The Lovers

Part One: Choice

The Lovers As Choice

In Meditations on the Tarot, the author states “The central theme of the sixth Arcanum is therefore that of the practice of the vow of chastity, just as the fifth had poverty as its theme and fourth had obedience.” Tomberg uses the Marseilles deck in his meditations and the depiction of The Lovers is significantly different from what we see in Rider Waite Smith.

We see the central figure almost in a tug of war between two female figures. They both have their hands on him and he looks at the figure on the left with conflict in his eyes, while the figure on the right gazes at him with tenderness. This isn’t the typical idea we have when we think of the Lovers in most current decks. Our Lover must make a choice, and though Tomberg says it is between poverty and chastity, when I look at the card, with the blindfolded angel (cupid) above, the idea keeps coming back to me that love is blind, that there is some sense that we don’t have a choice in love, that love chooses us.

My friend Laurie and I are cooking up a class this year which will be named the Eight Types of Love, from the Greeks’ interpretation, through several different cards in the deck. This sixth card in the Major Arcana, from the perspective of the Marseilles deck, reminds us that love in its many forms isn’t easy, making the decision to connect with another (and is it always a rational choice?) can be fraught with tension and loss of self.

I need to do more thinking and study on the topic of chastity in its relation to The Lovers in the Tarot, which is why this subject will emerge in sections over the next few weeks. But I am thinking of chastity as a distinctly unmodern topic, but one that necessarily involves giving up connection to the other, and retaining connection to oneself. More to come.

The Lovers in Rider Waite Smith

The depiction by Pamela Coleman Smith is so very different from the Marseilles. We are returned back to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, with the angel Raphael looking over them. Raphael is the angel who represents healing the sick. We can’t help but notice that Eve looks to Raphael while Adam looks to Eve. Eve will make a choice (note fruit tree and serpent behind her), and that decision will change everything. But the Sun is big and bright behind Raphael, and her demeanor is one of power, beauty, nature and connection, with her hands held out wide and the clouds connecting the two figures. Love is necessary but has consequences, as Adam and Eve will soon discover.

Like the Marseilles depiction, this one is also about choice, as Michelle Tea says, “the Lovers card wants us to have standards, as well as a noble love of the highest level.” We are back to the idea of chastity unless it is the real deal. Both cards remind us of what we give up when we give ourselves to another, and also that it is no small feat to be in relationship with another person.

I’ll leave this here now. We’ll continue on this thread next week. I’d love to hear your ideas on this topic.

Current Offerings

Coming off a few weeks with a lot of enneagram consulting, I’m digging back into Tarot with gusto. I’m offering a variety of different readings now, and my calendar of classes will be coming out soon for 2023.

Offerings

Paid subscribers have the opportunity to join our intimate monthly tarot circles, the first Sunday of each month. The next one will be on Sunday, February 5th at noon PST. It will also be the full moon, so I think we’ll do full moon readings and talk about what can be released.