There's a lot to ponder in myths and legends. The story of Eros and Psyche has been told and retold in various forms for nearly two thousand years, and their archetypes reappear regularly in Hollywood films.

Eros, or Cupid, was the god of love, and his mother Venus, jealous of the mortal Psyche's beauty, tried her best to destroy the lovely young woman. Sent to do the deed, Eros instead fell in love with her. He became her bridegroom on the condition that they would be together only at night, and that she could never see his face. Why? We don't know. Maybe because he was a god and she a mortal, and he wanted to keep it a secret.

Personally I'd be a little suspicious of any partner who didn't want me to see his face ever. Even beyond wondering what he looks like, not even counting the fact that the eyes are the window of the soul and how can you read the soul if you can't see into it, I'd be worried he might be an axe-murderer, or a terrorist who didn't want to be recognized. Ah, reality.

In any event, Eros was a dreamy partner, kind, loving and passionate. I'm guessing he was also quite buff, and Psyche didn't need a light to know that. She must have raved about him, because her jealous sisters urged her to disregard his demand and sneak a look while he was sleeping. What if he was unattractive? (gasp!) At least that's the way the story goes. It's never been suggested that they might have been concerned about her, but in my experience, there's nothing like a secretive and controlling partner to put a protective sister — or friend, or mother — on high alert.

Whatever their reasons, benevolent or nefarious, Psyche listened to their urgings, and one night she held up a candle to see her lover's face by the flame's light. Of course, the hot wax dripped on his face and awakened him, and he read her the riot act and split. And oh yes, she got a good look as he was on his way out, and he was truly breathtaking. Poor Psyche was banished and miserable (though just for the record, many travails later they were reunited, in full daylight, and she was granted immortality).

So what's the moral of the story? Trust your heart and don't worry about the rest? Don't trust what you can't see? Maybe that's the beauty of a myth, either one that's been handed down through the ages, or a personal one of our own making. We can interpret it any way we like, and use it to justify whatever we please.

Abduction of Psyche by William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825 - 1905)