K R I S W A L D H E R R

T H E S T O R Y O F

Cupid &Psyche

A R E T E L L I N G O F T H E M Y T H

A L O V E R S PAT H

E - B O O K

P U B L I S H E D B Y A RT A N D W O R D S

W W W. L O V E R S PAT H . C O M

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

F RO N T I S P I E C E

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3Finally Cupid and Psyche were joined together once more, wiser and more patient for the testing of their loves bonds.

Psyche the perfect, Psyche the pureCupid had heard the praises ofPsyches beauty, but as soon as he sawher asleep in her bed, the god of loves

hands shook, and the arrow poised in his bow fell,grazing his thigh. From that moment, Cupid lovedPsyche and wanted her above all others, human ordivine. Cupid and Psyche, Psyche and Cupid . . . itwas so simple an equation, yet so complex, for Psychewas unwittingly his mothers most hated enemy.

Since Psyches birth, men and women had hailedher as a new goddess because of her beauty, bringingthe mortal girl much embarrassment and distress.The once-popular temples of Venus, Cupids moth-er, were neglected by those who now veneratedPsyche instead; neither boughs of soft-petaled rosesnor precious oils or gems were offered to the god-desss shrines any longer. Naturally, Venus was jealousof this lavish worship paid to another. It was for thisinsult that the goddess sought revenge, asking her sonto visit Psyche that night and pierce the usurper with

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his arrow, so to burn with a foolish, promiscuous lovefor any beast entering her visions path.

As he watched Psyche sleep, Cupid was all tooaware how furious Venus would be if she knew hisfeelings. But passion, as red and fiery as the feathersupon his arrows, snaked through his body entwininghis will to Psyches whether he would or not. Moretroubled then ever, Cupid fled when the first light ofdawn arrived before his beloved could stir and seehim.

Weeks passed, and though Cupid cameto Psyche each night as she slum-bered, Psyche knew nothing of hisvisits nor of his love. Months passed

and her parents decided it was time Psyche wed, butno suitor asked for her hand, and any who might havewere too intimidated by her beauty.

In desperation, Psyches parents consulted the ora-cle of Apollo. Animals were sacrificed, their bonesthrown and read by the priests. All the signs led toone message: no mortal man would be Psyches hus-bandinstead, she must be abandoned upon a cliffwhere a sea serpent would claim her as his bride.Everyone wept at the news, for surely this meant

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Psyches death, but Apollo had spoken and must beobeyed.

Psyche led the procession to her wedding andfuneral, sad but resolute. When they arrived at thecliff where she was to wait, the sun had sunk to theedge of the ocean, turning both water and skybloody-red. Viewing this as an omen of the blood tobe offered to the sea by Psyches marriage, everyonequickly left before the monster could arrive.

But before the first star quivered in the night sky,soft winds had cradled the unfortunate girl as care-fully as a new mother, lifting her far above the jaggedrocks of the cliff and the waters rushing betweenthem. The winds took her to an island far away wherelay a palace unlit by moon or candle.

In its darkest, innermost chamber, there awaitedone who took Psyche as his lover and wife. Whetherhe was beast or man, Psyche gave herself up to himin in her innocent confusion, as he whispered of hislove for her and how long he had waited for her,longer than she knew.

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When Psyche awoke the next morn-ing, he was gone. In that strange butopulent palace, the winds took careof Psyches every needs, bringing her

food and wine, jewels to adorn her neck, and silkenrobes to wrap around her awakened body. Thatnight, her mysterious husband returned to make loveto her again in the darkness. But first, Psyche remem-bered the oracles words, and begged him to let herview his face so she might know who he was.

His answer was breathed into her ear as heembraced her. Do you not know me by my touch?My voice?

But I must see you! she cried.It is best you do not, he answered firmly.

Never ask me again, dearest Psyche, or I shall haveto leave you. And the next morning, he slipped awayagain before the brilliant sun could reveal his identi-ty to her.

Because he was kind, loving and generous, Psychesoon accepted her husbands strange demand. Sheeven felt a response to his ardor that she had notexpected. Her days were spent yearning for the tooshort, sleepless nights when her husband wouldeagerly teach her the arts of love and desire. Psyche

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forgot about any other life but the one she sharedwith her lover.

In time, though, Psyche carried a child withinher, but this awareness brought back her doubts.Whose child was she carrying? What if it had been aserpent she had beddedand how could she knowsince she had never seen her husband? What if shehad been wooed only to spawn a beast who wouldslay her upon his coming into the world? Psychedecided that no matter what the cost, she must knowwho her husband waseven if to gaze upon him woulddestroy her and her unborn child.

When her husband came to her thatnight, Psyche cried as she kissed herhusband, but he thought they weretears of love. As soon as Psyche heard

him breathing deeply with sleep, she lit a lamp andheld it high above their bed. No beast, no serpentgreeted her eyesonly a man as radiant as a god.Golden curls, gentle face, feathered wings . . . at hisbare feet rested bow and scarlet-plumed arrows . . . asPsyche tested their sharpness, she was startled to seea bead of blood upon her thumb.

Quickly the poison of love flowed into her body

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as it had Cupids thigh, and passion burned withinher hotter and brighter then the lamp she held.Unable to control herself, Psyche threw herself uponher husband, her kisses a hundredfold more amorousthen before . . . the lamp clattered upon the tiledfloor, spilling its hot oil and burning Cupid justabove his heart.

In love with Love himself, Psyches eager lipskissed her husbands wound. Oh forgive me,Cupid, she cried, ah love, do forgive me!

And in time he did, though when Venus learned ofthe marriage of Cupid and Psyche, the girl had tosuffer many trials to prove her honor and worthinessto the goddess. But finally Cupid and Psyche werejoined together once more, wiser and more patientfor the testing of their loves bonds; and, in time,their childa little daughter they named Pleasurewas born in the sunlit, brilliant presence of all thegods and goddesses.

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A B O U T T H I S E - B O O K

The story of Cupid and Psyche is featured in KrisWaldherrs The Lovers Path. The myth of Cupid andPsyche has been interpreted as an allegory represent-ing the emotional awakening of a woman as shelearns to love. In ancient Greece, where this mythoriginated, the word for butterfly was psyche, whichalso meant soul. As a caterpiller is transformed intoa butterfly, Psyche is transformed by love.

This e-book was typeset in Centaur. It wasdesigned, written and illustrated by Kris Waldherr,the author of Sacred Animals, The Goddess Tarot and manyother illustrated books.

If you enjoyed this e-book, we hope you will visitwww.loverspath.com to learn more about TheLovers Path and the work of Kris Waldherr.

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