Behind the man is the Tree of Life, bearing twelve fruits, and

Arthur Edward Waite, the mystic and interpreter of sacred symbols, gave us a vision both profound and mysterious when he wrote: “Behind the man is the Tree of Life, bearing twelve fruits, and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil is behind the woman; the serpent is twining round it.” This is not mere ornament of language, but the unveiling of one of the deepest mysteries of human existence. For here he draws upon the imagery of Genesis, the ancient myth of Eden, and reshapes it into a teaching of balance: man facing the Tree of Life, woman before the Tree of Knowledge, and between them, the serpent—the eternal voice of temptation, choice, and awakening.

The origin of this image lies in Waite’s work with mystical traditions, especially the Tarot. The card known as The Lovers depicts this very scene: the man, the woman, the two trees, and the serpent. Waite drew upon ancient scripture, Jewish Kabbalah, and Christian mysticism to weave a teaching that is not merely about Adam and Eve, but about every soul who must choose between paths of life and knowledge, between innocence and awakening, between the divine gift and the forbidden fruit. Behind the man stands the Tree of Life, symbol of eternal vitality, the fruits of divine order and harmony. Behind the woman rises the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, symbol of discernment, judgment, and the painful awareness that comes with freedom.

The serpent, twining round the tree, is the voice of shadow, the power of desire, but also the whisper that drives humanity beyond innocence. For without the serpent’s challenge, Adam and Eve would have remained in unknowing bliss, never stepping into the burden and greatness of freedom. Thus, Waite shows us that life is not merely a gift but a trial, not merely harmony but the constant dance between temptation and choice. To be human is to stand between these trees, with the serpent ever near.

History itself offers testimony. Consider the life of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha. He sat beneath the Bodhi tree, seeking enlightenment, when Mara, the tempter, came with illusions and whispers. Like the serpent, Mara offered distraction, doubt, and desire. But Siddhartha resisted, chose knowledge rightly, and gained awakening. His story mirrors the same eternal pattern: behind us stand both life and knowledge, but we must choose, and our choice shapes our destiny.

The meaning of Waite’s vision is not condemnation, but illumination. The man, oriented toward Life, symbolizes strength, vitality, the body. The woman, oriented toward Knowledge, symbolizes intuition, wisdom, and the soul’s discernment. Together they complete humanity, two halves of the whole, standing between creation and choice. The serpent’s presence reminds us that no human life is free from trial. Temptation, error, and awakening are bound into the human journey. Yet through these struggles, humanity grows. For knowledge without life is sterile, and life without knowledge is blind; both must be embraced, and both tested.

The lesson for us is profound: we must not fear the trees, nor curse the serpent, but learn from them. For Life is a gift to be treasured, and Knowledge a burden to be shouldered wisely. The serpent, though dangerous, awakens our freedom and forces us to choose. Each of us, in every day, lives in Eden again, standing before these two trees. What we choose will either bind us in folly or set us on the path to wisdom.

Practical steps follow. Reflect daily: are your choices rooted in the fullness of Life or in the shallow pursuit of pleasure? Do you seek Knowledge that enlightens, or knowledge that deceives? When temptation whispers, pause—ask what fruit it offers, and what it will cost. Embrace balance: nourish your body with health, your mind with learning, and your spirit with discernment. And when you fall, as all do, remember that even the expulsion from Eden was not the end but the beginning of the great human story.

So let Waite’s words echo like a timeless parable: “Behind the man is the Tree of Life … behind the woman the Tree of Knowledge … and the serpent is twining round it.” Remember this image when you stand before choices. For you too are Adam and Eve, you too are wanderers in Eden, and you too must decide whether to live blindly, or to live with the weight and glory of knowledge. In your decisions lies both your fall and your rising, both your exile and your awakening.