Phantasmagoric The Lovers 6

Little Baron

Today's card is

6 The Lovers (Romeo and Juliet)
Gemini

For me, this is one of the more charming versions of the Lovers card because unlike others, I am not distracted by the sexual side of the imagery. I find the Buckland Romani version very sensual but it is hard for me to look past the obviously 'physical' connection that the couple have.

This one, however, is a real cutie. Isn't this what love is all about. I remember hearing when I was much younger, that your lover or soul mate is carved from the same stone; thats why sometimes it is difficult to search through everybody to find the 'right' one. Physically, like twins, it looks like this could be true. Regardless of their different numbers, they do look alike and seem very comfortable with each other. I see the left one as the male and the right one as the female, even though there doesn't seem to be any reason why they should be either. They actually, probably because they look quite childlike, seem sexless to me anyway, whatever gender they are.

What details do I notice here? The two doors, offering some sort of choise or decision. The two dice; ones possition is a mirror of the other. One lover wears a question mark; the other wears a star. One is labeled 56 and one is labeled 24.

Graham Cameron says of this card -
"Step into scene six, a dimension of love and sexuality. We all wish to be loved, but the question is, how much do we really love others? A couple share a chair locked inside each others space; a moment of true love is shared between them. To have achieved such a feeling of unconditional love, they have both made sacrifices. The lovers understand the difference between love and lust. Love is an inspiration. The lovers show us how to better our relationships and we learn from them how to be more open. the lovers have no expectations of each other; they have not made rules. They are flexible and share each others visions. There is a mutual exchange.
The lovers represent balance between sympathy and lust, intelligence and perceptivity.
A key has been found, the box has been opened, a heart of unconditional love makes itself known. We need to think about the people we are attracted to and those that are attracted to us.
New love affair, conflict between desire and intellect. Reliance or intuition.
Reversed: frustration in relationships, wrong decision".

Yaboot
 

darwinia

Six, Six, Pick Up Sticks

I noticed the chair they were sitting in, the animal print--perhaps a reminder of their animalistic sexuality in the background. Likewise the puzzle piece in the corner both male and female like electrical or cable TV receptors. They've got to plug into each other to work.

I also thought the female was on the right, maybe because she has a fancier crown and a waspish waist and appears to have shorter legs? I thought the two doors indicated separate houses, so both their houses come together, an occurrence which did not come to fruition in Romeo and Juliet. Yes, and these doors and the dice are reflected, like our two lovers also reflect each other.

If you turn the key, the little heart pops out of the box, but you have to have the right key, the right fit. Since Graham states in the LWB that 56 is his personal number, I would think that might be him in the Romeo role.

Love inspires, I would agree, but what happens to the inspiration when we don't have any love, or we lose the love? Does your life become completely uninspiring? With no mutual exchange, is life worth living? With no better relationships are you better off dead? Is true love necessary to fulfill your life? Hmmm...the promise of flexibility I have found to usually mean *you* can do anything, but if *I* try it, that's not acceptable. And vice versa, right Yab, as we consider the other side? How can you be open when the other side is not? Where does the balance go then? I obviously see much of the negative with the Lovers. Unconditional love is not something that exists, unless you want to call it duty: duty and the endless drudgery of pretense.

I very much liked his words "a conflict between desire and intellect," for sometimes we desire people who are not right for us, and we know it intellectually, but it doesn't stop us from trying to fit the wrong puzzle pieces together. It doesn't stop us from trying to share a vision that does not reflect us, from burying ourselves to please someone else, from lying to ourselves, from trying too, too hard and ending in total frustration as the key bends while we try to jam it into the box.

Ah, but see their comfort, locked inside each other...........Sigh¹³
 

Little Baron

Thanks for that one Freesiaskye!

Excellent perceptions and really got my mind going. How many times have I bent up the key trying to get it in the right door.

Do you think that maybe the two doors symbolise some sort of trust as well. That even though they are locked into each other on the chair, they have the ability to still have their own lives outside of the relationship; do things with friends etc and have their own interests. That they are individuals. I think that would be a healthy side to the card.

Like your reference to the animal skin as well; I hadn't thought of that.

Best wishes to you all.

Such a possitive card for today!

Yaboot
 

galadrial

Those two doorways struck me, as well. This is the first Lovers card that has really reminded me of Kahlil Gibran's (from his book "The Prophet") take on marriage, which I reproduce below in it's entirety. My best friend was a gay man (he's dead now, alas) who decided to have his own wedding ceremony. I got to read this aloud at his wedding:

Then Almitra spoke again and said, And what of Marriage, Master?
And he answered saying:
You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.
Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each others cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of the lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together, yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.

Edited to add: From the outside, those doors would work like the ones in the Beatles movie "Help!", where they have been out doing their own seperate things, walk in four different doors that appear to lead to four different flats, but in reality all lead into one big one, then do their together things.
 

Maan

Yaboot001 said:
Do you think that maybe the two doors symbolise some sort of trust as well. That even though they are locked into each other on the chair, they have the ability to still have their own lives outside of the relationship; do things with friends etc and have their own interests. That they are individuals. I think that would be a healthy side to the card.

Yaboot

Thats what i see too in this card.
Anyone familiar with the story of shel silverstein? called "the missing piece and the big O"?
That story is about the trap that lies in every relationship..needing the other wo be whole.
These lovers already learned that lesson.

Most things al already named but the two symbols on the chest of both lovers isn't i believe?
For me this represents male and female...or two oppostites. The fact that you don't have to be alike to love..or to be lovers.
The star is for shining outward to show yourself to the world. The question mark seems to take you deep within oneself. To look for things inside instead of outside like the star.

So one lovers looks in and the other looks out. The perfect couple ;)

And Yaboot...was it a wonderful day?
I hope so

Love
Maan
 

Little Baron

It wasn't a bad day; wasn't that wonderful either, to be honest. Not much has happened. It is so hot in England at the moment and it can make me a little tired and ratty.

Some really good ideas from you, Galadrial and Freesiaskye. I have enjoyed todays card and I think that it has shone a little light in all of us, regardless.

Best wishes and thanks.

Yaboot Ya
 

darwinia

Too cute to remain!!
 

Little Baron

I agree. In my last relationship, which lasted for five years, my partner and I were together a lot of the time; socialised with others together, stayed at home together. My friend, Charlotte, has a good relationship with her husband, but they have different interests and don't think twice about going away for the weekend seperately. They love each other so much, trust each other and know that they do not have to live in each others pockets to have a good relationship. They do many great things together and are real soul mates. The Lovers 'doors' today reminded me of them and how different their marriage is to my previous relationship and a lot of other people I know. Like in your painting Freesiaskye, people need to be able to fly. I take todays draw as a reminder to me, so that my next relationship, if I have one, will be a bit more like yours and my friend Charlottes. It's very important to have different experiences to talk to each other about as well. I am so glad that we drew this one today.

Yaboot
 

Melvis

Wow, you guys covered so much good ground already!

These two are so sweet. They look so vulnerable, yet they've opened themselves up to each other for this moment of love.

I think the mirroring is interesting, because it's the items around them that are mirror images, yet the two lovers are subtly different from each other: one has blue eyes and one has green eyes, etc. It's like they walk the same path, yet they appreciate each other for their differences.

And even thought the doors are mirror images, they remain *two* different doors, indicating that the couple still has their own separateness and individuality. I love all of your examples of this aspect, by the way! (Oh, and freesiaskye? You and your hubby are just TOO cute! :D )

Peace,

Melvis
:TSTRE
 

Little Baron

Originally posted by Melvis I think the mirroring is interesting, because it's the items around them that are mirror images, yet the two lovers are subtly different from each other: one has blue eyes and one has green eyes, etc. It's like they walk the same path, yet they appreciate each other for their differences.

I like that definition Melvis. I think they both have different paths but occasionally, they join for a moment on that sofa.

Yab