2 OF FIRE
Decan Title: Dominion
RWS Description: A tall man holds a globe in his right hand and looks from a battlemented roof. The sea and shore are in his line of sight. While the staff in his left hand is on the battlement and the plaque just below it displays roses and lilies in a saltire formation, the staff behind him is attached to the battlement with a ring. Houses and mountains are in the distance.
RWS Symbols
Rose and lily cross: These represent opposites: passion and purity, will and love, fire and water, and they could even refer to the Pisces-to-Aries transition.
Globe: Seeking new territory.
Houses and Mountains: Malkuth
Keywords:
UPRIGHT: Ambition, Strategy, Decision-Making, Courage, Boldness
REVERSE: Shameless, Turbulent, Revenge, Lack of Foresight, Overbearing
Interpretation: As the title “Dominion” suggests, this decan is about victory in competitive or hostile relationships. With Mars in Aries, The Awakener and The Leader are the majors associated with the 2 of Fire. Mars is driven by the urge to conquer, oftentimes without regard for consequences, and must weigh personal desires for power with the effects on those he seeks to dominate. The 2 of Fire, which signifies the balance of ambitions, requires maintaining equilibrium between internal drive and external impact.
Myths: This decan is associated with myths about martial conquest, the unrelenting drive to establish oneself and accomplish incredible feats, oftentimes at great cost.
Correspondences
Keys: The Awakener and The Leader
Planet (Mars): 9 of Air, 7 of Fire, 5 of Water, 3 of Earth, 10 of Water
Decanic Sequence (2-3-4 of Fire): 3 of Fire and 4 of Fire
Sephira (Chokmah) – Numerical Elements: 2 of Water, 2 of Air, 2 of Earth
Card Details
Decan Ruler (Mars): Mars brings an unapologetic assertion of dominance, a drive to carve an independent path through existence without hesitation and a strength in quickly identifying and resolving problems. Those born with this placement have an unshakable sense of self-determination but may struggle with cooperation or patience. This placement favors warriors and pioneers. It represents the energy of beginnings, where the past is cut away and the future is shaped by sheer force of will.
Sign (Aries): The first decan of Aries introduces an unmitigated, initiatory energy. The onset of Aries marks the beginning of a new cycle and the emergence of individual differentiated awareness, where self is experienced and understood in relation to other. Through raw power, individuality is first asserted through conflict and separation. The past is cut away and the unfiltered assertion of will dynamically presses nature to conform with its pattern. This decan represents the moment the individual fights to stand alone and face the world as an independent force, severing oneself from the collective and establishing sovereignty.
2: Twos represent balance in the world of the element.
Tree of Life (Chokmah in Atziluth): The 2 of Wands corresponds to Chokmah in Atziluth. In the world of pure Spirit, Chokmah is the balance of ambitions.
Sephira (Chokmah): All twos deal with the dynamic outpouring of creative energy, and correspond to the second sephira, Chokmah, which is commonly referred to by Qabalists as “Wisdom.” Chokmah is associated with Uranus. Uranus represents the divine as an endlessly renewing force in human life. The Uranus archetype ignites evolution, urging us to express ourselves with unrestrained freedom and, through sudden breakthroughs and revolutionary shifts, ultimately awakening us to our authentic true nature.
World (Atziluth): All Wands correspond to the first of four worlds, the World of Atziluth (The World of Emanation), which is also called the archetypal world. The element associated with the World of Atziluth is Fire.
The Story of Fire: The element of fire, traditionally symbolized by the suit of wands in the Tarot system, epitomizes the least structured and most dynamic state of physical manifestation. An intrinsic characteristic of this element is its propensity to illuminate. Attributes of fire include brightness, impatience, and ambition. Fire is the sole element possessing the capacity to generate light, thereby assertively announcing its presence. Fire exhibits the most aggressive and assertive nature among the four elements, yet paradoxically, it is also the most impermanent. This element catalyzes possibilities and actively instigates transformative change in situations, rather than passively receiving and conforming to existing circumstances. Fire shapes reality according to its indomitable will, refusing to be confined by prevailing conditions. The narratives and stories aligned with the fire element thematically revolve around creation, transmutation, and transformation.
Time of Year: March 20/21 – March 29/30
Zodiacal Longitude: 0°00’–9°59’ Aries
Color (Hex Code): #E0E0E0