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DECEMBER 2009

The Lovers, KEY VI, Major Arcana

by Peggy Firth, Certified Tarot Master

The Lovers card represents the feminine/masculine within us yet shows that the male/female are separate. In the traditional Rider Waite (RW) deck the archangel Raphael is clothed in a purple robe with outstretched hands as the angel of the air. Below the angel are clouds, the cosmic life breath of the air.

Raphael looks down upon the male and female while the female looks up to Raphael. The Robin Wood deck does not have the angel that occupies a good portion of the RW card. However, in its place is a white light that fans out to encompass a large tree with a thick base with a male and female standing close together each with one hand outstretched. The moon appears on the side of the female and sun next to the male.

In the RW deck the male figure reminds us of Adam and behind him is a Tree of Life bearing twelve fiery fruits. Adam’s tail appears to be on fire as well. The female represents Eve who stands beside the Tree of Good and Evil. The tree bares five fruits which represent the five senses. We see a serpent climbing up the tree may ultimately represent temptation. The serpent also represents wisdom and redemption that serve as a way to counter balance the force that drives man into mistaken action.

The large sun of the RW deck infuses the figures with more spiritual energy than any other card.

The steep mountain in the background and between the two naked figures represents attainment or aspiration. Snow capped mountains appear in the Robin Wood deck as well as a path that winds towards them.

Upright reading – Personal happiness, health and success depend on the harmony of the ego and super-ego or the mental and subconscious. The male force or ego looks to the female, the unconscious force for balance, well-being and happy co-operation. The female looks to the angel for love and understanding to pour forth through her. Love is also the ideal relationship between the two levels of consciousness.

Reversed – Challenge may indicate the task will be to resolve issues of the head and heart. It may also signify a reconciliation between unconscious needs and with conscious desires.

Reading the Feminine Images in the Universal Rider-Waite Deck:

The images of people we come across in most of the earlier decks reflected a person's birthright, wealth and prestige and were interpreted by the reader in those terms. Today, we are able to superimpose a greater understanding of those images based on the ancient spiritual principles that have come to light. The rich symbolism within each card may have also come from an attempt to communicate spiritual information not approved by the Catholic Church. Meanings and interpretations can also be linked to practices such as astrology, numerology, the Qabalah and the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet represented in the Major Arcana.

As ancient spiritual practices and teachings are rediscovered and integrated into the behavioral sciences, philosophical and religious teachings, the tarot has become a richer source of divining.

Tarot cards are being used as tools for meditation, prayer, story telling and reflection.

The feminine images we find in the 78 cards are not only for exploring personalities, but tap into the deeper hidden knowledge of the person. The spiritual tarot reader avoids foretelling the future, but rather seeks to provoke insight that can lead to action. Today's reader exercises good judgment and avoids the three D's; divorce, death and disease.

The main theme of the feminine is that of ancient and unrevealed knowledge, understanding and feminine intuition.

Whenever well-dressed women appear in the deck, whether in the Major Arcana or Minor Arcana, these personages all may represent the productive and creative forces: maternal compassion, dignity, feminine mystery and the ability to solve problems.

In the Major Arcana we find the strong archetypal figures of the female in the form of the High Priestess, the Empress, the androgynous Hierophant, the Lovers, Strength, Justice, Temperance, the Tower, the Star, Judgement and the World.

In the Minor Arcana these strong figures appear as the four queens; Queen of Wands, Queen of Cups, Queen of Swords and Queen of Pentacles or Disks. They all represent maturity based on acquiring wisdom, discipline and spirituality. Each suit implies a particular strength of the feminine.

Other female figures found within the Minor Arcana: