Just by reading tarot cards, you can discover things about your personal, romantic and professional life. Among the 78 cards of a tarot deck, you will certainly draw cards whose meaning is not always apparent at first glance.
Although tarot cards do not predict your future, they can provide guidance or clues to give you insight into your life. And one of those cards is the Lovers.
Lovers Tarot Card Meaning
right-meaning keywords: Harmony, love, complementary energy, attraction, big decisions, partnerships, desire, romance
Reverse keywords: Disharmony, imbalance, coldness, disconnection, trust issues, fear of commitment, detachment
The Lovers tarot card is the sixth of the Major Arcana cards, directly following the Hierophant, Emperor and Empress.
When the Lovers card appears in a reading, it represents the relationships that mean the most to you, as well as some kind of crossroads that you may encounter in your love life.
This card is also about the decisions you make, your fundamentals, as well as perfect union, love, attraction, and harmony. It can point to signs of finding balance within yourself or indicate feelings of uncertainty about the people in your life.
Whether you get a positive or negative tarot reading, lovers represent two options and must decide between them. This decision can be between two people or an individual working on an inner battle.
When the Lovers card is drawn, it usually means you have a major choice to make. But depending on his position, it means different things.
Description of the lovers card
Although there are many designs, the most popular of which comes from the Rider-Waite deck, the Lovers tarot card shows a naked woman and man. Nudity means vulnerability and openness to others.
Behind the couple is a landscape reminiscent of the Garden of Eden. Also present is an apple tree behind the woman (or the tree of knowledge), with a serpent coiled around the trunk, a divine reference to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and the temptation of pleasure.
In addition, behind the man are traditionally 12 flames, which represent the 12 signs of the zodiac. However, the Lovers card is represented by the zodiac sign Gemini.
Photo: Vera Petruk/Shutterstock
In the Rider-Waite tarot deck, the man and woman are under the angel Raphael, who represents healing, although in other decks there may be a lack of Raphael. Despite this, it does not retract or distract from the divine meaning of the Lovers card.
The man and the woman look at each other in the guise of Raphael, whose common interpretation of these details alludes to an immutable choice.
The straight meaning of lovers
Lovers facing vertical represent internal balance, learning your life values and achieving harmony. The upright appearance of lovers indicates a strong bond between two people, whether in a marriage, a romantic relationship, a friendship or any other close partnership.
It is this bond that is shown in an upright position – the trust in this union is one that engenders feelings of trust and growth between two people. Each of the lovers, the man and the woman, stand on their own, which speaks to a union that you could have in your own life.
Basically, however, a straight Lovers tarot card symbolizes an important choice.
There are choices you need to make in your life, and you may be faced with uncertainty about which path to follow. This card reminds us that the simplest path is not always the right one; you may have to face difficulties to finally make the right decision.
The reverse meaning of lovers
The reversed Lovers card indicates dysfunction including trust issues and conflict, disconnection and detachment, discord and lack of accountability in your personal relationships.
This card indicates that you find it difficult to take blame for the bad decisions you have made. Maybe you choose your partner or stay in your relationship because of looks or money.
Reversed, the Lovers card is basically telling you to face your choices and stop being so superficial.
But instead of feeling down, take the right steps to let go of your past mistakes and bad choices. You should also think about your personal belief system and what you value the most to make sure it aligns with your true desires.
Plus, it’s a warning to start taking responsibility for the choices you make and working to make better decisions in the future.
The meaning of lovers in love and relationships
While tarot cards will help you make certain choices or decide which path to take, in a love reading you won’t get straight answers about things like when to get married or how to leave a toxic relationship. Lovers appearing in a love reading will help you tap into the answers that already live in your subconscious.
Love and Relationships: Meaning of Straight Lovers
In a love reading, a vertical Lovers card represents all the positive aspects of a relationship: kindred spirits and kindred spirits, perfect unions and partnerships, sexual relationships and shared values.
Regardless of your relationship status, a straight Lovers card shows that commitment is important in any relationship you have, whether it’s work, family, or friendship. And that commitment could be tested on an important choice you have to make.
If you are single, it means that a great love could be in your future, and it will be more than just physical attraction and lust. This is one of the best cards you can get for romantic advice.
If you are in a relationship, drawing this card could predict a rekindling of romance, leading to a deeper connection that may have been lacking before. You and your partner are on the same page in terms of mental and emotional connection.
Love and Relationships: Inverted Lover’s Meanings
Reading the Lovers card upside down indicates that you find it difficult to come to terms with the decisions you have made. And when it comes to love and relationships, that means there is a lack of harmony and a disruption of balance.
The issues plaguing your relationship need to be addressed head-on in order to move forward. You may also be afraid of the future of your relationship, which requires sacrifice to make things work.
If you are single and receive reverse lovers, it means you can find love, but not in a timely manner. Or, it can represent relationships from your past and why they weren’t good for you.
If you end up with a reversed Lovers card and you’re in a relationship, it means you and your love partner aren’t on the same page where it matters most. One partner may try harder than the other, or trust issues may plague both of you, preventing you from moving forward.
Whatever the reason, these differences must be resolved if the relationship is to survive.
The meaning of lovers in career
When the Lover is drawn during a career reading, its meaning can be positive or negative depending on the cards surrounding it, as well as its position. A career reading involving lovers relates to big decisions in the workplace and approaching a crossroads in your life.
Career: Meaning of Straight Lovers
A straight Lovers card in a career reading indicates harmony between the workplace, with a business partner, or with a colleague.
But it also indicates that there may be a romantic relationship with someone from the workplace. Be sure to weigh the risks that come with this relationship, as it could be detrimental to your career success.
Basically, this card represents a partnership. But it’s about coming to a crossroads where you may have the desire to change careers.
Career: Meaning of Reverse Lovers
Conversely, lovers appearing in a career reading means that there is an imbalance between colleagues or business partners. This can manifest as one person taking on all the responsibilities while the other sits around and doesn’t do the required work.
When this card appears, it also indicates the need to communicate with those with whom you might do business. This is how you can put your ambitions and goals on the table and discuss the direction you want to take.
Also, lovers can mean that if you start a relationship with a co-worker, it could come back to bite you and lead to serious consequences.
The meaning of lovers in finance
In a financial reading, lovers appearing relate to important decisions you will make regarding money. Depending on the position, it could mean financial abundance or financial threat.
Finance: Meaning of Straight Lovers
A vertical Lovers card means you have a big spending decision to make, one of which you won’t be able to reach. This card also wants you to keep in mind that the path you decide to take will have consequences.
When you put the Lovers up, it also means that the time has come to take advantage of the financial opportunities that come your way.
Finance: Meaning of reversed lovers
Reversed, the lovers card draws attention to the irresponsible choices you have made regarding your finances. It indicates that you are making impulsive choices that you may not be able to afford.
Additionally, this card asks you to take responsibility for your choices, learn from your mistakes, and stop seeking instant gratification by spending.
Samantha Maffucci is the editor of YourTango and has written hundreds of articles on relationships, trends and entertainment, numerology and astrology.