Have you ever wondered what the meaning of The Lovers Tarot card is?
A couple in a loving embrace, a union blessed by the heavens, The Lovers stand side by side, naked, unafraid, and in perfect harmony represent choice, often with multiple paths to take, duality and sometimes, romantic relationships.
Keep reading to learn more about The Lovers Tarot card. Don’t forget to read up on previous Major Arcana card descriptions you may have missed.
“The value of the personal relationship to all things is that it creates intimacy and intimacy creates understanding and understanding creates love.”
Anaïs Nin
Key Phrases of The Lovers
- Choice, multiple choices, and choosing with love
- Duality and balance
- The balance of masculine and feminine energies
- A fusion of opposites through love
- Make a choice, use your intuition
The Lovers Tarot card upright keywords
- Choice
- Partnerships
- Crossroads
- Duality
- Commitment
- Harmony
- Relationships
- Values
The Lovers Tarot card reversed keywords
- No choices
- Stuck
- Disharmony
- Relationship issues
The Lovers Tarot card description
An always endearing visual, The Lovers card depicts two forms, often a male and a female, standing side by side, sometimes seen embracing each other. In most decks, the lovers are shown naked.
As well as the male and female, a third being is present in the card. This is often taking the form of an angel, cherub or some depiction of energy or white light looking over the pair. In certain decks, the third figure seems official in some way, as if they are officiating or blessing The Lovers’ union during a ceremony. Some interpretations hint that this male figure is The Hermit.
The Lovers are often shown in nature. The trees, fruit, flowers and sometimes insects hint at the natural state of the union; effortless, abundant, verdant. Sometimes, red fruit such as apples are present.
Key Points of The Lovers:
- Celestial body: Sign of Gemini
- Element: Air
- Number: 6
The Lovers and Astrology
Gemini. The Lovers archetype is associated with the sign of Gemini, universally recognised as the symbol of the twins. Twins have interesting symbolism. They are considered as re[resentations of duality; light and dark, positive and negative, conscious and unconscious, active and passive.
On a spiritual level, the lesson of the sign of Gemini is to blend these oppositions together. Gemini seeks an effective and effortless coming together of mental and emotional states.
The Lovers and Numerology
6. Sixes can indicate changes and adjustments in thoughts, attitudes and even conditions. Many sixes can represent one’s ability to overcome and transcend difficulties.
“But when two people are at one in their inmost hearts, They shatter even the strength of iron or of bronze. And when two people understand each other in their inmost hearts, Their words are sweet and strong, like the fragrance of orchids.”
I Ching Book of Changes
Symbolism and Mythology of The Lovers
The Lovers is a card that conjures up imagery of love, partnership and union. While the card depicts two figures, often a male and female, the underlying visual represent far more than just a romantic relationship between two.
The card conjures up concepts of yin and yang, anima and animus, masculine and feminine, and the divine balance between self, ego and consciousness.
Adam, Eve and Garden of Eden reference
A naked couple in nature, the presence of an apple tree, these visuals hint at the infamous, original duo of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. This biblical association suggests the time in the Garden before the alleged temptation took place; before the bite; when the pair were full of bliss, not lacking or needing anything.
Some decks push the Garden of Eden reference further, incorporating visuals of a snake and a burning bush. As well as possibly symbolising sensual desire, temptation and all things that can take away from Divine devotion, this visual metaphor screams the card’s central theme: choice.
The Lovers
The Lovers are comfortable and content. Some decks show them embracing, giving even more confirmation that they are lovers or a unit of sorts. They are naked but unafraid. This shows the ability to be without ego, without the need to hide, cover-up or be ashamed. The two figures calm, relaxed and peaceful.
Circling back to the Garden of Eden reference, the visuals hint at the time when they had no thought of fear or worry of threats. When they trusted in the divine fully; when their connection was secure and there was no separation from Source.
In some decks, The Lovers are shown each holding a sun and moon. The sun in the male’s hand and the moon in the female’s hand links to the balance of masculine (sun) and feminine (moon) energy – a common theme in spiritual teachings, as well as in the Tarot.
The sun and the moon represent the balance of universal energies, yin and yang, that we each need to attain within ourselves.
The third figure
In some cases, the relationship between the three figures in the card (The Lovers pair and the angel, cherub or ceremonial officer) are considered to be the conscious mind, unconscious mind and the higher self.
The third being in the card is depicted as an angel, cherub, Cupid or white light. Also a key symbol, this being is shown as from above, almost seemingly blessing the union between The Lovers, reminding them of their connection with divine cosmic energy.
When this being is an angel, it stands with its hands open as if to beam energy down to the pair. When the being is a cherub, it closely resembles Cupid.
Cupid, also known as Eros in Greek mythology, is the God of Love. He has a bow ready to pierce the couple with his arrow. In some cases, this angel is referred to as Archangel Raphael. In this instance, Raphael, whose name translates to ‘God heals,’ represents healing in all forms.
In depictions of this card, the man looks at the woman, but she doesn’t return his gaze. She either looks at the angelic being or at an unseen presence.
This is a metaphor for the shifts in consciousness. This shows moving from physical to emotional to spiritual, or shifting from conscious to subconscious, and then to super-conscious.
The Lovers Tarot card meaning
The central theme of the card of The Lovers is choice, but it can also represent duality, opposing forces, or an actual relationship.
A choice is to be made
One of the most pertinent messages of this card is one of choice. We all have choices to make in our lives: choices relating to who we are, who we want to be, who is in our circle, how we will relate to them and what our values, morals and ethics are.
If you are busy making a decision and The Lovers visit you during a reading, then it can be a signal that you should consider your options very carefully. Have a clear understanding of what your values and beliefs are, and stay true to them.
With The Lovers, decisions are often not black and white, and logic may not serve here. There may be multiple options or paths on offer. This is a very heart-driven, heart-centred card, so don’t act on impulse. Take your time, trust your intuition and really open your heart and see where it leads.
The Lovers ask you to make decisions out of love, not fear. If The Lovers visit you, choose love.
Duality
Next, the card of The Lovers represents duality and the balancing of forces. Whether these forces are complementary or in opposition, they need to be blended together to create a new ‘whole’ that is unified and in harmony. This is a very ‘Gemini’ concept.
The apparent presence of a male and female can represent the masculine and feminine energies. A metaphor that often occurs in the Tarot, considering these two energies is a constant balancing act within the being. The Lovers card may signal that you’re currently working with either or both of these energies. It could also mean that you’ve balanced these energies.
In some cases, self-love can be an expression of well-balanced masculine and feminine energies; where the strong, assertive and action-oriented masculine holds space for the intuitive, emotive and expressive feminine. Beyond this, balancing can be between Self and Other, Self and self or Self and Source. As The Lovers are naked, do not let your ego play a part.
Balancing forces is also key when it comes to relationships. The aim of The Lovers is to create a fusion of opposites through love. The crux of relating to another person is that our energy needs to meet theirs and find a new ‘whole’ in flow.
Romantic relationships and connections
Sometimes, the card represents relationships, connections with others and the art of relating. Should The Lovers visit you in a reading, it could symbolise that you have a great, lasting and compelling relationship with someone.
This relationship is one that is met with perfect harmony on all levels of physical, emotional, mental and spiritual love. It could also indicate that you have meaningful relationships with people in your life, such as close friendship or strong family bond.
Romantic relationships in this instance, are seen as powerful and deeply meaningful. They fill us with raw emotion and romance and help us evolve on mental, spiritual and emotional levels. Romantic relationships are also some of our most prominent teachers in this life. The physical aspect of a romantic relationship is also spiritual, sacred and special as Eastern philosophies such as Tantra and Taoism believe that sexual union was one of the true paths to enlightenment.
The Lovers stand for the art and craft of relationships. In the card, The Lovers are shown as naked and exposed, but comfortably so, not trying to hide or cover-up. They are exposed to each other, hearts opened, without ego. Here, confidence and deep connection can emerge, dictating the basis for a solid relationship.
Particularly with the link to Gemini, The Lovers arriving in a reading may indicate that you either have open channels of communication with people in your life, or, alternately, that this is an area of your life that requires some attention.
The card reminds us that in every relationship we have, not just romantic ones, qualities such as openness, honesty, vulnerability, loyalty and communication are the keys to success for the union.
Self-love and values
Another interpretation of the card centres around self-love as this positive relationship that the card depicts can also be an inward one. Sometimes, The Lovers is not to a partner but for an ‘inner marriage’ of sorts; a relationship with the Self.
The Lovers can indicate a form of self-love, self-acceptance, self-worth. Perhaps you have resolved inner conflicts, have come to accept something. You may have reached a new place of self-love and feel at harmony with your inner world. In the words of Oscar Wilde, ‘To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.’
Taking the concept of self-love a step further, The Lovers may be asking you to get clear about your values. Loving oneself means having a set of clear values and beliefs, and here, The Lovers want to know what you stand for. Perhaps this is where choice comes in: curating values that serve others, and are in line with your higher Self.
As the saying goes, “If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.” Now that you have passed through the indoctrination of The Hierophant, and have learnt about the laws and rules that govern society, you’re asked to develop your own set of beliefs to govern yourself through this life.
A strong value system will help you stay true to who you authentically are. This, together with an attitude to relating to others that is open and honest, will help you make choices for yourself that aim to serve your and others’ highest good.
The Fool’s journey through the Major Arcana
Now that The Fool has gone through the training of The Hierophant and has learned the laws of the universe and the rules of society from various institutions and establishments, he has encountered the necessary rites of passage. He is asked to take the knowledge he’s learned and form his own opinions.
In meeting The Lovers, The Fool takes all that he’s learned and, with deep love and authenticity, begins to make his own choices based on his values and beliefs.
Featured image available from Viva Luna Studios.