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.

The quote “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.” is attributed to A. E. Waite, the British poet, mystic, and occult scholar best known for co-creating the Rider–Waite Tarot deck. At its core, the statement is a symbolic description of two central biblical and mystical images: the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Waite situates these archetypes behind the man and the woman, echoing the Garden of Eden narrative, with the serpent representing temptation and the tension between innocence and choice.

The origin of this idea comes from Waite’s writings on mysticism, alchemy, and the tarot, particularly in his book The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1910). In describing the imagery of the Lovers card, he drew on biblical symbolism to explain the duality of spiritual paths. The Tree of Life stands behind the man, signifying vitality, divine order, and higher spiritual purpose, while the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, entwined with the serpent, stands behind the woman, signifying the awakening of desire, moral testing, and the potential for both wisdom and downfall.

The meaning of the quote underscores the interplay between life, knowledge, and choice in human existence. Waite suggests that man and woman embody complementary aspects of the human journey: the striving for eternal life and the confrontation with moral knowledge. The serpent, wrapped around the Tree of Knowledge, symbolizes temptation and the challenges that arise when humanity seeks wisdom, reminding us of the biblical fall of Adam and Eve.

Ultimately, Waite’s reflection is more than a retelling of scripture—it is an esoteric interpretation designed to guide seekers in understanding the spiritual symbolism embedded in the tarot. His description of the trees and serpent illustrates the eternal human struggle between innocence and experience, divine unity and moral testing. By placing these archetypes in the imagery of the tarot, Waite connected ancient mythology and Christian mysticism to the pursuit of spiritual insight.