The Jumbledance LOVERS:

DESCRIPTION:
The figures of Adam and Eve are lifted from a late Gothic/early Renaissance fresco by Masolino. Eve's arm is circling an apple tree which blossoms above the figures but in the foreground of the collage. There is a pink heart hiding amongst the blossoms that mimics the shape of the apple petals. On Adam's side we see the stag and a field of growing wheat and on Eve's side along with the required snake we see an ordered garden with brilliant flowers blooming: red and white roses and blue hollyhocks. Behind the figures is a ray of yellow light and droplets of golden energy from the sun high above.

SYMBOLOGY:
The symbolism of "the first couple" as the Lovers seems pretty obvious. The story of Adam and Eve of course is well known and fulfills for us a mythologic place in our cultural symbol dictionaries.

In a sense these Lovers are the first twins representing the division of unity into two distinct things - male and female - as such they represent the ability to discriminate and to separate one object from another. I like to think of it this way: In commerce a buyer creates a seller just as the seller creates the buyer; the terms are meaningless without the relationship between them.

The snake is a bit of an ambigous symbol. Connected deeply to the Ancient Goddess through its ability to shed its skin and to become reborn, it is also connected to the masculine in that snakes are considered phallic. In one sence the snake represents Eve's deep conection to the Goddess but at the same time the snake can be seen as the rival of Adam for the attentions of Eve. In this way Adam and the snake represent the solar twins vying every year for her undying love.

The Apple is a potent symbol of life with its five petals and stared fruit. Five is the number of the Goddess through her connection with women and the five phases of their lives (birth, menarchy, motherhood menopause, death) as well as the cosmic connection with the planet Venus whose yearly cycle involves the number 72 (72 x 5 =360). Although the original Fruit of Knowledge in the Garden was probably the fig or pomegranete, the apple makes a fine northern substitute. The mirrorlike heart symbolizes the ability to see ourselves in others and love both our own selves and our friends and lovers. The Hummingbird flitting after the pretty heart is a symbol of action and movement, it symbolizes the changes that the choice will bring.

The stag shows the masculine connection to the forest God who runs free in the forest and connects to our ancient instincts, pains and pleasures. The wheat growing in the field reflects Adam's connection with the growing things with his fertility and with the life of the sun as it rises in the spring and falls back again in the autumn.

On Eve's side the tended Garden shows the more civilized nature of humankind and together the wildness of the forest with the tame flowers show the need to recognize and discriminate between the opposites in life. These represent our choices.

The Golden light which forms the triangle in which the Lovers stand shows the action that will take place between them. It is a symbol of the relationship made whole in their togetherness.

MEANING:
First off, the Jumbledance Lovers represents the knowledge of our individuality and uniqueness through our ability to reflect and recognize ourselves in others. In this way we come to know ourselves through our relationship with others. The card also shows beauty and joy in relationship and the sometimes difficult choices one is given in relating to others. The card represents the inevitable duality and division we feel when relating to others, but also our ability to transcend this duality and to reach for a merging with the divine through Love.

The Genetti's
thewheel@mcn.org

wheelofchance.com
http://www.wheelofchange.com