What does the Lovers mean in Tarot Cards?

Each Major Arcana card represents its own merit: a character of great importance, a mythical component, or an event of decisive importance. Some of the Major Arcana are easily recognizable, and their meaning is clear to anyone. Lovers Tarot is one of the main characters of the Arcana, which is a universally recognized symbol of love and trust.
The meaning of this card is rather vague. Tarot gives us a choice on which path to move on, one of which is the path of love.
In the Tarot’s Journey of the Fool, each character is set as a guide along the way. In each meeting, there is no other option but to go only forward and meet new characters. The Lovers Tarot card is the first hint of self-realization for the hero. The road forks here, the choice is his own.

Depiction

Two naked young people (man and woman) stand in the foreground. Behind the woman is a fruit tree, behind the man is a tree with lights. An angel soars in the sky. The woman’s gaze is directed to the angel, the man’s gaze is directed to the woman.
(For a detailed depiction, analysis of the Symbols and all Elements of the Lovers Tarot Card, click here)

Meaning of the Card

Do not be afraid of temptations – they still cannot be avoided. Accept the apple that Eve gives you, for love is the only power that can heal you from suffering. Fall in love – and you will see how everything has changed around: the colors have become brighter, the air is cleaner, and people are kinder. Perhaps this is the first time that you will get to know another person so deeply that your troubles and feelings will concern you less than his feelings and troubles. Let your mind rest, be at the mercy of the senses.
In fortune-telling practice, Lovers most often mean “friendship and love”. This is the beginning of a new strong emoton or the preservation and strengthening of an old one, stability of feelings, good relations between people.
However, love is not only stability, but also temptation: the serpent descending from the Tree of Knowledge warns that on the further path along the cards of the Major Arcana, the Devil’s card awaits us. It is not for nothing that in the old days the Lovers’ card was called Bifurcatio – “a crossroads, a fork in the road,” and in the Egyptian Tarot it is called Two Ways.
That is why in the Marseilles and some other versions of the Tarot, especially the old ones, not two, but three human figures are depicted on the Lovers card – one young man and two girls. One of the girls personifies purity and innocence (this is usually a blonde), the other is painted as a kind of wicked brunette seductress. And, according to the plot, the young man makes a mistake, since he is clearly attracted to a brunette, whereas he should have loved a blonde.

If you draw this card with three lovers on it, you should take into account the obvious presence in it of the motive of betrayal or at least a love triangle (even in a straight position). For those on whose card of Lovers have only two figures, this motive should be taken into account only when it is inverted (or in combination with other cards of a negative nature).
If you are asked about the outcome of a planned or already begun business, then Lovers mean success and stability, the preservation of the status quo. However, stability is not always good: active natures, inclined to risk, in a situation of choice, are more likely to prefer the Devil’s card (XV), which promises changes. What these changes will be is unknown, but risk, as you know, is a noble cause.
For people walking the esoteric path, Lovers have the meaning of Dedication, initiation, transition to a new stage of spiritual development.
The allegory of the Lovers (the union of opposites) is depicted here in the form of a man and a woman, and the mystical connection between them is like a spirit. This is an allegory of romantic love, ideal friendship or other closeness of two people, especially if there is a certain barrier between them that these two souls must or want to overcome in order to merge. In this case, it is mutual obligations that are the necessary element that connects those whose lives should flow together.
There are also other types of “marriage” and other types of opposites that need to be reconciled. As an allegory for your spiritual development, the Lovers tarot card symbolizes the union of opposites within yourself. Each of us has positive and negative qualities. And among them there are those that we accept, and those that we would prefer to get rid of. In other words, there are qualities that we do not even want to admit to ourselves.

The Lovers Tarot card encourages you to explore and reconcile the opposites in yourself, rather than trying to remove or change them. By understanding and reconciling both sides of your nature, you will become a single whole, not in conflict with yourself. And because this task is difficult, commitment is required from you to achieve your goal.
You don’t just have to admit that there are different traits. You need to understand that those traits that you do not approve of are necessary for continued growth.
Opposites are not necessarily good and evil. Opposite traits in yourself, or in another person with whom you are trying to connect, are a mirror image of each other, a mutual complement and support. Here you need to achieve the unity of these opposites, make them work together, overcome conflicts and create a whole – more than the sum of the parts. This is the lesson of Tarot Card Lovers.
The reward for reconciling the irreconcilable elements in yourself is an increase in your own strength and will. You no longer need to waste time and energy fighting (which is always useless) with those qualities in yourself or others that annoy you. Instead, connect them in yourself and use them to increase your own power over situations and events.

Positive Aspects of the Card
Falling in love and sexuality, union and marriage, the right choice and a responsible decision, the right choice.

Negative Aspects of the Card
Freedom of the soul and fear of love, impermanence and insincerity, parting and separation, end of love and termination of relationship.

The Main Meanings of the Card In an Upright Position

Key Words and Phrases

Union. Distribution. Confidence. Duality. Short trips. Health. Healing. Romantic meeting. Sexuality. Attractiveness. Romantic love. Improving sexual relations. Partnership. New relationship. The main choice. Important decision. Fork on the road. Trial. Ordeal. Temptation. Redefining important relationships. Thoughts about love and marriage. Selection of one of the forks of the road. A love story or relationship involving a challenge or choice. Power of love. The desire to share your life with another person. Love. Engagement. Marriage. The tree of life. Choice between two lovers. Unbeaten road. I can’t get you out of my head. Until the death tear us apart.

The main meanings of the card in an upright position

Passion for the opposite sex, sexual relations, love and marriage can completely occupy your mind. Perhaps you are only thinking about continuing a relationship with a certain person right now. If, at the same time, there is a two of Cups in the scenario, then perhaps this love relationship is very important to you.
This card advises you to carefully consider all your options before making your final decision. Somehow you are put to the test before starting a new stage in your development. You are now at a crossroads. You may be starting a new personal or partnership relationship soon. Others may have already noticed that you have started to acquire new clothes and are trying to look your best in the hope that this will help you find new love. Short trips and intimate conversations are also possible.
In White’s deck on the Lovers card, the Archangel Raphael, the patron saint of healers, is depicted in the background. In the Robin Wood deck, two lovers stand under the tree of life. Perhaps the Lovers card indicates that you need healing – physical or spiritual. This is a good time to have a heart-to-heart talk about your relationship with a friend or someone you can trust and get good advice from. In the spread for health, the Lovers card denotes spiritual protection and recovery.

Persons designated by Upright the Lovers Tarot Сard

Partners. Lovers. Lovers. Couples. Spouses. Business partners. Twins. One who faces a choice. Healers. Good friends. Romeo and Juliet.

The Main Meanings of the Card In a Reversed Position

Key Words and Phrases

Failed test. End of love. Impermanence. Freedom by all means. Fear of falling in love. Impatience. Passion for wandering. Refusal to make important choices. Insufficiently reasoned decision. Variability. Insincerity. An immature attitude towards love. Hedonism. Sex without love. Marriage problems. Troubled or unhealthy relationships. Health problems. Disease. Irresponsibility. Dislike. The inability to be together. Coarseness. Offended feelings. Parting. Indecision. Opposition. Parting. Termination of the relationship. Divorce. Quarreling. Disagreements. Internal conflict. Resistance. A union imposed by external circumstances. Insulation. Feeling distant from your partner. Love is evil. You don’t need me anymore. Fall in love and quit. A lover at every corner.

The main meanings of the card in a reversed position

Infidelity and duplicity;
Incorrect choice;
Family disagreements;
Fickle social life;
Failure;
Lack of self-confidence;
Escape from love;
Passion for changing places;
The struggle between feeling and duty;
Ignoring the needs of the partner;
Deterioration of relations between partners;
Adultery;
It is still possible to restore relations.

Situation and Advice

Perhaps you hurt someone’s feelings, or vice versa – someone hurt yours. Perhaps you missed the chance to start a new relationship or accept an invitation, and now your communication with this person is in question. Perhaps a breakup or the end of a romance awaits you. If your question was about marriage, you are already desperate to find the right partner and are afraid that you will have to spend the rest of your life alone. At present, you may be preoccupied with thoughts about how to establish your sexual contacts. You may be involved in some kind of unhealthy relationship right now. Your fear of being attached to a particular person can create problems. You must learn to take responsibility for your behavior and take responsibility for the decisions you make. If you have an important choice to make, it is best to consult with a professional and be careful not to regret the decision later. Sometimes this card indicates health problems, all kinds of contradictions, the collapse of the marital union.

Persons designated by the Reversed the Lovers Tarot Сard

Those who are faced with the need to make a choice. Divorced people. Opponents. Unfaithful people. Those in unhealthy relationships. Don Juan. People with sexual disabilities.

In the Spreads

In a more ordinary sense, it simply speaks of a predicament in which you, for some reason, fell, and also indicates a possible way out of the problem. In real life, the Tarot card Lovers means an emotional heart connection, as well as the appearance in life of someone who will become your complement.

In a Reversed Position:

The upside down Lovers card symbolizes emotional instability or disharmony in relationships.
In this position, Arcana says that the wrong decision was or will be made. It can mean separation, collapse of plans, conflicts and quarrels. During such a period, there is a lack of stability, separation and divorce are possible. It is possible that a decision made by someone will negatively affect the life of a fortuneteller who is forced to obey someone else’s will. The card Lovers in an inverted position also speaks of missed opportunities to improve relationships. Failure to make a choice can lead to failure.

In a Personal Spread

In a personal scenario, Arcana can be interpreted in two ways. On the one hand, it indicates a situation of choice that must be made in order to rise to a higher level of spiritual evolution. On the other hand (the more ordinary meaning of this card), it may simply mean that for some reason you are in a difficult situation. The minor Arcana surrounding the card can suggest the ways out of it.

In the Spreads for Different situation

In an Upright Position:
Now the situation is very difficult, you need to make the right choice. However, do not hesitate too long, otherwise the prevailing circumstances will begin to act against you.
Tarot Card Lovers can refer to any important choice you are faced with, usually with a number of conflicting possibilities. As long as you are willing to stay balanced and apply common sense, there is no reason to think that the decision will be wrong.

In a Reversed Position:
Wrong choice. Failure is only a consequence of your actions.
If you decide to make an important decision, you will regret it – and soon. Weigh every aspect of your situation carefully. Unfortunately, the Arcana of Lovers can be a warning against procrastination. You must always remain consistent, as inconsistency will be the biggest mistake of all.

In the Spreads for Relationship

In an Upright Position:
When emotions gush. The awakening of love and sensuality. Attraction. New feelings, or renewal of existing ones. Attraction of opposites.
In relationship readings, the Lovers card represents soul mates and karmic ties, the element of “attracting opposites.” Arcana indicates compatibility on a mental, philosophical and often physical level.
The Lovers card is traditionally associated with marriage and unions.

In a Reversed Position:
In the Tarot, inverted Lovers have meaning as failure in love, fruitless hopes, betrayal, temptation, violence, perversion, quarrels.
The card can represent disappointment in a relationship. Perhaps your hopes did not come true, and now you feel insecure. Depending on the situation, there may still be time to change everything and meet the needs. Perhaps the meaning of the Sixth Arcana in a relationship says that you have reached the end trying to make the relationship work.
Be clear about your desires and boundaries. If you felt closed, this is a call to open. You can’t get the love and trust you deserve if you don’t let people see you for who you are.

In the Spreads for Dates

In an Upright Position:
A new friend from a different religious or cultural background will enter your life. Rejoice in this – friendship will enrich you, give you new strength.

In a Reversed Position:
You do not want to deal with people whose views differ from yours. Get rid of prejudices, they limit you too much.

In the Spreads for Money

In an Upright Position:
You will find a new way to make money, it will turn out to be very monetary and, moreover, a pleasant process for you.
The Lovers symbolize mutual attraction – not only between people, but also between you and money. If recently you have not had money, help will be on the way, but only if you ask for help and tell someone else about your problems.
Now is also the best time to take financial risk, such as starting your own business or taking out a loan.

In a Reversed Position:
Don’t you think that you somehow spent too much on friends or on an object of love? Love can not be bought. People should love you not for what you buy them, but for the kind of person you are.
In an inverted position, the Lovers card means that your finances are out of control. You may be focusing too much on your romantic life and ignoring budget constraints. Review your personal finances before it becomes a big challenge to overcome.

In the Spreads for Education

In an Upright Position:
You will find that two very different subjects (for example, music and mathematics, or science and religion) have much more in common than you previously thought. This discovery will help you better understand both subjects.

In a Reversed Position:
If you hide from everything, you will not understand anything, and you will never really learn anything. Have the courage to explore the world and make mistakes (yes, you can’t do without them). This is the only way to learn and develop if you are human.

In the Spreads for Career

In an Upright Position:
At the moment, careful analysis, decision making and development of a line of conduct are important. Following a well thought out plan will lead you to your goal as quickly as possible and with minimal waste.
Arcana represents a job or career that is fully consistent with your values ​​and innate talents. A powerful path has opened up for you, but a choice must always be made.
There may be conditions attached to the profession that is ideal for you. Perhaps it is a lower pay or “prestige.” This Arcana is a sign to correctly understand your goals and values. Find a solution that honors your soul.
In the event of conflicts in the workplace, the card suggests building relationships with another person. A good indicator when it comes to partnerships and mergers, make sure values ​​and goals are at the forefront of all negotiations.
Indicates the period when it will be necessary to make very important decisions. Symbolizes average steady income and stability in business. Sometimes in fortune telling indicates an impending vacation.

In a Reversed Position:
The tension between you and your work situation is too great. The chosen profession is not your soul’s work. If so, start planning your change of activity. Look for ways outside of work to fulfill your hobbies, such as volunteering, personal projects, mentoring.
This card can signal conflicts within the company. For example, a leader who lacks self-awareness, sincerity, or connection to his team.

In the Spreads for Health

In an Upright Position:
Good health, stable condition.

In a Reversed Position:
Deterioration of the condition, possible diseases. Problems with the genitals are possible.

In the Perspectives

You have good prospects. You are embarking on a path that your heart has jumped for you, and you have every reason for joy.

Answer to Yes / No Tarot Spreads

In an Upright Position:
Confidently yes.

In a Reversed Position:
Rest assured, the answer is no. Time has passed or the wrong choice has been made.

Combinations with other cards

Strengthening
The Empress: sexual contentment, pleasure
Nine of Cups: sexual pleasure
Ten of Pentacles: long-term alliances, family ties

Weakening
The Hierophant: Strong Beliefs
Five of Cups: relationship breakdown
Three of swords: alienation, estrangement
The Hermit: loneliness, isolation, decreased sexuality

Arcana’s warning

Be prepared to make some compromises, stick to the commitments you made. Trust your intuition. Don’t count a good start as a guarantee of a successful end.

Self-Development Lesson

When we are led by love, we embrace life’s adventures positively and feel protected and supported in everything we do. If we are united, we can work with our partner on a common goal, and this, in turn, will bring happiness and harmony.

Key Ideas

Take action, use your talents, find the best possible use for them. You will not love anyone until you can respect and love yourself.

Let your mind rest and surrender yourself for a while to the power of your senses. Over time, you will learn to understand them and will not be ashamed of them and hide them from someone close to you. Also learn to understand other people’s feelings and never ridicule them.

Final Advice of Arcana

The Lovers’ card advises you to explore all options for events and make the wisest choice. Consider your interests carefully. Focus on what is best for all parties.

In an Upright Position:
Alliance is your strength. Join forces with your partner, and together reach unprecedented heights.
Gather your courage and make the notorious choice. Leave, finally, from a hateful job, despite the fear of being left without a livelihood. Or to break off relations with one woman in favor of another.

In a Reversed Position:
You should not be afraid of either love or choice. What should happen will happen anyway. To begin with, cope with internal contradictions, after which you can already determine the directions of your path. This is the meaning of the Tarot card Lovers when people ask for advice.
Accept the losses that occurred through your fault. To get out of the dead end, you need to turn back. Only when you reach the point from which you went the wrong way, you can understand where to move next.

Conclusion

This card combines two plots. It promises deep love experiences, but shows that such a step involves a choice: rejection of the previous way of life (parental home, freedom and light intrigues) and the transition to a new level, the level of consciousness of Love. Only true awareness of it opens up a powerful information field that contains the card of the Lovers. That is why it was called “Choice” earlier. It can also mean some other situation of choice, not necessarily related to love. Then it means that one way or another we will have to make a choice, decisively and irrevocably, leaving no loopholes for ourselves. Which of the two plots appears before us in this case depends on the meaning of the question asked. However, in any case, it is a loud and definite “Yes”.

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