The latest drawing. The Lovers (VI) inverted. On the surface this comes as a complicated and difficult card to read, unless you take it for simply face value.
It has been interpreted not only as its most direct meaning of physical and emotional relationship of love and sex, but stripped down to the base of that theme – as a choice that leads to sacrifice for a greater fulfillment. That being a career love, a ideological or spiritual love.
On the Fool’s Journey he comes to a crossroads, where there is a tree bearing fruit, and a tree in bloom. only one was his destination, but now he faces a dilemma, and he must choose between where he was headed and where he’s discovered something new and promising. Normally I prefer the Rider Waite deck for its simplicity with detail and relative secularity, albeit defaulting to Christian motifs when it comes to the divine. The Adam and Eve figures don’t seem to fit unless you consider the snake and the fruit of the tree of knowledge of life and death as the choice offered. Adam and Eve was not a particularly ideal love story, nor did Adam have a choice for Eve. Digging deeper into the meaning if The Lovers more than just superficial sexual union, there’s more to this theme than meets the eye.
Alternate, and earlier decks have displayed a man torn between two women, one a temptress the other a virgin, or a man and woman introduced by a third party, and still further a man and woman under Cupid and his arrow.
The main idea here is that we encounter those things in life that we feel complete us and introduce harmony into our lives. Things like soul mates, the perfect lover, an ideal form of expression, a home or family… The things in which you must forgo all other alternatives and make a choice. This choice is unexpected and mandatory. It does not come announced, and it must be made without preparation, as is often the case. This is not an unwanted choice however. The objective of the decision is one that is driven by unbridled passion and desire. It’s a “sure thing” as far as want is concerned. The crux is that it will require strife, setback and sacrifice to attain it, such as going against your family, friends or other established systems and beliefs.
Elsewhere it’s discussed that the Lovers refers to the garden, or our home from where we, as The Fool, struck out from initially on our journey and the relationships that we form along the way with friends and lovers alike, and these form critical experiences on how we perceive the world, forming our own big picture.
The symbols of The Lovers: again we see the divine (angel) hovering from the clouds above. Some assime that he is sanctioning the union of the paired figures beneath. But if the pair is, as indicated, the biblical Adam and Eve, wouldn’t he be the angel expelling them from the garden? At position number 6 in the Major Arcana, we have surpassed the nurturing maternity of the Empress, and the dominating authority of the Emperor, and the cultural yoke of the Hierophant. None of these are chosen by us. These are our origins. With the Lovers as choice, the Fool now makes his first unaided steps in the world by choosing what he loves, and wants independent from the rules set down by his elders. The young fool is beginning to define his own self and values, how he expresses himself through his choices, activities, environment, and relationships. Thus the angel appearing out of the clouds once again represents a sudden and unavoidable calling or demand, one that cannot be reversed, a home or paradise to which you can never return.
Now take into consideration the brilliant sun, blazing overhead at 12 noon position, illuminating a dawning sky. It is not a ckear blue sky, but a golden bronze, as the sun spills over the dark. This is the height of awakening. When we know, or at least believe we know what we want and are willing to set out after it. Privy to enlightenment we can make an informed choice, rather than flailing in the pitch black or waiting for direction to be harnessed upon us.
Dominating the horizon is a steep, solitary mountain, representing an ordeal ahead. Notice how it stands between the amorants (Lovers). This is the said sacrifice and difficultys to be borne for the choice now to be taken – a burden that’s accepted and well worth the price.
In a side observation, with the Mythic Tarot deck, the Judgement of Paris is used as the theme for The Lovers. Researching that led me to stumble upon the issue of Discordianism. Discordianism is an abstract philosophy, or loosely-termed religion, based on the principle that order and disorder are merely perceptions, perceived through varied cultural and psychological grids. These established grids are interchangeable, inherently or at will. This seems to me to be a complementary viewpoint to Dadaism in practice and theory.
Interpretation
Interpreting my own recent condition through The Lovers, I realize a new path that I have to travel. This is not the first occurrence of this condition. I’ve gone after what I wanted several times, by that I mean uprooting myself and changing locations. But never was it motivated like now for a clear purpose of a trade, a craft to establish. Before its always been more artistic and concerning exploration and adventure, taking what comes along the way. Despite having taken many of the necessary steps to fulfill this direction, I still see myself as hesitating to jump off the edge into commitment.
At the same time there is a relationship issue that weighs heavy on my mind that appears to conflict with this situation. It’s something that can’t be pursued. Is it on ice, or is the door closed? Is it better to stop beating down that door and find something mire aligned with where I am in my own progress?
Something tells me that the difficult choice will be the more rewarding. I’d rather compromise to an equal than compromise my own values. Hungry as ever for new relations and people I still find the door closed as often here as there. Thats something to do with me, not with my environment, or culture and language barriers. I’d like to try and improve it, but not by appeasing people, especially who haven’t deserved it, or demanding attention from where it’s not wanted.
Ultimately, the solution will come along the current path. As soon as I jump the quicker things will accelerate.
