The Lovers
Two octopuses fall into each others arms in the bright light of a new day and a new world. As they draw near one another, their skin colors and patterns interweave with one another. The sun watches over their union in a coral bed filled with the crackle and burst of spawning polyps. Staved into the sandy bed are two shell-tipped spears. A woven net lies strewn about, one hooked end of which is held in the arm of the female octopus.
Symbolism of The Lovers
The Lovers seems a fairly straightforward card as far as symbolism goes. It evokes all the expected associations of relationships, love, compassion, union, partnership. However, the original art is actually titled ‘The Lover’ singular, and let’s just say it’s not clear who’s who in that art and there’s an odd number of people in there.
Tarot scholars actually consider this card to represent not amorous love but the act of ‘union’ between individuals, with all the economic responsibilities, reproductive consequences and sexual mechanics that go with it. But of course scholars are not the final word in terms of the meaning of a card, so I consider the amorous interpretation of the card to be equally valid.
Lamoureux, Marseilles deck.
The Lovers, Smith-Waite deck.
The Hierophant, Thoth deck.
The Lovers of Octopolis
For Octopolis it has a special connection because it directly ties into the first story I wrote for Octopolis, The Third Spear, which you can read here on my website. It is a diagetic myth intended to explain the evolved social behavior of the octopuses in Octopolis.
Two larger Pacfic striped octopuses mating face-to-face in captivity. Photo credit Steinhart Aquarium.
That story itself further references the real-life behavior of the larger Pacific striped octopuses, which are the only octopus species observed to mate face-to-face, and lay clutches of eggs multiple times. Reportedly, male and female pairs will even peacefully cohabitate dens. It's this behavior, expanded and incentivized, that drives the eventual social behavior and cultural framework of the world of Octopolis.
Symbolism in the Details
This piece has many further references to the story of The Third Spear. The two spears represent the first two lovers of the female octopuses that came before this one. The net represents the 'nest' necessary to prevent their hatched children from being lost in the current, and also symbolizes the practical bonds of partnership. The sun has an octopus pupil within it, which is how the god of The Third Spear is depicted. Finally, the two butterfly fish in the corner are included because they are heart-shapes and typically swim in mated pairs.
You may also note some heart shapes appearing on the third-right arm of the octopus on top. This is the hectocotylus, the male ‘member’ if you will. Scandalous!
