|
|
"The sun shines in the zenith, and beneath is a
great winged figure with arms extended, pouring down influences.
In the foreground are two human figures, male and female, unveiled
before each other, as if Adam and Eve when they first occupied
the paradise of the earthly body. Behind the man is the Tree
of Life, bearing twelve fruits, and the Tree of Knowledge of Good
and Evil is behind the woman; the serpent is twining round it.
The figures suggest youth, virginity, innocence and love before
it is contaminated by gross material desire. This is in all
simplicity the card of human love, here exhibited as part of the way,
the truth and life. It replaces, by recourse to first principles,
the old card of marriage, which I have described previously,
and the later follies which depicted man between vice and virtue.
In a very high sense, the card is a mystery of the Covenant
and Sabbath.
The suggestion in respect of the woman is that she
signifies that attraction towards the sensitive life which
carries within it the idea of the Fall of Man, but she is
rather the working of a Secret Law of Providence than a willing
and conscious temptress. It is through her imputed lapse that
man shall arise ultimately, and only by her can he complete
himself. The card is therefore in its way another intimation
concerning the great mystery of womanhood. The old meanings
fall to pieces of necessity with the old pictures, but even
as interpretations of the latter, some of them were of the order
of commonplace and others were false in symbolism."
The Lovers card is probably one of the more difficult to write about, because
the tendency- or at least mine- is to keep to the easiest and most obvious
meanings as shown in most of the tarot decks, including the RW. However, as
was prefaced by my earlier post on self love, this card has a deeper context,
and one that requires actually only yourself to truly explore- in fact
perhaps that is the best way to begin, then to move forward.
As we've moved along the major trumps, you have seen various characters so
far- the Fool, the Magician, the High Priestess, the Emperor, the Empress,
the Hierophant. Now we are at card 6, and we no longer have only one figure
in the card, but instead three... a man, a woman and an angel. In the RW
deck the Angel is rather large compared to the smaller human figures. The man
stares at the woman, the woman at the angel. In older decks the man was
actually presented with TWO women to chose from, and Cupid was above, aiming
his arrow right at the man.
What the older decks show clearly is the idea of CHOICES, decisions to be
made. At this point the individual has begun to learn and grow, and now is
the time in the process where he/she is asked what do you want, where do you
go? Do you take the time now to fully integrate all aspects of your own
self, so that you move forward as a complete person? (note that this is not a
singular event, but most likely an ongoing synthesis). As has been noted in
some posts, humans have a 'male' and 'female' part in each of them. For a
while men were encouraged to get in touch with their feminine side, at least
by the monthly magazines on 'how to meet women'! But what truth is there for
both men and women in this idea? As women have branched out into the working
world in the recent years, being 'tough' like a man was essential- to the
point of wearing little bow ties (thank you John Malloy may you rest in,
well, tie hell *G*). Look like a man, talk like a man--- all these things to
be treated with equal respect (now there's an illusive goal still). Men are
staying home more, taking care of the children, roles are reversed. Is this
not an example of each finding that traditional roles, assigned by society,
are not necessarily indicative of one's true worth?
So then why is the idea of integrating both sides of our nature- which I
would venture to say have been called male and female more as an assignment
due to biological correlaries than as minimizing or derogatory-- why is this
so difficult for us to do? It goes back to accepting yourself, faults and
all, and loving all these parts without judgment. Giving yourself the same
unconditional love you would like to receive. What is the saying? Charity
(love) starts at home?
So that is one aspect of the Lovers card- seeing what issues are inside of
the person, that need deciding, consideration, exposing and acceptance.
There is of course the more obvious meaning of love in the air- romantic,
sexual, deep and abiding love.
shadow
Back to ShadowWolf's Lesson Index
