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Lovers Path Tarot Gallery
Tamino and Pamina: The Fool
In Mozart's The Magic Flute, Tamino and Pamina were two lovers destined to come together, but separated by literal trials by fire. For the prince to marry the princess, he had to prove his worth to her father, a just and spiritual leader. These pure-hearted lovers represent the Fool card, because the Fool is understood to represent innocent souls about to be tested or changed by their entry into a new world.
Shahrazade and Shahriyar
In One Thousand and One Nights, king Shahriyar marries and kills one woman a night as revenge on his first wife, who betrayed him. Resourceful Shahrazade volunteered as his bride, distracted him with storytelling, softened him and became Queen. She embodies the High Priestess, often the Fool's first teacher, helping him access his inner life and deep questions.
Arthur and Guinevere: The Emperor
The story of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere is a troubled one -- while both were noble and kind as they ruled over their Camelot, Guinevere betrays Arthur's love when she has an affair with his best knight, Sir Lancelot. They provide the perfect illustration to the Emperor card, which hints at our ability to master a skill or overcome a bad habit in the name of fairness and strong leadership.
Romeo and Juliet : The Hierophant
Romeo and Juliet -- two young lovers with families locked in a bitter feud. After their secret marriage, they both committed suicide when it appeared they'd lost each other. The tale was tragic, but with a peaceful outcome for their families. The Hierophant represents the religious leader -- a friar -- who helped Romeo and Juliet to marry, but also a person or event that reveals great lessons (in this case, that love should conquer hate).
Tristan and Isolde: The Chariot
Tristan and Isolde fell desperately in love -- by a love potion! Still, when Isolde honored an arranged marriage to Tristan's uncle, the couple could not stay apart and their passion overpowered their ability to keep the affair a secret, leading to ruin for all involved. The Chariot card illustrates the feeling of triumph -- in this case, a perfect love -- and the dangers of pursuing a lofty goal. Above all, the Chariot symbolizes the danger of bad judgment.
Penelope and Odysseus: Justice
King Odysseus returned ten years fter his victory in Troy, leaving queen Penelope alone for two decades. The faithful queen used her smarts to fend off suitors wanting to take over the kingdom. She was ultimately reunited with her true love. This epic couple represents the Justice card, reminding us to be moral in the face of temptation and adversity. Karma is also present in the Justice card -- Odysseus's bravery and Penelope's patience were rewarded.
Orpheus and Eurydice: The Hanged Man
Musician Orpheus lost his wife Eurydice, so he traveled to the underworld to get her back. He charmed the Queen of the Dead with music and could leave with Eurydice if he didn't look at her until they reached the land of the living. The temptation was too much and she disappeared forever. The doomed lovers represent the Hanged Man and an uncontrollable situation. We often depend on others' judgment, much as Orpheus and Eurydice were at the underworld's mercy.
Persephone and Pluto: Death
Beautiful Persephone was the daughter of goddess Demeter, who ruled fertility of land and people. Pluto was the God of the Dead, and when he forced Persephone into marriage and a life of half a year in the underworld, her mother revolted by changing the seasons -- harvests only grew during time with her daughter. Their situation points to the Death card, which is not about literal death at all, but about cathartic change that pushes us ahead in new directions.
Venus and Vulcan: Temperance
Venus, the Goddess of Love and Beauty, was married to Vulcan, the ugliest of the gods. While she ruled the heart, his realm was earthy, metal work. A reason for the marriage was to keep other gods from fighting over Venus, but this odd pairing also points to the Temperance card. Temperance focuses on the soul's ability to mix energies to create a more evolved personality -- and in Venus and Vulcan's case, each improved the other in different ways.
Dante and Beatrice: The Star
Dante's famous travels through Hell, Purgatory and Heaven -- chronicled in his Divine Comedy -- ultimately brought him together with the love of his life, Beatrice. She served as his guide when he toured the heavens, and this classic literary couple exemplifies the Star card. The Star pushes us to reconnect with our soul, but it also reminds us of our reason for being, our lifetime mission and our connection to the universe.
Cupid and Psyche: The Sun
Cupid, the son of Venus, fell in love with mortal Psyche and tested her love by remaining invisible when they married. Before Cupid trusted her enough to reveal his true self, Psyche betrayed him by sneaking a look at him at night. Cupid fled, but Psyche was able to perform impossible tasks to prove her love. Their love is represented in the Sun card, reminding us of our purest nature and our ability to return to a greater calling -- such as love.
Dionysus and Ariadne: The World
In Greek mythology, Princess Ariadne fell in love with the hero Theseus, helped him defeat the monstrous Minotaur and was abandoned by him on a beach. God of Pleasure and Revelry Dionysus found and married her -- by all accounts, a happy marriage. Their union is an example of the World card, inviting us into communion with civilization. It also encourages creative freedom. After Ariadne's heartbreak, she was given a second chance at a happy life.
The Lover's Path Tarot deck ...
... by Kris Waldherr draws on classic love stories to illustrate each card in the Tarot deck. Hopefully you've been inspired by these lovers from history and myth -- start down your own lover's path with a Burning Question Tarot reading, or browse the rest of the Tarot cards in this deck.