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THE UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLE AND ARCHETYPE
OF
LOVE, ART AND CRAFT OF RELATIONSHIPS
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"The
value of the personal relationship to all things is that
it creates intimacy and intimacy creates understanding
and understanding creates love."
- Anais
Nin |
The Lovers
is the Universal Archetype and Worldly Principle of
Art
and
Craft
of
Relationships,
also known as
The Journey of the Twins.
This wonderful Archetype of
Love is found throughout the world in
all cultures and
across time. Astrologically this
magnificent card
is linked to the
House of Gemini.
The Lovers
Archetype in mythology represents the story of
Brahma and
Saraswati.
Brahma
is the
divine Creator god
in the elegant Hindu mythos and is One in
the triad known as the
Trimurti. Brahma's kin include
Vishnu the Preserver and
Shiva
the Destroyer. Creation evolved into Life from the
seed
of Brahma's
cosmic waters.
Saraswati, the
goddess of
language,
creative arts
and learning
is Brahma's wife and companion. From her flows the
Sanskrit language evolved, ever-flowing in the
waters of
creative expression. Saraswati is Brahma's
shakti,
that enables Brahma's energies to
flow in motion.
Together they ride
white swans
on the
fertile waters
of spiritual Knowledge.
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"Hand in hand, the lovers wade through the
water. A mist swirls around them while Brahma's
crystal ball illuminates the way. The trees
represent the heavens, the earth, and the
underworld. The tree roots penetrate the
rippling waters, which contain the unconscious
material of dreams. The reflections mirror
emotions and the changeability of love and
relationships. Saraswati holds the lotus flower,
source of light and procreative powers. This is
her offering to her partner. The swans symbolize
Brahma and Saraswati with their noble and divine
presence."
Lisa Hunt (Animals
Divine) |
The Lovers
from
The Thoth Tarot
deck flows with
pairing
and
balance; the two
children,
the
couple
facing one another, the
young man
and
old man, the
older woman
and
younger woman,
the
eagle
and the
lion,
Cupid
and the Orphic
egg wrapped
with the
transformative Serpent.
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"The symbolism of male and female is carried
on still further by the weapons of the King and
Queen; he bears the Sacred Lance, and she the
Holy Grail; their other hands are joined, as
consenting to the Marriage. Their weapons are
supported by twin children, whose positions are
counterchanged; for the white child not only
holds the Cup, but carries roses, while the
black child, holding his father's Lance, carries
also the club, an equivalent symbol. At the
bottom of the whole is the result of the
Marriage in primitive and panmorphic form; it is
the winged Orphic egg. This egg represents the
essence of all that life which comes under this
formula of male and female. It carries on the
symbolism of the Serpents with which the King's
robe is embroidered, and of the Bees which adorn
the mantle of the Queen. The egg is grey,
mingling white and black; thus it signifies the
co-operation of the three Supernals of the Tree
of Life. The colour of the serpent is purple,
Mercury in the scale of the Queen. It is the
influence of that God manifested in Nature,
whereas the wings are tinged with crimson, the
colour (in the King scale) of Binah the Great
Mother. In this symbol is therefore a complete
glyph of the equilibrium necessary to begin the
Great Work. But, as to the final mystery, that
is left unsolved. Perfect is the plan to produce
life, but the nature of this life is concealed.
It is capable of taking any possible form; but
what form? That is dependant upon the influences
attendant on gestation."
Aleister
Crowley (The Book of Thoth) |
The Lovers
reminds us that in every flow of relationship whether it be with
Your
Beloved Soulmate,
Partner,
Family,
Friends,
Colleagues; for
everything to shine with Brilliance what is required is;
child-like innocence,
curiosity
and
playfulness
(symbolized by the Children),
loyalty
and
commitment
(symbolized by the Couple),
wisdom,
foresight
and
fortitude
(symbolized by the Young and Old),
balance of the Self
(symbolized by the female and male) and the
gift of personal space,
allowing for
introspection
and
contemplation
(symbolized by the Hermit who is blessing the couple.) This is the
only other place where the Hermit appears other than
The Hermit card itself and hence must be looked at with great
attention. The Hermit
blesses the union between male and female.
The
iron gates
in the background symbolize the need for
The Lovers
not to be
limited,
restricted,
barred
or
restrained
in any way, that freedom of Spirit and space is a crucial need for
the
flow of balance
and partnership to shine with
radiant Magnificence.
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"When two people are at one in their inmost
hearts, they shatter even the strength of iron
or bronze; and when two people understand each
other in their inmost hearts, their words are
sweet and strong, like the fragrance of orchids."
I-Ching |
Eros, the
God of Love, represented by
Cupid
in Greek mythology is both the
eldest
and
youngest
of all the
gods and is symbolized by the older man and
younger man
and older woman and
younger woman. Cupid reminds us that there are two kinds
of love; love as passion and
love as compassion.
Eros reminds us that there are six
kinds of relationships where love and
compassion are expressed; the
Love of Eternity between Soulmates which
flows as a mirror of Love
for Your divine and sacred Self, the
Love of servant and master
(professional and collegial relationship), the Love between friend
and friend, the Love between parent and child, the
Love between
husband and wife and the Love of relationships between ideas and
creative projects.
The Lovers Archetype draws out the
principles of duality, of good and evil, light and dark, positive
and negative. Balance must be drawn out for the
Yin and Yang in
consciousness to extend into fruitful flavour.
The Lovers is also known as "The
Children of the Voice" and is about determining your personal values
and choices in the balance of companionship. Love and sex go
hand-in-hand especially when there is a divine blessing, the
urge
for union is powerful and takes us beyond ourselves. The male and
female complement each other in perfect balance and manifestation.
In the
Ryder-Waite Tarot the Angel is
blessing the bond between man and woman and reminds us that
Deep
Love is the strongest force of all. The card symbolizes tough value
choices and the questioning that goes with this
Marvellous
Archetype. In some decks
The Lovers shows a man torn between two
women - a virgin and a
temptress. This old-fashioned triangle
symbolizes larger dilemmas we face when we come across making the
right choice.
The Lovers represents following your own path which
sometimes means going against those who are urging you in a
direction that is wrong for you. One must
always follow the Heart
for it will never lead you astray.
In the I-Ching hexagram of Breakthough
there is a crucial statement about how to resolve the struggle
between the light and the dark, of opposites that may be apparent
within our own Divine natures;
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"Even a single passion still lurking in the
heart has power to obscure reason. Passion and
reason cannot exist side by side. Therefore,
fight without quarter is necessary if the good
is to prevail. In a resolute struggle of the
good against evil, there are, however, definite
rules that must not be discarded if good is to
succeed. First, resolution must be based on a
union of strength and friendliness. Second, a
compromise with evil is not possible: evil must
under all circumstances be openly discredited.
Nor must our own passions and shortcomings be
glossed over. Third, the struggle must not be
carried on directly by force. If evil is
branded, it thinks of weapons, and if we do it
the favour of fighting against it blow for blow,
we lose in the end because thus we ourselves get
entangled in hatred and passion. Therefore, it
is important to begin at home, to be on guard in
our own persons against the faults that we have
branded. In this way, finding no opponent, the
sharp edges of the weapons of evil become
dulled. For the same reasons we should not
combat our own faults directly. As long as we
wrestle with them, they continue victorious.
Finally, the best way to fight evil is to make
energetic progress in the good." |
The energetic progress of the good
within our own divine nature is symbolized by the
four tools that
are held by each of the children. In times of darkness which is
represented by the child which is the dark figure, it is important
that we trust our intuition, which is represented by the
club/wand
and that we have the right attitude in our beliefs and thinking
which is symbolized by the spear/sword. In times of positivity, it
is important that we follow what has heart and meaning, which is
symbolized by the cup held by the child which is the white figure,
and that through our action and behaviours we implement what has
passion and heart for us symbolized by the cluster of
pine
cones/flowers that the child holds.
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"Heed not the Siren-Voice of Sense, or the
Phantom-Voice of Reason: rest in Simplicity, and
listen to the Silence."
- Lon Milo
DuQuette (Understanding Crowley's Thoth
Tarot) |
The creatures at the bottom of the
card remind us of the three principles which are important for our
relationships to flourish with goodness;
Leo the Lion bursts forth
with Creativity,
Scorpio the Eagle reminds us to be
clear on
loyalties and priorities and the Orphic egg wrapped with the
Serpent
shows that all relationships are transformative experiences in order
that we physically change like the egg and spiritually transform and
let go of the old just as the
snake shedding its old skin. Each
relationship has an internal and spiritual connection which is
symbolized by the wings attached to the
egg. The egg also symbolizes
that relationships will grow and flourish together.
In the process of
Alchemy,
The Lovers
symbolizes the maxim "solve et coagula" which represents "solution
and coagulation". The process of solve is represented by
The Lovers
and the process of coagula is in the card
Art (XIV). "Solve et
coagula" is the story of marriage and pregnancy. The main character
is the child who is born from the union between male and female.
Within the Zodiac,
Gemini symbolizes
The Lovers
and
Sagittarius
symbolizes Art. Both cards are
twinned with each other. The
white
eagle and red lion symbolize the female and the male, representing
the Empress and
Emperor. Within the
Art card the red lion turns
white and the white eagle turns red.
The Lovers is about
Knowledge and
fulfilment on every level of consciousness,
being present in the
Now, coming into balance and allowing the energy flow of
love,
desire, passion to meld the heart and mind of the
Beholder of Life.
It is when the true and authentic Self forms a union and marriage
within to come to full fruition of Magnificence.
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"To be drawn into an embrace, to seek that
union that all souls ache for and desire, to
know the oneness of passion and love and revel
in it. Their eyes are open, but they gaze only
at each other, oblivious to the sun that goes on
turning above them and the gaze of the heavens.
Neither gold and gem-encrusted crown of kings
nor grapevine and flower-twined crown of
peasants grace their brows, for the forces
gathering around them make no such distinctions;
indeed, their own senses have no awareness of
such either."
"Take
this seed," he says to her, placing an acorn
in her palm.
"Water
it with the fount of your spirit and intentions."
"And
we shall see what grows of that," she
replies.
"The
Lovers is also about determining choices - the
innocence embodied in the turtledoves is a
contrast to the shiny red apple in the embrace
of the snake, one of the oldest symbols of
temptation. Likewise, the pure simplicity of the
calla lily contrasts the lush and sensual
complexity of a rose."
- Stephanie
Pui-Mun Law & Barbara Moore
(Shadowscapes
Companion) |
Within the path of Life it is
important to bring Oneself into balance, bringing into union the
feminine and masculine energies of ones own
divine Self. It is
important to forge good, strong relationships with animals and
people, with Nature, see Yourself as the vision of Starlight in the
Universe. Allow nurture and devotion to flow along the path of
balance.
The Lovers archetype reminds us that
fundamental sincerity is the only proper basis for
forming loving
and caring relationships of any kind.
POSITIVE PATH
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Establishing Bonds & Relating
-
feeling love and devotion
forming a union and marriage
acknowledging kinship
sympathizing with another
getting closer and being intimate
making a connection
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- Sexuality and seeking a Union -
experiencing desire
making love
opening to another
responding with passion
feeling physical attraction
tapping inner energy
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- Establishing Personal Knowledge -
questioning
received opinions
figuring out where you stand
staying true to yourself
setting your own philosophy
going by your own standards
making up your own mind
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- Determining personal values -
struggling with
temptation
choosing between right and wrong
facing an ethical and moral choice
refusing to let ends justify means
finding out what you truly care about
flowing truth from your Heart
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WORLD AND
OCCUPATION
- Streaming Passions unto the World -
Education, Knowledge, Learning, Reading, Writing,
Teaching, Investigation, Inquiry, Rational Faculty,
Intellect, Intelligence, Logic, Alertness,
Deliberation, Correction, Improvement,
Discrimination, Critical Aptitude, Analysis, Detail,
Social Skills, Competence, Charm, Sophistication,
Diplomacy, Adaptability, Interaction, Coalition,
Blending, Co-operation, Synthesis, Bridging Gaps,
Mind, Thought, Mental Process, Acuity, Curiosity,
Language, Communication
Debate, Argument, Sophistry, Erudition, Science,
Technical Ability, Inventiveness, Harmony,
Telephone, Machines, Computers, Gadgets, Scientific
Genius, Technical Prowess, Innovation,
Diversification, Change of Domestic Setting,
Crossroad Junctures, Ending of a Phase of
Communication, Ending of a Cycle of Co-operation and
Affiliation, Conclusion of Business or Intimate
Relationship, Half-way Stages, Decision, Choices,
Compromises, Siblings, Friends, Neighbours,
Visitors, House Guests, Everyday Contacts, Room
Mates, Meetings, Agreements, Schedules, Routines,
Comings and Goings |
NEGATIVE
PATH
- Abandoning the Flow of Love -
Superficiality, Worldliness, Extroversion,
Indifference, Pre-occupation with Social
Etiquette, Ambivalence, Pre-occupation with
Trivia, Manipulation, Pre-occupation with
Fashion and Image, Gossip, Meddling, Fuss,
Vanity, Scheming, Social and Intellectual
Arrogance, Poor Time Economy, Disagreements,
Fault-Finding, Misunderstanding, Scatterings,
Indecision, Lack of Empathy, Sophistry,
Performance, Duplicity, Deceit, Hyperbole |
REVERSED
- Re-balancing the Sacred Self -
Unclear Thinking, Indecision, Lack of
Detail, Resistance, Unclear Communication,
No Planning, No Skill, Inflexibility, Lack
of Discernment, Irrational Choices,
Discretion, Secretiveness, Lack of Order and
Organization, Failed Contracts, Hesitation,
Heedless of Good Advise, Failed
Collaboration, Indecision, Not able to adapt
to Change, Failed Agreements, Rudeness,
Deceit, Ending of Friendships, Ignored Facts
or Data, Limited Understanding, A One-Sided
View, Skewed Perspectives, Keeping Things
Back, Delays, Inability to speak
forth-rightly, Clandestine Activity,
Fatigue, Disagreements and Problems with
Siblings/Relatives, Increased Empathy,
Incompatible People, Breakdown in Domestic
Routines, Schedule Complications, Poor Time
Keeping, No Social Grace, Unsophisticated
Behaviour, Antisocial Tendencies,
Dishonesty, Bad News, Loss of Interest,
Ineptitude, Maturation, Ending of
Superficiality |
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"The reversal asks to strengthen the positive and
release the negative. Any path will always lead
to both being fulfilled."
- Michael
Tsarion |
BIO-ENERGETIC
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- Drawing Breath of Spirit -
Lungs, Breath, Vocal Chords, Voice, Arms,
Hands, Synapses, Brain Function,
Electromagnetism, Chemical Balance, Acuity,
Agility, Motility, Comprehension, Grace |
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The
Lovers as
a Life-Time Personality Symbol
For those whose birthday adds up to the number
six, The Lovers represents your Life-Time
Personality Spiritual Symbol. The Archetype of
The Lovers shines deep within your Spirit and
you have great capacity to motivate and inspire
people of all ages, generations and
places,
symbolized by the children, the couple and
older
and younger people.
You work well with people on a one-to-one basis
and also as a group. You have a marvellous gift
of teaching the art and craft of relating with
ideas, creativity and people. You have strong
fundamentals in establishing relationship lines
and have an excellent perception on what is
working and what is not working in
relationships.
Your greatest ability stems from weighing
choices between two situations, people and
issues to create a greater whole. When two parts
of a whole come together then what is created is
beautiful and magical, surpassing the original
in depth and breadth of vitality and wholeness.
It is about synthesizing, integrating
polarities, oppositions and paradoxes.
You are gifted in putting together ideas,
situations, people that others had not thought
of as workable. You have a great sensitivity to
people and relationships.
It is vitally important to give yourself space
like The Hermit to integrate and experience your
own unique flows. The Hermit Archetype is all
about contemplation, introspection,
emotional
and psychological space.
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The
Lovers as a
Growth Symbol
During Lovers years when your birthday and the
current year add up to twenty-four or six you
may experience a deep need to reassess all your
relationships with friends, family,
colleagues
and those you hold deep emotional bonds with.
It is a good time to assess whether you have the
kind of support that works for you and to also
let go of that which does not work for you. It
is a year where you may want to deepen and
expand certain relationships and where you want
to distance and shed from relationships which do
not work for you anymore.
The Lovers is the Gemini symbol, a
weighing
between two; two options, two directions,
two
people, two situations. This is the time when
you can create a greater whole in your life both
personally and professionally. It is a time when
to make relationships equal and special.
This archetype symbol peaks in the month of
Gemini (May 21st to June 21st) Gemini people
could function as mirrors and choices in your
personal and professional life. The Lovers year
is a choice making year where you creatively
bring two or more choices together to create a
greater whole.
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The Lovers as an
Outer Mirror
When you are drawn to The Lovers symbol and when
you pull it from the deck, this flowing card
represents your current skills with people of
all ages and places. The Archetype of The Lovers
affirms that you are in the period of making
choices about important relationships in your
Life, especially those you would like to deepen
and expand and also those you want to distance
and shed for a temporary time.
The Lovers also indicates your need not to be
barred or limited in relationships and your
desire to work with people on a one-to-one basis
and also in groups. It is also about choices to
be made about children and older people in your
life and how to integrate two or more situations
and choices together.
This could also could indicate choices
concerning Gemini people in your Life (May 21st
to June 21st).
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The Lovers as a
Visual Affirmation & Meditative Symbol
The Lovers is a perfect symbol to meditate upon
for affirming relationships and people skills,
especially if you have difficulty in relating to
people in your life. This wonderful archetype is
perfect for increasing one’s choice making
ability, in bringing together two or more forms
to create a greater whole, making definitive
choices between two issues, two situations and
two people.
The card also affirms your ability and capacity
to work with people of all ages, places;
children, teenagers, adults and the
elderly.
The Lovers archetype is an incredible visual
portraiture in knowing how to deepen and expand
relationships and knowing which relationships
have served their purpose and outgrown the flows
along your path.
Sample Affirmations
I enjoy working with people of all ages and
places.
I have inherent people skills.
Emotionally, I am sure about what I need and
want,
and what I don’t need and want, in the area of
relationships.
I deeply honour and value the principle of friendship and the
quality of Love that I bring into my Life and
that I express in my Life.
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Symbols
that are facets of The Lovers
The Lovers is the archetype associated with
expressing and extending the art and craft of
relationships. Essential qualities that are also
needed are;
Six of Swords (Science) symbolizing the
science
of mind, the objective mind, the fair witnessing
mind, attitude of objectivity and looking at
situations realistically as they are rather than
how you want them to be.
Six of Cups (Pleasure) representing pleasure
that is healing (copper cups), revitalising
(orange lotus blossoms), renewing and
regenerating (snakes coiled within the cups), to
extend fun and pleasure.
Six of Wands (Victory) symbolizing elemental
victory which is a win/win situation rather than
a win/lose situation.
Six of Discs (Success) representing the
formula
for success in relationships and creative
projects. Six steps represented by the
astrological symbols; Saturn - not push or hold
back; Jupiter – to be open and flexible;
Venus –
follow your Heart and what has meaning;
Moon –
stay in honesty and integrity and not abandon
ourselves; Mercury – communicate effectively
with artful timing; Mars – give vital and
consistent energy.
The Devil (XV) symbolizes Pan and the merry
goat, Capricorn; manifesting The Lovers card
outwardly in the world and in your Life. The Pan
within us requires that we look at whatever is
bedevilling us or troubling us in relationships
with the stability of Capricorn the goat and
with the mirth/humour of Pan.
Taking things too seriously sets us off balance
and so Pan and Capricorn remind us that through
humour and stability we are able to manifest
Objectivity in the Mind (Six of Swords),
Pleasure in the Heart (Six of Cups),
Victory in
the Spirit (Six of Wands) and Success in the
External World and in our relationships through
our actions and behaviour (Six of Discs).
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- Gifts &
Challenges of The High Priestess -
Gifts
The Lovers (Art and
Craft of Love)
The Devil/Pan (Mirth and Stability)
The Six of Swords (Science/Objectivity)
The Six of Cups (Pleasure)
The Six of Wands (Victory)
The Six of Disks (Success)
Challenges
To model the art
and craft of relationships and to utilise inherent
people skills in the flow of devotion with
each other. |
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Opposing Cards: some possibilities -
The Empress
sexual fulfilment
The Two of Cups
union, marriage, connection
The Nine of Cups
sexual pleasure
The Ten of Cups
family relationships, bonding
The Ten of Pentacles
permanent unions, family ties
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- Reinforcing Cards: some possibilities
-
The Hierophant
established beliefs
The Hermit
being alone, not relating, less sexuality
The Five of Cups
loss
in relationships
Three of Swords
rejection, separation
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- Research sources -
Taroscopes
by
Michael Tsarion
Röhrig
Tarot by
Carl-W. Röhrig
Arcus Arcanum Tarot by
Hager Gunter
The Tarot Handbook by
Angeles Arrien
The Book of Thoth by
Aleister Crowley
Animals Divine Companion
by Lisa Hunt
Fantastical Creatures
by Lisa Hunt
&
D.J. Conway
Thoth
Tarot by
Aleister Crowley &
Lady Frieda Harris
Radiant Rider-Waite Tarot by
Pamela Colman Smith
Shadowscapes
by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law
& Barbara Moore
Understanding Crowley’s Thoth Tarot
by Lon Milo DuQuette
Robin Wood Tarot
by Robin Wood
& Michael Short
Kleopatra Tarot
by Etta Stoico
& Silvana Alasia
Connolly Tarot
by Eileen
& Peter Paul
Connolly
Learning the Tarot
by Joan Bunning
Haindl Tarot by
Hermann Haindl
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