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Lovers Path Tarot - Booklet

The document is a sample from The Lover's Path Tarot that provides background information on the major arcana cards. It describes the historical or mythical figures associated with each card and the meanings and keywords for each. It also briefly outlines the structure of the tarot deck.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
106 views10 pages

Lovers Path Tarot - Booklet

The document is a sample from The Lover's Path Tarot that provides background information on the major arcana cards. It describes the historical or mythical figures associated with each card and the meanings and keywords for each. It also briefly outlines the structure of the tarot deck.

Uploaded by

rajkeo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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THE

LOVER’S PATH
TAROT

SAMPLE
by Kris Waldherr
creator of The Goddess Tarot

Published by
U.S. GAMES SYSTEMS, INC.
Copyright © 2004 by Kris Waldherr
All rights reserved. The illustrations, cover design, and contents are protected
by copyright. No part of this booklet may be reproduced in any form without
permission in writing from the author, except by a reviewer who wishes to
quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in a mag-
azine or newspaper.
First Edition
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Printed in China
ISBN 1-57281-468-3 (The Lover’s Path Tarot Set)
Design by Kris Waldherr Art and Words
www.artandwords.com
Visit The Lover’s Path website at www.loverspath.com
Published by

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U.S. GAMES SYSTEMS, INC.
179 Ludlow Street • Stamford, CT 06902 USA
www.usgamesinc.com
Adapted from The Lover’s Path Tarot book by AnnMarie Mclaughlin.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Many people helped me as I worked on this project in its many
stages and forms of development, offering editorial feedback,
encouragement, and friendship. It is with gratitude that I acknowl-
edge their generosity: Ellen Dreyer, Elise Tobin-Dyer, Sharon
Glassman, Stuart Kaplan, Elizabeth Kerkstra, Lisa Hunt Kramer,
Thomas Ross Miller, Theresa Park, Stephanie St. Pierre, Lynne
Twining and Karen Zuegner. I also wish to acknowledge those who
modeled so patiently for the art. They include: Dale Dyer, Elise
Tobin-Dyer, Jennifer Johnson, Thomas Ross Miller, Joe Paladino,
Stephanie St. Pierre, Charles Schwartz and Christy Vaughn
Schwartz.
Thank you all!
INTRODUCTION

A
LL LOVE RELATIONSHIPS mirror our relationship with ourselves.
They ultimately reflect upon our relationship with the world
around us—how we think others see us, what we believe we are
worthy of. Our beliefs about love relationships can even embody our
thoughts about how we feel the universe nurtures and supports us.
This truth is a rewarding but complicated conundrum, which all
humans confront throughout their lives, for we are surrounded by rela-
tionships from our first breath. They begin with our dependence upon
our parents for our very existence, and continue as we grow through our
friendships. They reach their perhaps most intense expression in the mag-

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ical, self-contained world of lovers.
In many ways, the ultimate expression of our connection to the world
is to fall in love. Daring to love another brings us face to face with what-
ever is going on within ourselves, for better or for worse. Love can be
viewed as the bravest act of all, for in order to be truly intimate, we must
be honest in our vulnerabilities. As we reveal our innermost selves to our
beloved with all of our imperfect glories, we are truly exposed in both
body and soul.
Experienced authentically, love relationships offer the sweetest
rewards and the thorniest challenges. They also present us with an unpar-
alleled opportunity to gain awareness and wisdom.
The Lover’s Path Tarot is a tool to examine and improve relation-
ships—whether they be with yourself, with your beloved, or with the
world. Examining our preconceptions about love, the ways we yearn to
connect with another, what we desire in a partner, is an act of self-illumi-
nation. More importantly, it’s one way to take personal responsibility for
our lives.

3
A BOUT THE A RT
T HE ART FOR The Lover’s Path Tarot was inspired by my first visit to
Italy in 1990. Accordingly, the art for The Lover’s Path Tarot is
inspired by the art, architecture, books, and maps of the Italian
Renaissance. The decorative borders for each card were painted in
gouache upon handmade paper. Other elements incorporated into the
borders—the map backgrounds, the oil paintings of the elements—were
digitally assembled.
The main card art was created with oil paints glazes, which were lay-
ered over a watercolor underpainting sealed with acrylic gel medium. The
paintings were modeled for by friends and associates, each person chosen
because they reminded me in some manner of the character they repre-
sented. In this way, the art reflects my personal belief that the human is
divine, the divine human.
T HE S TRUCTURE OF

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T HE L OVER’ S P ATH TAROT
L IKE MOST TRADITIONAL tarot decks, The Lover’s Path Tarot contains
sseventy-eight cards. These seventy-eight cards are divided into twenty-
two major arcana cards and fifty-six minor arcana cards.
Each major arcana card is affiliated with a story of a famous couple
from history or mythology. Accordingly, each card is named after arche-
typal emotional states represented by the stories; these, in turn, are related
to traditional tarot symbolism.
In the minor arcana, the great themes explored in the major arcana are
brought to earth, made relevant to our individual experiences. The minor
arcana is divided into four suits of cups, staves, arrows, and coins, which
are related to the elements of water, fire, air, and earth. Each suit repre-
sents one classic love story, with each card progressively depicting an
important scene from the story. They serve to impart the lesson associated
with each suit.
Meanings for reversed, or upside-down, cards are included here. These
can be used as you wish. I prefer to think of cards as being strong or
weak by considering the question asked, tarot spread position, and sur-
rounding cards. For more information on reversed cards, see page 30.
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THE MAJOR ARCANA
O Q INNOCENCE
Traditional Card: The Fool
Lovers: Tamino and Pamina
Keywords: New Ventures, Innocence, Trust, Optimism
The Magic Flute was the last opera Mozart composed before his death in
1791. Some of its fairy tale plot was inspired by the rites of the Freemasons,
a secret society into which Mozart had been initiated. The Magic Flute tells
of a princess named Pamina and a prince named Tamino who learn to trust
their hearts, innocent and inexperienced as they may be.
MEANINGS: The start of a great journey. Innocence that allows one to be
open to possibilities, and protects from difficulties. Facing fears. Trusting

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your heart. Feeling protected by divine forces. REVERSED: Ignoring your
better instincts. Cynicism and pessimism. Distrust of the self or others.

I Q MAGIC
Traditional Card: The Magician
Lovers: Merlin and Vivianne
Keywords: Self Empowerment, Mastery, Actualization, Growth
When we think of magic, we often think of Merlin. Famed as the influential
advisor and wizard to King Arthur, Merlin fell in love in the winter of his life
with the lovely Vivianne. In time, Vivianne used the very spells Merlin
taught her to entrap him. Ultimately, the magic that empowered Merlin all
his life had been undone by the only thing more powerful—love.
MEANINGS: Developing the magic within yourself. Casting a spell on
another to create positive change. A yearning to grow beyond perceived
limitations. Renewed creativity and vigor. REVERSED: Blocked power.
Feeling under the spell of another. Manipulating or using others. A need
to control situations behind the scenes. Secrecy. Trickster behavior, which
creates distrust.
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II Q WISDOM
Traditional Card: The High Priestess
Lovers: Shahrazade and Shahriyar
Keywords: Knowledge, Education, Enlightenment
Over the course of a thousand and one nights, Shahrazade, the wise bride of
King Shahriyar, tells many compelling stories. Shahrazade’s wisdom won the
king’s love and trust. In doing so, she saved her life—as well as those of her
fellow women of the kingdom.
MEANINGS: Wisdom gained from education. Translating book learning
into understanding. A teacher who will share with you what you are seek-
ing. Using wisdom to transform a difficult situation for the better.
REVERSED: Unwillingness to learn. Superficiality. Intimidated by intelligence
or education. Feeling limited by a lack of knowledge or understanding.
III Q FERTILITY
Traditional Card: The Empress

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Lovers: Cleopatra and Caesar
Keywords: Fecundity, Abundance, Growth
Cleopatra, queen of the fertile Nile, reigned as empress of Egypt for over two
decades. During this time, she became known throughout the ancient world
for her seductive charms, musical voice, and unusual intelligence. Caesar
immediately fell in love with the young queen and successfully helped her
regain her throne. Together they had a child they named Caesarion.
MEANINGS: Ruling over one’s life. A new marriage or special relationship.
Practical action that manifests as physical product—children, artistic
endeavors, or wealth. Pregnancy. REVERSED: Deprivation or sterility.
Feeling the lack of material resources. Limitation that overwhelms.
IV Q POWER
Traditional Card: The Emperor
Lovers: Arthur and Guinevere
Keywords: Leadership, Responsibility, Authority
The legend of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere appears in various forms
in British, Breton, Celtic, and Roman history and folklore. From the first

6
moment he saw her willowy form, Arthur loved Guinevere, the daughter of
King Leodegrace of the North. But Guinevere loved Lancelot, the king’s most
loyal knight. Though Merlin warned Arthur that another woman would
bring him greater happiness, the king’s heart was irrevocably set. Arthur used
his power to marry Guinevere, just as he used his power to rule wisely.
MEANINGS: The ability to use power wisely. Meeting an authority figure
or teacher who can help. The ability to lead and inspire. REVERSED:
Oppressed by another’s power and authority. Insecurity. Passive aggres-
sion. Using power to manipulate others for personal gain.
V Q TRADITION
Traditional Card: The Hierophant
Lovers: Romeo and Juliet
Keywords: Structure, Conformity, Ritual
Romeo and Juliet are considered the quintessential example of star-crossed
lovers. Trapped by their families’ traditional hatred for each other, their love

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could only have a tragic ending. Sad as their tale may be, the love of Romeo
and Juliet did bring an end to the tradition of intolerance that plagued their
families. It gave way to a new tradition of peace and understanding.
MEANINGS: Following established social structures. In love relationships,
the desire for marriage or some other formal structure for the sake of
security. Awareness of public image and the desire to control it. Possible
rigidity. REVERSED: The need to throw out old social structures that con-
strain. Fear of unconventional ideas and ways of approach.
Nonconformity.
VI Q LOVE
Traditional Card: The Lovers
Lovers: Isis and Osiris
Keywords: Love, Harmony, Passion, Sensuality
The myth of Isis and Osiris illustrates the power of love and how it can trans-
form us irrevocably. Isis and Osiris were blissful in their love for each other.
Jealousy ate at their brother Set’s soul, granting him no rest. He trapped
Osiris in a coffin and heaved him into the Nile. Using the power of her love,
the goddess brought Osiris back to life for a final embrace.
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MEANINGS: Awareness of the nature of passionate love, and what is needed
to encourage it. A new, important relationship. Peace within oneself. Love
that transforms the world around you as well as yourself. REVERSED:
Feeling unworthy of love. Manipulating others with sexuality. Immaturity
and irresponsibility in love relationships. Game playing.
VII Q DESIRE
Traditional Card: The Chariot
Lovers: Tristan and Isolde
Keywords: Movement, Fate, Transition, Change
Without family of his own, Tristan pledged his loyalty to King Mark of
Cornwall, who loved and cared for Tristan as his own son. Through irre-
versible twists of fate—and despite devotion to Mark—Tristan fell helplessly
in love with Mark’s bride, Isolde, and she with him.
MEANINGS: Being pulled by desire. Movement into the next phase of life.
If you are feeling impatient, don’t worry—transitions will go smoothly, as

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if they are meant to be. REVERSED: Impatience. Trapped by desires that
feel unquenchable. Inconvenient timing. Disregard or insensitivity to the
portents around yourself.
VIII Q STRENGTH
Traditional Card: Strength
Lovers: Siegfried and Brunnhilde
Keywords: Courage, Strength, Leadership, Confidence
The Valkyrie Brunnhilde was the favorite child of her father Wotan, divine
ruler of the gods and goddesses. Brunnhilde angered Wotan by betraying him
when she was moved by mortal Siegmund’s story of love. For the first time,
she understood the power of love, which made her strong enough to go
against her father’s will—she agreed to help Siegmund, though Wotan had
ordered her not to. This led to Brunnhilde finding her own true love with
Siegfried, the son of Siegmund.
MEANINGS: The transformation of weakness into strength. Integrity. The
strength to do great deeds. Confident leadership. REVERSED: Feeling
insecure or fearful. The scattering of energies. Creating discord to
weaken others.
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IX Q CONTEMPLATION
Traditional Card: The Hermit
Lovers: Abelard and Eloise
Keywords: Withdrawal, Introspection, Retreat
Peter Abelard was famed as a brilliant theologian and teacher during the
medieval ages. Abelard quickly became known for mastery of philosophical
dialogue and independence of thought; he even went against church policy
and took positions sympathetic to pagan traditions. However it was his love
for Eloise that caused the biggest scandal. The story of their forbidden love is
set out in Abelard’s 1130 book, The History of My Calamities.
MEANINGS: Listening to your heart. Retreat into inner life—at this time,
your needs are not so focused on relationships with others, but on your
relationship with yourself. REVERSED: Distracted by the world. Ignoring
intuition. Superficiality. Feeling unconnected with your heart.
X Q FORTUNE

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Traditional Card: The Wheel of Fortune
Lovers: Danae and Zeus
Keywords: Chance, Fate, Expansion, Prosperity
King Acrisius had a daughter named Danae—a princess with a curse, for
upon her birth it was predicted that one of the princess’s offspring would kill
the king. When Danae came of age, the king walled her within a tower made
of bronze. Despite this, Danae was loved by Zeus and together they had a son
named Perseus. Perseus grew into a strong man and after many adventures,
he did slay Acrisius—a just punishment for treating his only daughter so
cruelly.
MEANINGS: Positive fate. The generosity of the universe. The ability to be
open to abundance. Awareness of beauty and love. REVERSED:
Uncomfortable feelings or disappointing experiences with chance. Feeling
ignored by fortune—when will it be your turn?

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