The Lovers Tarot Card Meanings
The card of choices, relationships, and harmony.
Last Updated: April 23, 2024.
The Lovers is card number 6 (VI) in modern cartomantic tarot decks and the 7th major arcana trump card (The Fool, number 0, is the first card). Divination practices such as cartomancy can help us make decisions, offer guidance, and help us tune into our intuition when we are at a crossroads in our lives. Understanding the meanings of each tarot card can help you sharpen your interpretative skills so you can get the most out of your readings.
The card usually depicts a couple in what could be understood as the garden of Eden, standing in front of an Angel. In this sense, The Lovers work as a pair with The Devil, where the same couple stand this time in front of the Devil, enchained instead of being free.
For many tarotists, this card represent freedom, choices and partnerships that we create; whereas The Devil represents being bound by those choices and relationships in a way that makes us feel trapped. The Angel in the illustration is often thought to be the archangel Raphael, the angel of Air, the element associated with this card through the sign of Gemini. Gemini represents communication and duality, two important concepts in relationships.
In this article, we will explore the different meanings of the Lovers Tarot card in various reading contexts as well as the different advice it can offer.
4 Quick takeaways about this tarot card
- The Lovers represent love, relationships, and choices.
- The Lovers signify a need to choose between two different paths.
- The Lovers can also represent a need to balance opposing forces in your life.
- Finally, the Lovers can represent a need to open your heart and mind to love and passion.
The Lovers tarot card key correspondences
Upright keywords | Balance, Harmony, Unity, Choices, Partnerships |
Reversed keywords | Disharmony, Imbalance, Indecision, Bad choices or Avoiding choosing |
| Yes or No | Yes |
| Numerology | 6 (VI) |
| Element | Air |
Ruling Planets | Mercury |
| Astrological Sign | Gemini |
Jungian archetype | Light aspect: The Lover, The Companion, / Shadow aspect: The Saboteur, The Virgin |
Tarot timing | May 21st to June 21st, Friday |
Associated deities | Aphrodite, Isis + Osiris, Hathor, Merit, Anubis |
Other name(s) | The Two Roads (Egyptian Tarot) and L’Amoureu (Tarot de Marseille). |
What do the upright Lovers (tarot card VI) mean?
In Latin, major arcana translates to “big secrets” and each of the 22 cards in this section of the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck represents an important life lesson we must all face at some point. The Lovers, arcanum 6, is no different.
When The Lovers appears upright in a reading, it’s indicating that choices have been made or need to be made! It’s also speaking to harmony and unity in a relationship, but The Lovers don’t have to be understood from a purely romantic perspective. The Lovers card is also your housemates, your team at work, your bestie you’re launching a business with, the non-profit you volunteer at. It’s the people you make choices with.
When pulled in the upright position, The Lovers is associated with balance, harmony, unity, choices, and partnership.
What does the upright Lovers mean in a love reading?
In a love and relationships specific reading, The Lovers is generally a positive indication of a certain level of harmony and trust between the concerned. It shows that shared values can help build on the trust you have. With the imagery inclusive of the Devil character, it can indicate a desire and sexual connections. The Lovers have effectively chosen each other, chosen commitment and communication. However, it can also point to a choice that has to be made in the relationship. Follow the Lover’s advice and take action!
What does the upright Lovers mean in a career reading?
In a career reading, The Lovers can mean that there are benefits to be had from cultivating a harmonious atmosphere with your colleagues and from working as a team. This can also signify that there are currently choices to be made regarding your career that may impact your general levels of prosperity – what projects and ventures are you investing your time, money and energy into? Are they worth it?
The Lovers as feelings/emotions
If you are asking the tarot how someone feels about you, pulling The Lovers card suggests that this is someone that feels completely and utterly passionate about you, they see you as some sort of soulmate, their connection to you is unquestionable and unwavering.
For them, you are what they need, what they are looking for. It’s the most incredible bond for them, they feel connected with you on levels that surpass this plane.
The Lovers as a person
As a personality archetype, The Lovers card represents someone that’s open and honest, someone that you can be completely and utterly open with and know that they won’t judge you. Your connection with them will be very harmonious.
The Lovers as advice
If you are asking the tarot for advice regarding a specific situation in your life, pulling the Lovers card indicates that you need to make choices based on what your heart wants. What feels the most compassionate? The most heartfelt? That’s the direction to need to be heading in as it’s time to be your very best.
What is the zodiac or astrological sign associated with the Lovers?
The Lovers card is linked to the zodiac sign Gemini. This air sign is all about accepting all parts of who we are to reach our own ‘greater good’.
To be our best ‘whole’ self with every last aspect of our own personal existence, much like how the Lovers card can represent two separate sides, two entities that can lead to this ‘greater whole’ when coming together – and of course Gemini is also represented by twins!
Is the Lovers card a yes or no tarot card?
The Lovers card is seen as a ‘yes’ card when it comes to yes or no questions with tarot. This card will usually appear when you have a choice of direction to go in, but of course, you are unsure which direction is best.
The Lovers card is here to remind you that so long you tread carefully enough, then you can push forward with confidence that you are on the correct path and heading in the direction you are supposed to!
Below are some of my interpretations, as an experienced tarot practitioner, based on different types of yes or no questions:
Question: “Will I get the job?”
Card interpretation: It’s highly likely that a new job is on the horizon for you, as the Lovers is a good omen when it comes to career and career changes, so if you are applying for jobs right now then it’s looking like one of them will be coming your way! You may even end up with more than 1 option land in your lap, and it’ll be down to you to make the decision on which job you wish to go for! So make sure you end up going for one that really makes your heart sing, a job you know you could really commit to, and anything that passes you by wasn’t meant for you!
Question: “Is this new person in my life good for me?”
Card interpretation: Overall, yes! Whilst it doesn’t necessarily mean anything romantic will come of it, the Lovers can still represent an excellent, honest, and close bond between two people platonically! It doesn’t mean that romance won’t develop, but either way, this is someone that you’ll have a healthy and grounded bond with!
Question: “Will I achieve my current goals?”
Card interpretation: You may have some choices to make with regard to what direction you’re going in to achieve what you want, but your end destination won’t necessarily change, just the route that you’re taking! So long you stay true to yourself and what makes you happy and fulfilled, ‘follow your heart’ as it were, then you’ll always be on the right path. Though on that note, through this journey you’ll be taking and the decisions you’ll be making, your goals may change and adapt as you do! Fundamentally where you end up is where you were destined to end up, but it’ll still be shining, shimmering, and splendid! Trust in your journey.
Question: “Should I start my own business?”
Card interpretation: Is this business you want to venture into a passion of yours? Is the point and focus of it something that means a lot to you, or is it a ‘get rich quick scheme or something that seems like a good idea but is something you won’t genuinely love? So long you follow your heart and not your head, then you should be fine. You’ve got to do something that you truly love. So even if you have to pause and ponder your options for a little while, have faith that you can make the correct decisions – follow your heart!
The Lovers reversal meanings
When The Lovers appear in reverse, you are being advised to be careful of the choices you have to make – or that you’re avoiding making! This is a delicate situation to navigate, Gemini being a Mutable Air sign, there is a certain amount of volatility associated with this card.
Think long and hard about this situation, and all of its implications, before acting on it. Gemini is ruled by Mercury, the planet of expression, thought and communication, when this card is reversed it can also point to a breakdown in those areas.
The other cards surrounding it will give you clues as to where, why and how this is happening in your life. Overall there are themes here of disharmony and of an imbalance that needs to be addressed.
When pulled in the reversed position, The Lovers is associated with disharmony, imbalance, indecision, and bad choices.
What do the reversed Lovers mean in a love reading?
If you draw The Lovers in the reversed position during a relationship spread, there are things happening in your relationships that need setting straight! A general sense of disharmony prevails here, someone’s needs are not being met. Take some time to take stock of yourself and the person in question’s needs, desires and dreams. How can you regain balance?
What do the inverted Lovers mean in a career reading?
In a career spread, The Lovers reversed can mean there are currently conflicts with colleagues – may be down to a feeling of not being listened to (Gemini is in turn ruled by Mercury) or of not having the freedom to make choices in a group setting. Perhaps the imbalance is affecting you or another – is someone else ending up doing everyone’s work.
Prosperity wise, maybe you are spreading yourself too thin over multiple projects and investments, or making uncertain financial choices right now. Make sure you are owning your responsibilities too; with this card, there can be a lack of accountability and wanting to push the blame to others when really you need to look inward at the choices that you’ve made to this point.
How to use the Lovers card in your Spellwork
You can use The Lovers card as a clarifying signifier card when performing a spell to bring you clarity about a situation where a choice must be made.
Cleanse your space using incense or a cleansing spray, centre and ground yourself by spending a short while focusing on deep breathing – Gemini rules the lungs in physical astrology! If you have any blue stones associated with the throat chakra, like Lapis Lazuli, Blue Lace Agate, Sodalite or Blue Apatite, then use them to focus your energy, if not then a Clear Quartz will work just fine.
Place the Lovers card in front of you and reflect on its meaning to you relative to this situation. If you work with any deities, spirit guides or ancestors then you can vocally call them in to assist you; if not then proceed to state out loud where you need to find clarity in order to make a choice. Focus your intention on your stone, while breathing deeply.
Lay your stone on the top of your Tarot deck, then take a piece of paper and a pen and write out a list of pros and cons relative to the choice you have to make.
Once you have this list, read all of the pros out, then draw a card signifying the outcome of this choice. Then repeat for the cons. If the choice still isn’t clear, sleep with the stone and The Lovers card next to your bedside and draw a final clarifying card the next morning.
The Lovers symbolism with archetype psychology
The Lover archetype is often, wrongly, associated with purely romantic love – yet the Lover represents one who strives to achieve strong relationships of all kinds.
They are fuelled by a desire for connection, an attraction to all forms of beauty and aim to build committed mutual relationships with all. They are passionate and bravely vulnerable in their expression of their feelings, desires and attractions.
They value using that to help others find love with others and within themselves; there is indeed a very spiritual dimension to the Lover archetype, embodying universal, unconditional love.
The light side of this archetype is to be intense, loving, and magnetic and to seek the improvement of all relationships. The shadow side can be overly obsessive, dramatic, codependent and shallow – all that glitters is not gold after all.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Lovers tarot card is a powerful symbol of balance, harmony, and partnership. When this card appears in your reading, it is often a sign that it is time to make a choice in order to make progress.
Despite its association with mysticism and occultism, the tarot has grown to become much more than a simple “fortune-telling” tool. It is a complex system made of symbolic imagery and psychological considerations (Jungian archetypes for example) that can be used for self-exploration, meditation, and personal transformation.
The 22 major arcana cards each correspond to different aspects of the human experience that are universal. They represent the different stages of the “hero’s journey”: our biggest challenges and life lessons, as well as our highest aspirations and greatest potential.
Have you ever had a reading where the Lovers card appeared? What was the outcome? What do the Lovers mean to you personally? How do you interpret this card in your own tarot practice? Share your thoughts and experiences with me in the comments below.
If you want to know more about the different tarot cards, feel free to check out our complete list of all 78 tarot cards and their meanings.
Written By Daisy Forrest
Daisy Forrest is a queer, neurodivergant witch, astrologer and writer based in France. She is a qualified workshop organizer and space holder, who’s currently merging her passion for IFS therapy and astrology into her signature coaching offering called Selves. She’s on a journey to heal generational trauma through astrology, tarot, witchcraft, therapy and manifestation. You can find her writing about these themes on Instagram @Daisy Forrest, or on her website daisyforrest.com
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