The Lovers
The Lovers symbolizes the importance of connection to others, but also to ourselves. Discover its deeper meanings and symbology below.
The Lovers Tarot Card Description
"One of the best guides to how to be self-loving is to give ourselves the love we are often dreaming about receiving from others"— bell hooks, All About Love: New Visions.
The Lovers card is rich with imagery. It typically shows two figures standing under a cherub or angel, symbolizing divine blessing and guidance. Behind them, there are often two trees: the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge, sometimes with a serpent and an apple, representing knowledge and choice. This imagery highlights themes of connection, balance, and decision-making.
In traditional decks, the Lovers card can also feature three figures, highlighting an emotional crossroads or a choice that needs to be made. This reflects deeper meanings of commitment, personal values, and the importance of aligning with one's true self. The card also reminds us that self-love and personal fulfillment are essential foundations for any meaningful connection.
Key Takeaways
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Tarot Cards and Major Arcana: The Lovers card is a major arcana card in tarot, beautifully depicting two figures under an angel, with the Tree of Life and Tree of Knowledge. It symbolizes profound connection, balance, and the power of choices.
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Union and Disharmony: Upright, the Lovers signifies union, harmony, and deep relationships; reversed, it speaks to disharmony, dishonesty, and tough choices. This card is influenced by the airy, communicative energy of Gemini, one of the twelve zodiac signs.
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Soul-Honoring Connection in Love: In love, the Lovers upright encourages deepening commitments, mutual attraction, emotional balance, open-hearted communication, and making choices that nurture your bond, reflecting a soul-honoring connection.
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Collaboration and Business Partnerships: In your career, the Lovers upright highlights harmony, collaboration, success through teamwork, and aligning your work with your core values and passions, making it ideal for business partnerships.
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Restoring Balance: When reversed, the Lovers suggests facing disharmony and difficult decisions, inviting you to practice patience, engage in honest communication, and reflect deeply to restore balance, aligning with your personal belief systems.
Qualities
- Upright: Union, relationships, harmony
- Reversed: Disharmony, dishonesty, forced choices
Celestial Influence
- Planet/Zodiac: Gemini
- Card Number and Arcana: VI (Major Arcana)
- Element: Air
- Crystal: Citrine or moonstone
Try meditating on The Lovers card while holding citrine or moonstone to channel that flowing and heart opening Gemini energy within.
Symbology of The Lovers Tarot Card
Cherub or Angel
A cherub or angel is depicted above the figures in the Lovers card, symbolizing divine blessing and guidance. This angelic presence reminds us of the sacred and higher nature of our connections, encouraging us to seek deeper meaning and spiritual alignment in our relationships.
Emotional Crossroads
The Lovers card sometimes includes a third figure, indicating an emotional crossroads or a significant choice to be made. This imagery highlights the need for introspection and alignment with our true values, which urges us to make decisions that resonate with our authentic selves.
Serpent and Apple
The Tree of Knowledge often features a serpent and an apple, representing knowledge, choice, and temptation. These elements gently remind us of the importance of conscious decision-making and being aware of the impact our choices have on our lives and those around us.
The Upright Lovers: Interpretations and Meanings
The Lovers card, with its themes of union, harmony, and connection, is a heartwarming and encouraging presence in a reading. Here are some interpretations for you to consider:
Love and Relationships
When the Lovers appears upright in a love and relationship reading, it signifies union, harmony, and the coming together of two people. This card is a positive sign for all types of relationships, indicating deepening commitments, mutual attraction, and emotional balance. It suggests that all partners, regardless of gender, are in sync, sharing common goals and values, and are ready to support each other.
For those in a relationship, the Lovers card encourages open communication and honest expression of feelings. True harmony comes from understanding and respecting each other's individuality while nurturing the bond that unites you. This card also highlights the importance of making meaningful choices together, ensuring that your decisions align with your shared values and long-term vision.
If you are single, the Lovers card suggests that a new and meaningful relationship may be on the horizon. It invites you to embrace self-love and personal fulfillment, as these are essential for attracting a healthy and balanced partnership. The card encourages you to stay open to love and trust that the right person will come into your life when you are ready.
Career and Finances
When it comes to your career and finances, the Lovers upright signifies harmony, collaboration, and the successful merging of ideas and efforts. This card indicates that you are likely to find success through partnerships and teamwork.
The Lovers card also highlights the importance of making choices that resonate with your core values, passion and personal integrity. This might mean choosing a path that not only offers financial rewards but also aligns with your passions and ethical standards.
The Reversed Lovers: Warnings and Challenges
The Lovers reversed may bring up challenges like disharmony, dishonesty, or difficult choices. You might feel a lack of balance or understanding in your relationships. Remember, these issues can often be resolved with gentle patience and mindful reflection on your true desires and values.
Love and Relationships
When the Lovers appears reversed in a love and romance reading, it can indicate challenges such as not being on the same page or difficult choices. There may be a lack of balance or mutual understanding, leading to feelings of frustration or emotional disconnect.
For those in a relationship, the Lovers reversed suggests the need to address issues of miscommunication or conflicting values. Open and honest conversations are needed to identify the root causes of disharmony and work towards restoring balance.
If you are single, the Lovers reversed may indicate a fear of intimacy or reluctance to open up to love. This could be due to past experiences or insecurities (we all have them!). The card gently encourages you to reflect on these barriers and work towards healing and self-acceptance.
Career and Finances
The Lovers reversed can signify challenges such as difficult decisions, misaligned goals, or a lack of harmony at work. There may be a sense of being stuck or forced to make choices that do not align with your true desires.
This card suggests the need to reassess your current situation and consider whether your career path aligns with your values and long-term goals. Embracing flexibility and open-mindedness will help you navigate these challenges and find a path that brings both professional success and personal fulfillment.
The Lovers also advise you to avoid rushed decisions and to take the time to evaluate all options thoroughly.
Departing Wisdom from The Lovers
The Lovers, whether upright or reversed, carries profound wisdom and guidance. They reminds us that true harmony and fulfillment come from aligning our choices with our core values and inner truth. They also encourage us to cultivate self-love and authenticity, as these are the foundations for meaningful and lasting connections with others.
With a romantic relationship, the Lovers card teaches us the importance of open communication, mutual respect, and the willingness to make difficult choices for our higher good. At work, the Lovers emphasize the need for alignment between our professional ambitions and personal values.
Mantra: I cherish the love within and around me.
References
The Way of Tarot | Alejandro Jodorowsky, Archive.org
The Marseille Tarot Revealed A Complete Guide to Symbolism, Meanings & Methods | Yoav Ben-Dov
The Pictorial Key to the Tarot | Arthur Edward Waite
Disclaimer
The contents of this article are provided for informational purposes only. Take what resonates with you and leave behind anything that doesn't. Anahana is not liable for any interpretations, insights, or outcomes that may arise from using the information provided.
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