Broken Bridges

From the Tarocchi Celtici, the Five of Water (Cups); from the Art of Asia Oracle, "Flowering Cherry with Poem Slips" by Tosa Mitsuoki:

          The bridge overhead in this Five of Cups card has been broken; it likely represents the relationship between the water nymph and the frog. Perhaps he ate one of her friends? I once was involved with a fellow who I discovered was racist (he had up to that point presented himself differently). Being a twenty-something at the time, I'm sure I threw several things at his head and stomped off never to return. It's hard when you realize someone you've begun to care about it is not who they've pretended to be. But as the symbolism of Alder (defense) and Fearn (protection) imply, sometimes we have to look after ourselves. The verse for the painting of the poem tree is by Ikkyu: "Look at the cherry blossoms! Their color and scent fall with them, are gone forever; yet mindless the spring comes again." It's hard to let go of what we thought was going to be beautiful, but our trips around the sun will bring other opportunities.