Eros is the son of Aphrodite, and tradition varies as
to whether his father was Ares, Zeus or Hermes—that is, Mars, Jupiter or
Mercury. His appearance in this card suggests that Hermes is the true sire; and
this view is confirmed by the fact that it is not altogether easy to distinguish
him from the child Mercury, for they have in common wantonness)
irresponsibility, and the love of playing tricks. But in this image are peculiar
char acteristics. He carries a bow and arrows in a golden quiver. (He is
sometimes represented with a torch.) He has golden wings, and is blindfolded.
From this, it may appear that he represents the in telligent (and, at the same
time, unconscious) will of the soul to unite itself with all and sundry, as has
been explained in the general formula with regard to the agony of separateness.
No very special importance is attached to Cupid in alchemical figures. Yet, in
one sense, he is the source of all action; the libido to express Zero as Two.
From another point of view, he may be regarded as the intellectual aspect of
the influence of Binah upon Tiphareth, for (in one tradition) the title of the
card is “The Children of the Voice, the Oracle of the Mighty Gods”. From this
point of view, he is a symbol of inspiration, descending upon the hooded figure,
who is, in this instance, a prophet operating the conjunction of the King and
Queen. His arrow represents the spiritual intelli gence necessary in alchemical
operations, rather than the mere hunger to perform them. On the other hand,
the arrow is peculiarly a symbol of direction, and it is, therefore, proper to put
the word “Thelema” in Greek letters on the quiver. It is also to be observed that
the opposite card, Sagittarius, means the Bearer of the Arrow, or Archer, a
figure who does not appear in any form in Atu XIV. These two cards are so
complementary that they cannot be studied separately, for full interpretation
Mirror Mirror on the wall, Who is the Faerest of us all? The Truth are we in the skies you see, The Balance of Fire And Water is Elektricity.
