From the treasure chest box, I pulled a deck that I don’t think I’ve shared on here before. It’s called The Lovers’ Tarot, created by Jane Lyle with cards illustrated by Oliver Burston. My edition was published in 1992. Back in the day when I’d read cards for friends, they were all younger and pondering love and relationships, so they liked this deck.
The deck uses only the 12 Major Arcana cards, and the cards are a strong thickness and also large–5×9 inches! Lyle offers two reading spreads: the Lover’s Tree, using five cards in the You, Past, Present, Future, and Underlying Influences positions, and the Lover’s Pyramid, using four cards in the You, Partner, Relationship, Direction positions.
When I opened the box, I found a couple of notes on a reading I did for a couple at their request circa 1993. I’m not even going to look at what I pulled, because boy, did that relationship NOT WORK OUT. Truthfully, no reading was needed to discern that outcome, and they knew it, too, even if they fought knowing. I will forever wonder why we don’t listen to ourselves, but we are human, and I’ve been as guilty as anyone of ignoring my better judgment. There’s a note on a reading for another person, too, about that same time, and that relationship also ended, but the person is now in a marriage that’s going strong after two decades, so patience can be a very good thing.
Each card is listed on a chart showing the number and name, the sun sign or planet, the element, and the essence of the card. Since we’re currently in the sign of Taurus, I pulled that card, The Hierophant.
The card’s description comes with what gift and challenge the card tells about the reader and the reader’s partner. I won’t share all that, but I will provide the information in the chart for Taurus, since it’s generally available and not specific to this deck.
Card V (the number of a card has meanings also easily researched), Hierophant, is Taurus, Earth element, and symbolizes order, certainty, and “conventional” lovers. (For comparison, other cards’ essences include “transformative,” “dream,” and “communicative,” as examples.)
When we wrote the TJB novels, we randomly gave astrological signs to our main characters. We never knew if those would be good matches by the time the novels were written (after all, their creators were a Pisces, Aries, Gemini, and Virgo!), and I should have gone back and done readings for the romantic matches from this deck to entertain us.
Hmmmm. I am writing couples now…
Disclaimer: I am no expert on tarot cards. Because I don’t study or practice with any particular deck, I don’t do readings. I use the cards as a means of introspection. I also enjoy the art, beauty, and symbolism of many tarot decks and how they reflect the personalities and journeys of their creators. Tarot is like other things that inspire me and engage my interest, such as books, music, and art.
I remember references to the characters’ starsigns in the TJB novels.
I have to admit, that if ever I meet someone in a dating sense (like that ever happens), I check our compatibility. According to the stars, The Saint and I were never going to work out, but we’re managing as friends.
One of my favorite books for exploring the compatibility of lovers and friends.
Part of a set of three that I used to delve into all the time. Fun for me and also a good resource for building characters.
