Celtic Wisdom Tarot
Text by Caitlin Matthews, art by Olivia Raynor
Destiny Books, 1999 ISBN 0-89281-720-8

The Books says: In Celtic tradition, love and rivalry are closely combined: a fact that is echoed in most of its love stories, which tell of rival suitors fighting over one woman. Although some tell how the woman is carried off by the winner, in many stories it is the woman who makes the choice. Lovers throughout the world often have a clear image of the one they desire. In Celtic story, this is often depicted as one with hair as black as a raven, skin as white as snow, and lips as red as blood.
Keywords: Choice, attraction, desire love, friendship, healing, harmonious integration, emotional freedom, yearning, speculating over a range of possibilities, emotional entanglements.
Reversed: Poor choices, adolescent crushes, quarrels, choices affect health, poor communication, “pie in the sky” hopes, parental meddling or other interference in relationships.

My Turn: This card symbolizes making choices that will impact on our spiritual and emotional growth. It can refer to choosing between two suitors or between two paths. The woodland surrounding Nemetona reflects her connection with her surroundings and the rowan berries show that she realizes the magic inherent in being able to make that choice. This card is a reminder that no matter how hopeless or difficult a situation becomes we always have a choice. We can stay and keep things the same or we can leave and make a change. A friend of mine used to say that we always have two choices – we may not like those choices but we do have them and that gives us some control over the situation. The Lover card shows the power and magic present in having the ability to make that kind of choice and to select our path in life.