McCoy are confused by reports of Kirk’s erratic behavior.  They eventually realize that there are two Kirks on board, neither of which is the one true Kirk.  Ultimately, Scott and Spock repair the transporter, and Spock finds a way to use the transporter to reunite both versions of Kirk back into his original whole self.