The Lovers is interesting, because as a glyph it references the original vision/hoax responsible for almost all modern occult traditions. It is an artistic representation of The Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosenkruetz, one of the three original Rosicrucian manifestos. See previous article on Rosicrucianism. It is one of the alchemical cards, but much more highly symbolic than technical, it does however foreshadow the more explicitly alchemical, Art or Temperance.
It references the exchange that takes place of opposing forces in sexual alchemy, as well as more mundane forms of chemical alchemy. The symbols of the Empress and Emperor have become counter changed on the robes of the King and Queen. The marriage of black and white and masculine and feminine is implied as the combination of forces into the one thing. It makes itself known as explicitly sexual by his weapons of spear and club, and hers of cup and flowers, phallic and yonic symbols repeated in the suits as well as Trumps.
The Kundalini symbol of Serpent and Egg is both subjugated to the bottom of the card, but also winged to show its activity. Perhaps most revealing and explicit are the Red Lion and White Eagle which reveal the true meaning of ancient alchemical texts as well as providing the key to the Art card. One of the ways in which ancient alchemical texts were encoded to provide secrecy was to represent the sexual fluids as either red flux and white gluten, or the red lion and white eagle. This reversed the colors of semen and menstrual blood to maintain obscurity and freedom from persecution. As long as the symbols were cloaked in this language the alchemists could not be attacked for sexual deviance, especially in communities where sex during menstruation was considered cursed.
A few more symbols of the card are salient. One is the inclusion of the Hermit as performing the wedding itself with arms surrounded by a moebius strip indicating infinity. This indicates the necessary preparation for the rite, being performed by spending time at the mystery of the Hermit. Also interesting is the inclusion of Eve and Lilith, two accursed mythological women or Goddesses, which could be a further suggestion as to sexual acts during menstruation, an act widely considered evil or dirty. The blindfolded cupid indicates the act as an act of love. The arch of swords which the wedding is conducted under, both signify an act of will, as well as its regal nature.
Within the Crowley deck, this is the first card that begins to give the actual keys to ancient alchemical practices largely through the inclusion of nearly explicit sexual references. Crowley was the first, and still the most successful, at taking ancient symbolism and bringing it explicitly in to the modern age. Despite this, the deck and Crowley’s writing stops one step short of the successful alchemy of the possibly still living Nicholas Flamel. The remaining articles in this series will attempt to remedy this, as well as provide explicit descriptions of the mystical states implied by the spiritual practice cards.
