The summer heat bore down on the Fool as he sat in the shade of the Hanged Man’s shadow. There wasn’t a breeze to cool down the sun’s rays. The Hanged Man had a small puddle under his head from sweat dripping.
A parade of people came out of the castle on top of the hill. They were singing a happy song and wearing colorful clothing. As they got closer, the Fool could tell it was a wedding, for at the front were two young lovers whose hands were tied together by ribbon and hemp.
The parade came to the clearing where the Hanged Man hung from his structure and asked the upside-down man to perform the wedding. He enthusiastically said yes.
The crowd of revelers gathered in a semi-circle behind the bride and groom, who stood at the head of the Hanged Man. All was full of merriment and some of the marchers seemed drunk. Everyone sweated in the sweltering heat.
These hands that are tied together, the Hanged Man said in a booming voice, are the hands of soul mates. These are the hands that you will use to hold each other when you are happy, grateful, in love, full of joy, and sensing the magic of the world. You will use these hands to build a life for each other. You will make a life that the other wants to be a part of. You will use these hands to remind each other that you are there when one isn’t well. These hands will hold each other when you feel grief, sadness, anger, and loneliness. These hands will wipe tears from each other’s eyes.
These hands will change, the Hanged Man went on. They will grow wrinkled, swollen, and frail. They will grow spots and you will see the veins. They won’t be strong anymore, but they will still be there to reach for each other. Every day you will know the parts of the hands that have always been there and are easy to love, but you will see new things, things that you will need to accept.
Some say that we are looking for our other half, the Hanged Man said, but it isn’t like that. We choose who we want to be our other half by doing work. Love works when both halves are always willing to grow together. We fight, disagree, and get hurt by the other, yet in these moments, we can learn, grow, and be teachable.
The Fool suddenly was holding a soft silk pillow with two rings on it. The crowd gasped at the magic trick.
Rings, the Hanged Man continued, symbolize a lot about love. They represent the eternity of it, in some religions, the infinity of love, and other ways love goes round and round. These rings will be the object that sits on your finger and, when you are far away from your lover, it will help you remember that someone out there loves you. You might even be sitting right next to each other, you might have forgotten this day, or just be taking each other for granted, but when you twist your ring you can remember why you are sitting there in the first place. Fool, bring the rings to these two.
The Fool presented the rings to the bride and groom, who took the rings and held them each in a pinched thumb and index finger.
Before you present these rings to each other, the Hanged Man said, it is of paramount importance that you are sure this is what you want to do. Relationships come in many forms. Some will only love one for the rest of their life. Others will love many and spend a little time with each lover. Others will want to love many at the same time. Some don’t want to spend that much time with lovers at all, while others are so afraid of being alone that they will settle for whoever wants them. To know what kind of love you want will help you be the lover your lover wants. Is this what you want?
The two lovers didn’t hesitate, and nodded happily, laughing and looking into each other’s eyes.
Then present the rings to each other, the Hanged Man said, and know that this is a commitment that extends past the time it ceases to be easy. You will become partners.
The two lovers put the rings on each other’s hands and whispered sweet things to each other. The Fool was now holding a pillow with two chalices on it. The crowd gasped in excitement.
These two cups, the Hanged Man said, represent each other, creating a bond. First drink from your own cup.
The couples did.
Now drink from each other’s cup.
The couples did.
Now spill some of your cup into their cup.
The couple did.
Now drink from your cup.
The couple did.
Now drink from each other’s cup.
The couple did.
Now spill the rest on Earth, and let the Empress bless this union! You are now bride and groom.
The couple spilled the rest of their cups and embraced in a kiss. Then they walked back to the castle, staring into each other’s eyes. The rest of the party followed, singing songs and patting each other on the back, and some were reminded of the power of love. The Fool and the Hanged Man stood there in the hot sun. They were alone, but a breeze picked up and cooled them.