The Lovers in the Major Arcana of the Tarot deck represent relationships. This could be intimate relationships, but also any relationship that is important to you, including your relationship with yourself. It is a reminder not to underestimate the influence that our connections have on us on a personal and spiritual level.
Upright Tarot Card Meanings – In Brief
In the upright position, The Lovers suggests that you can get more out of a certain relationship, but it will require opening up with honesty and vulnerability. This will lead to unexpected gains, and things that don’t look like they fit will come together.
Reversed Tarot Card Meanings – In Brief
When The Lovers is reversed, it suggests that there are problems in some of our most important relationships. A connection with someone else may have become toxic, or we might be engaging in toxic self-talk. This problem needs healing to unblock the way forward.
Number – 6
The Lovers card is linked with the number 6, which counterintuitively is linked with the material world and ideas of wealth and finances. But the number 6 is also linked with safety and security. It is often an indication that we need to nurture a safe and secure environment in order to be able to flourish. We need our basic needs met to focus on our spiritual needs.
Element – Air
The Lovers card is linked with the element of air, which is an intellectual element, rather than the emotional element of water. This can be a reminder that relationships need to be based on more than just lust and instant gratification. An intellectual connection and shared values are the basis of a strong relationship.
Planet – Mercury
The planet Mercury rules The Lovers card, and this is the plant of communication. Good communication is the basis of any strong relationship. We should not pretend that we can read someone else’s mind, or expect them to read ours. We should not be afraid to ask for what we want, from ourselves and others.
The Lovers – Tarot Card Description
While The Lovers Tarot card appears differently in different decks, most pull on the symbology represented in the Rider Waite deck.
The card shows a naked man and woman, holding hands, and standing under the gaze of the angel Raphael. He is associated with physical and emotional healing, and this connection between the three figures represents how personal connections can foster spiritual growth.
The couple stands in a fertile landscape that references the Garden of Eden. Behind the woman is an apple tree and snake, representing temptation. Behind the man is a flaming tree with 12 flames. The fire represents passion, a constant distraction for man. The number 12 is a reference to the 12 signs of the zodiac.
Read our profile of Freyja, the Norse goddess of love and beauty.
The Lovers – Upright Tarot Card Meaning
The Lovers card upright in a reading suggests that you focus on relationships. This does not necessarily mean romantic relationships, but certainly, the closest relationships that are at the center of your life. We are greatly influenced by the people that we spend the most time with, so these relationships matter!
The card can suggest that the best way to deal with a challenging situation is through open communication. This does not just mean being clear with what you mean, but also being honest and vulnerable. If you give nothing of yourself, it is hard to expect to receive.
In addition to being clear in your communication with others, you also need to be honest with yourself. This means knowing what is important to you and understanding your values and beliefs. These should be the principles that guide you in all your decisions.
The Lovers card often comes up when you have an important decision before you. It may suggest to you that now is the time to combine things that don’t seem like they go together. But they may have the potential to become more than the sum of their parts.
The Lovers card is closely linked with choices. It reminds us that love is in some ways a choice. When we choose to be in a relationship with someone, we choose to make their needs a priority every day and put our shared journey first.
What to do?
When The Lovers card appears upright in a reading, it is a sure sign that you need to focus on your most important relationships. Perhaps one of them needs some love and attention, or perhaps one of them is a pathway to what you are looking for in another part of your life. Whatever you do, be clear in your communications so that everyone, including you, knows what is important right now.
The Lovers – Reversed Tarot Card Meaning
The Lovers card reversed in a tarot reading can be a warning that we have become out of sync with some of the important people in our lives. This could be down to a lack of attention and care on our part, or it could simply be that you have grown apart from someone, and it is time to change the terms of that relationship.
When reversed, the Lovers card can also point toward your relationship with yourself. It can be a warning that you are not treating yourself with the self-love and self-respect that you deserve. We often speak to ourselves in a way that we would never speak to other people.
Now may be the time to focus on resolving inner conflicts or conflicts that have been lingering in some of our important relationships. These are anchoring us and stopping us from moving forward.
It may also be that now is a time to be very careful with your communications, as there is a high chance of being misunderstood or misreading a situation and jumping to damaging conclusions.
What to do?
When The Lovers card appears reversed, it is usually a warning that something is out of balance, either in our relationship with ourselves or with others. Resolving this is essential to unblock the path ahead. Start by being meticulous in your communications to avoid misunderstandings.
The Lovers in Relation to Other Tarot Cards
When examining The Lovers in relation to other cards in the Tarot deck, its presence significantly underscores themes of choice, relationships, and harmony between opposites. Symbolizing the union not only between individuals but also the internal alignment of one’s values and desires, The Lovers embodies the concept of decision-making with the heart and the reconciliation of different forces within oneself and in one’s external relationships. This card encourages the querent to consider their relationships, the choices before them, and the integration of dual aspects of their nature.
Relationship with the Major Arcana
In the Major Arcana’s journey, The Lovers marks a pivotal point of moral and emotional choices that define the querent’s path forward. Its interactions with other Major Arcana cards can illuminate the dynamics of choice, love, and ethical dilemmas:
– The Lovers and The Hierophant: This pairing explores the tension between personal beliefs and societal expectations. While The Lovers emphasizes following one’s heart and making choices based on personal values, The Hierophant represents tradition and social norms, suggesting a need to balance personal integrity with communal responsibilities.
– The Lovers and Justice: Together, these cards highlight the importance of fairness and equilibrium in relationships and decisions. The Lovers focusing on personal connections and choices, alongside Justice, which symbolizes objectivity and truth, remind the querent that true harmony requires considering all sides and striving for balance in personal and legal matters.
– The Lovers and The Devil: This combination examines the themes of attachment and the shadow side of desires. The Lovers stand for healthy relationships and choices made with clear understanding, while The Devil represents the potential for bondage to material or unhealthy desires, urging the querent to discern between genuine connection and superficial attachment.
Relationship with the Minor Arcana
The Lovers’ connection with the Minor Arcana highlights how themes of union, choice, and duality play out in more mundane aspects of the querent’s life:
– The Lovers and Two of Cups: This pairing reinforces the idea of partnership and emotional reciprocity. The Two of Cups, symbolizing mutual affection and understanding, echoes The Lovers’ message of meaningful connections, emphasizing the joys of a harmonious relationship.
– The Lovers and Seven of Swords: When appearing with the Seven of Swords, The Lovers suggest the need for honesty and transparency in decision-making. This combination warns against deceit or avoiding difficult choices, advocating for integrity in navigating complex emotional landscapes.
– The Lovers and Ace of Pentacles: This pairing suggests that new beginnings in material or professional realms may require significant choices that align with the querent’s values and relationships. The Ace of Pentacles offers the promise of a new venture, while The Lovers call for consideration of how these opportunities fit with the querent’s authentic self and relational commitments.
The Lover Tarot Reading
When The Lovers card shows up in the Tarot reading, it wants to draw our attention to our most important relationships. These are often with other people, and often with lovers, but can be with anyone, including ourselves.
It may be that these relationships have the ability to be the source of something essential that we are seeing. Or it may be that these relationships have become toxic and require healing. Whichever the case, careful and clear communication should guide the way forward.
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