Card 6-The Lovers
@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
United States
January 12, 2011 1:55pm CST
The Lovers represents the blending of masculine and feminine energies. It represents the harmony of beauty and understanding. It is the understanding of beauty in the higher sense of beauty, not of the earthly beauty. It is the spiritual beauty of the higher self that is realized through understanding.
The Lovers is on the pathway between Tipareth (Beauty) and Binah (Understanding) on the Tree of Life. It is this position that further clarifies the meaning of The Lovers in that though they are connected to Tipareth (Beauty) a more connected “earthly” sphere, they are connected to Binah (Understanding) which is directly connected to the Crown. This connection places the emphasis on the higher self and its recognition of spiritual beauty. It is not to say that earthly beauty is not recognized or even enjoyed, it is to say that the Lovers represent the seeking of or understanding of a spiritual beauty, and not carnal indulgence. The pathway between Tipareth and Binah is always two directional. The Lovers on this pathway can represent the journey towards or away from understanding through beauty.
If the Lovers is drawn by itself or in a spread (though in a spread the meaning would depend greatly on the surrounding cards) it generally represents the influence of this higher self and understanding on your life. It is the guide that your choices in life should be made from the higher self or the spiritual self rather than from your more earthly self or intellectual self. It may represent the need for harmony in your life, for the balance of the earthly with the spiritual. Though it could potentially signify an “actual” person it is wise to not mistake this card for the “perfect mate”. It does not necessarily symbolize an actual romantic partnership. It may simply be a person that comes into your life for the purpose of helping you to find that balance between Binah and Tipareth. In the negative the Lovers can represent being drawn toward earthly beauty and worldly pleasures at the expense of the spiritual.
[b]
Questions: At this point in your do you find yourself more attracted to earthly or spiritual beauty? What has been your experience with this?[/b]
1 person likes this
7 responses
@isabelwakeford (57)
•
13 Jan 11
Dear Anora
I usually find that the appearance of THE LOVERS means that a choice has to be made, when the individual querent can either choose to do the right thing (and pursue the spiritual path ), or stay on the physical plane and pursue a life of hedonistic pleasure -usually the latter choice is much more attractive. I find that most people who pull this card out, have already embarked on a love affair (often at work)and for these people, THE LOVERS means , well, exactly that! Namaste
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@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
• United States
13 Jan 11
Isabel-
How do you see this in relationship to Binah and Tipareth?
Namaste-Anora
@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
• United States
14 Jan 11
Isabel-
First, I do not see the Lovers as only binary. Yes, it can represent being drawn towards a spiritual understanding of love or pursuing worldly passion, but I'm not certain that it is cut and dry. It can also represent the struggle between those desires which can contain any number of things.
As for the Chariot, again I don't see it as strictly binary. I would agree that it can symbolize balance between opposing forces, but it is not just symbolizing good/evil forces, male/female forces, or spiritual/earthly forces. The Chariot is also influenced by all the astrological forces and all of the elemental forces. So in that sense it could represent being pulled in many directions or having to balance those extremes.
I would say that in some degree it is true that the average person is more likely to be drawn toward an earthly love, where as the more spiritually minded person is going to be drawn toward a spiritual love. This really depends upon the individual person, the circumstance, the other contributing influences. Obviously there always multiple factors to take into account.
To take your example of Freudian analogy it could be argued that the Lovers card represents being drawn towards either the Id or the Super Ego. Therefore, if conflict occurs, the actual conflict takes place in the Ego, but not necessarily only between the Id and Ego. In Kabbalistic terminology, there is a conflict between Nefesh and Neshamah theoretically it happened in the Ruach.
Namaste-Anora
@isabelwakeford (57)
•
13 Jan 11
Dear Anora
I don't really recognise the terms Binah and Tipareth; Beauty and Understanding - only the binary oppositions body and soul/intellect, as in the Platonic tradition In that case I believe that there is a struggle between physical lust (which is instinctive)and moral conscience (which can be controlled by the mind)-if you want to couch this in Freudian terms, you have the Id and the Ego and the Ego's efforts to subdue the demands of the Id.
In some ways this card connects directly to the Chariot which follows it, as you have the same binary opposition between male/female, yin/yang, good/bad etc.. The chariot to me signifies working hard to keep a relationship together;working hard to keep opposing forces in check and under control.
I don't know if this makes sense at all? he body usually wins the struggle in my experience. Namaste
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
12 Jan 11
Namaste Anora,
I am more into the spiritual beauty - The earthly beauties dont seem to interest me much just because I believe they are all short lived. The real beauty is in peace of mind, finding happiness in small things, setting simpler and achievable goals, enjoying the nature, being positive in thoughts... (a big list).
I believe I can appreciate the beauty if I am satisfied and having peace in mind and I couldnt get either when I was after the earthly beauties.
Regards,
theSids.
@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
• United States
13 Jan 11
Thesids-
I would say that in my early twenties I got caught up with the "earthly" beauty. I was concerned with making sure my house looked like the neighbors, etc. I became caught up in the world of advancement, and such that I took very little time for my spiritual walk.
Now that I'm 38, the last five years have been a wonderful spiritual journey and I've never been happier. We live a simple life, balanced, and enjoyable.
Namaste-Anora
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
13 Jan 11
Namaste Anora,
I think it is the age that plays out its role - me, and now reading your response - Many of us(I think I should not use all) get caught with the earthly beauty sometime or the other - more prone in teens until mid(or late)-twenties - though for many this continues on.
All the world's a stage (from As You Like It 2/7) - seems to be so very true after so many centuries the words are so very true
Regards,
theSids.
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@Monkeyrose (2840)
• Canada
13 Jan 11
I am generally more attracted to spiritual beauty. I love looking at nature and how great and wonderful she is. I am more interested in people's core beauty rather than their outward appearance. I personally don't wear a lot of makeup and wear clothing that speaks to me rather than the masses.
1 person likes this
@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
• United States
13 Jan 11
Rose-
I think there is a lot to be said about inner beauty and our appreciation of it.
Namaste-Anora
@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
• United States
16 Jan 11
Dawn-
I suppose I've always believed that being in Nature was as close to spiritual as a person could get. I'm glad you enjoy it!
Namaste-Anora
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
19 Jan 11
I actually think that in my life I am evenly attracted to earthly and spiritual beauty. The reason that I think this is the case in my life is because of the fact that I find a lot of beauty in the things around me in my day to day life. However, the beauty of my spiritual beliefs is actually something that has overcome me to the point that I'm overtaken with emotion at times. In this way, I consider myself to be a very well rounded person.
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@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
• United States
19 Jan 11
Dorann-
That is wonderful. It is a delicate dance the Lovers reminds of in terms of our relationship between what is earthly and what is spiritual. It is the old saying of being of the earth but not in it.
Namaste-Anora
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
12 Jan 11
This remains me of beauty is only skin deep. Sure I do appreciate outer beauty but I tend to be more so attracted to inner beauty. Makes no sense to be with the most handsome looking person and get treated like garbage.
In fact, I worked with what everyone said was a very handsome doctor. Ugh.. I could not see that, from day one he was so ugly. The way he carried himself, the way he treated everyone really never allows anyone to see anything nice and or beautiful about him.
My duties included about 80% of the entire week, hiring and firing employees simply because he did not like they way they looked (long story), but after twenty minutes of the employees first day he would come to me that I had to let them go. When that man walked in the back door the entire room frowned and began breathing deep. He was so cruel, mean and a truly horrible person.
So I could never see past his ugliness.
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@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
• United States
13 Jan 11
That is quite the job! It's about balance in life as in anything and as you say sometimes people who are cruel cannot see it for themselves.
Namaste-Anora
