VI. Lovers - Crono & Marle

[tushantin]

VI.
LOVERS:

Crono

-

Marle

Summary: *Reserved*

Symbolism: "The Lovers is associated with the star sign Gemini, and indeed is also known as The Twins in some decks. Other associations are with Air, Mercury, and the Hebrew letter ז (Zayin)."(From wikipedia)

"The lovers are represented by a young couple, who are naked. Their nudity represents their innocence in love. Between them is a spirit, or an angel, which separates them. Behind each lover is a tree, each full of fruit. The love between these two has come to fruition." (From Suite 101)

"An angel or cupid, a man and a woman, two trees (in Waite, it is Adam & Eve with one tree having a serpent and apples) - in some decks one tree is flowering, but the other has fruit. Also in some decks there is a man standing between two women." (From Aeclectic)

Keywords: Love, harmony, trust, honor, the beginning of a romance, optimism, a meaningful relationship/affair
Reversed: Unreliability, separation, frustration in love, fickleness, untrustworthy
(From learntarot.com  & themysticeye.com)

Description: ""What is the Lovers' card about? Is it about finding love?" Yes, and no. It is possible that the original name of this card was "Love." The oldest decks call it "The amorous one," The Lovers being a mistranslation. So really, it's about one person being "in love" with someone or something.

Many books, however, define the card not as "Love" but as a "choice." And the images that have been used for this card make it even more confusing. The original trump featured a man and a woman with a cupid above them about to shoot his dart (into which? Cupid's arrows only make the one they strike fall in love). Later decks had a man choosing between two women, or a man meeting his true love with the help of a matchmaker. Still later, with Waite, we have an Angel above Adam and Eve. The Angel stands for Raphael, who is emblematic of Mercury and Air, with Adam and Eve related to Gemini (sign of Mercury) in that Eve split from Adam and is, essentially, his twin.

And the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge indicates Adam and Eve choosing to "know" each other in every sense of the word.

This connection to Gemini means that the Lovers card is NOT about "romance" or passion. Romantic emotions are typically related to water. And blazing passion is associated with fire. Gemini, an air sign, is about messages and making contact. It's about the psyche.

In addition, at #6 the Lover's card is about "harmony." Thus, it is about something that speaks to you, that you "know" and recognize as your other or mirror self (twin), and which makes you feel harmonically balanced or complete. You may experience this psychic attraction to something small like a pair of shoes you have to have, or a rock band whose music says all you ever wanted to say. Or you might be drawn to something huge, a plot of land you want to own, or someone else's boyfriend/girlfriend who, at first sight, makes you think: "That's my husband/wife."

In interpretation, the card indicates that the querent has come across, or will come across a person, career, challenge or thing (a puppy, a car, a house) that they will fall in love with. They will know instinctively that it was meant for them, even if it means diverging from their chosen path (that is the "Love" part). On the other hand, their common sense must also make a decision on whether or not to go along with this psychic "choice." There is often a measure of hardship or cost that comes with giving into this spiritual attraction."
(From Aeclectic Tarot)

Fool's Journey: "The Fool comes to a cross-road, filled with energy, confidence and purpose, knowing exactly where he wants to go and what he wants to do. But he comes to a dead stop. A flowering tree marks the path he wants to take, the one he's been planning on taking. But standing before a fruit tree marking the other path is a woman. The Fool has met and had relationships with women before, some far more beautiful and alluring. But she is different. Seeing her, he feels as though he's just been shot in the heart with cupid's arrow.

That's how shocking, how painful is his "recognition" of her. As he speaks with her, the feeling intensifies; like finding a missing part of himself. It is clear that she feels the same about him. They finish each other's sentences, think the same thoughts. It is as if an Angel above had introduced their souls to each other.

Though it was his plan to follow the path of the flowering tree, and though it will cause some trouble for him to bring this woman with him, the Fool knows he dare not leave her behind. Like the fruit tree, she will fulfill him. No matter how divergent from his original intent, she is his future. He chooses her, and together they head down a whole new road.'"
(from Aeclectic Tarot)

Feel free to post additional insights into the card, questions, & ideas for the artists to consider!

[Syna]

My opinions:
- There's no real way to realistically put Raphael or a Raphael-like figure in the middle of Crono & Marle, so I wouldn't worry about that. Feel free to prove me wrong ;D
- Likewise, there's no need to go over the top with the whole Tree of Knowledge stuff. I would simply bear in mind that this card is connotative of Adam and Eve, and depict the two in some state of, I don't know, pastoral happiness, emphasizing the connection between the two. If you want to put in the symbolism, maybe an apple tree can be part of the scenery.

[tushantin]

Or the tree at Death Peak.  Okay, maybe not.

Speaking of Raphael, while I always consider angels as Thoughtforms rather than actual entities, are there any characters in CT that may fit the illustration?

[xcalibur]

Or the tree at Death Peak.  Okay, maybe not.

A Death Peak setting isn't even a bad idea. after all, it was the major expression of love between Chrono & Marle. it's an alternative to the default setting of the Millennial Fair under Leene's Bell, which is the first one I'd go with.

Speaking of Raphael, while I always consider angels as Thoughtforms rather than actual entities, are there any characters in CT that may fit the illustration?

none that I can think of. maybe a Poyozo Doll?

[tushantin]

Feel free to prove me wrong ;D

Let's see...

Clicky. (Warning! NSFW)

Apparently I can't prove you wrong. XD So what's your reward?

[Syna]

Ohh! The Death Peak thing would work really well-- the snow definitely gives the scene an atmosphere of innocence, and the Poyozo Dolls could definitely service as angelic figures.

Likewise, the bell could be Raphael in a way, as it's a sort of herald and messenger.

[tushantin]

A Death Peak setting isn't even a bad idea. after all, it was the major expression of love between Chrono & Marle.

Ohh! The Death Peak thing would work really well-- the snow definitely gives the scene an atmosphere of innocence, and the Poyozo Dolls could definitely service as angelic figures.

I still don't think we have a proper connection... Tree, yes, but no fruit. Snow, yes, but it could even work with Leene's Bell. Poyozo works either way (why do I keep calling it "Poyzoy"?) Then again, since the background is meant to be minimal, I think it should be alright.

So the bell or tree? And should we go with that R-Rated anatomy experiment or should we redraw the *ahem* you-know-whats? I tried drawing them dancing Salsa, but it was too wide.

[tushantin]

Here's a pose reference:

[PrincessNadia78]

I'm planning on doing this one. I didn't think of the tree on death Peak, I was going to put them under Lenne's Bell. Hmmmmmmm....