Relationship Anarchy & the Tarot: Abundant Love

From the short instructional manifesto for relationship anarchy by Andie Nordgren:

“Love is abundant, and every relationship is unique.

Relationship anarchy questions the idea that love is a limited resource that can only be real if restricted to a couple. You have capacity to love more than one person, and one relationship and the love felt for that person does not diminish love felt for another. Don’t rank and compare people and relationships — cherish the individual and your connection to them. One person in your life does not need to be named primary for the relationship to be real. Each relationship is independent, and a relationship between autonomous individuals.”

Lately, I’m examining my philosophies on love, friendship, and relationship and conversing with new tools and frameworks. It was only recently that I learned about relationship anarchy, yet I’m floored by its resonance with how I’ve been practicing and cultivating relationship for years.

The 3 of Cups is such a beautiful card to receive here. In it, we see an abundance of love. Many versions of this card depict celebrations, circles, a harvest. To me, all of the threes reflect a sense of community and connection. Here, each person brings something unique to the group. Each has their offerings of love.

Here we might see a polycule, a triad, a group of friends, a coven of witches, siblings, co-caregivers, neighbors, community organizers, coworkers, lovers, artists in co-creation, teachers, learners, dance partners.

In the 3 of Cups, we learn that our capacity to love extends beyond one partner, beyond hierarchy.

We come to experience the myriad ways we can love others and our communities. We learn that love is abundant and to be widely shared.

In the 3 of Cups, we cherish each connection, each partner, each role. What a blessing that we live on this earth at once, that we might come to feel something so precious and exhilarating, so loving and true, so unique, with one another.

Love is not a limited resource.
Love is self-sourcing and multitudinous.
Love is different for each partnership, each relationship, each beloved.
May we cherish it, this boundlessness.