What Does the Lovers Tarot Card Mean?

The Lovers Tarot Card is one of the most recognizable cards in the tarot deck. It is the sixth card of the major arcana, and it serves as a mirror to the Devil tarot card. While this tarot card typically refers to romantic relationships, it can also represent a close friendship or family relationship where love, respect, and compassion are shared. Whether you are single or in a relationship, the Lovers tarot card reminds us of the importance of cultivating meaningful connections with those we care about.

In the original Rider Waite Lovers card, a naked man and woman stand beneath an angel, her wings and hands outstretched as if she is blessing their union. The woman stands in front of an apple tree, a snake wrapping around its branches. Behind the man, a tree burns, but he hardly notices. These illustrations allude to Adam and Eve, the mythical first lovers.

Some of the most interesting aspects of the Lovers card are in the expressions of each person and the tree at their backs. The man stares at the woman, the flaming tree representing his burning passion for her. On the other side, the woman gazes at the angel, as if looking to her for guidance. The fruit tree represents both the abundance of love and the fruitfulness of partnership.

The twelve zodiac signs are represented by the twelve flames of the burning tree. The Lovers Card represents Libra, along with other major arcana cards, the Empress tarot card and the Justice tarot card. Libra is also attached to minor arcana cards, such as the King of Cups and the Three of Swords.

The Lovers card’s connection with Libra alludes to equality in partnerships. Balance is key.

The Lovers card represents partnership and the choices involved in commitment. When your tarot reader pulls the Lovers card, you may be on the brink of a life-changing decision.

Some tarot card decks, like the Tarot Del Fuego deck, show two women in place of one. Some people interpret this as the choice between love and lust, particularly when a partner is tempted to seek sex outside of the relationship, but I don’t agree with this interpretation, especially given the soul-honoring connection emphasized in this card.

For she had eyes and chose me.

Shakespeare, Othello

To me, the women are not two opposing forces, but the same person. Her two faces could represent different aspects of her personality or how her physical appearance changes over time. I think of the disdain shown to women as they change, particularly in regard to aging and weight gain/loss (in and outside of pregnancy), but her partner loves each aspect of her and cherishes both faces equally. He loves the flower and the great oak, the red and white wine.

Looking at the red-haired face as her younger self and the brunette as her older self also makes sense when we take into account the two homes that correspond to them. It’s the expansion of the family. While this can mean the addition of children, it can also represent them building a life together. As their partnership flourishes, their family and love grow, signified by the larger, grander home on the other mountaintop.

This card reminds us that love and connection are at the heart of everything we do. Whether our connection with another person is romantic, platonic, familial, or professional in nature, the Lovers card calls us to honor its soul-deep importance in our lives. So instead of pushing away from potentially challenging relationship dynamics or shying away from creating new connections, let the power of this card guide you toward true partnership in every area of your life.

Embrace your relationships, and let the love flow!

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The Lovers Tarot Card Meanings

The Lovers Card Meaning as Feelings

The Lovers card brings out happiness, harmony, and contentment. Think of the giddiness of new love, like butterflies in your stomach.

This card is the constellation of instances when you just know. It’s that quiet moment of realization when they’re singing slightly off-key in the car, grinning at you in a shared joke, or commenting on how your dress brings out the color of your eyes, and your mind just goes “oh.” The pieces fall together like they were meant to, and you find harmony in the other person.

This card also reflects the moments when you pledge your commitment to your relationship and your partner. Defining yourselves as a couple, moving in together, meeting family, and getting married all fall under the lovers’ gaze.

The Lovers Meaning as a Person

The Lovers tarot card represents someone who is both romantic and dedicated. They may also have signs that are ruled by Venus, like a Libra moon or Taurus rising. This person is someone who shares your personal beliefs and aids your emotional healing. They may be your soulmate, or they may be someone with whom you have a deep connection, including a close friend.

This person may also be someone you go to for guidance. Because this card is associated with choices and the sign of Libra, the scales, you need someone who is objective and has your best interests at heart. This could be a teacher or therapist, even a parent (assuming you have a healthy relationship).

The Lovers Tarot Card – Love Meaning

The Lovers tarot card reveals a connection that is both conscious and meaningful, and it signifies the presence of a soulmate or life partner in your life. In a love reading, it is a very positive sign that if you aren’t currently in a relationship, you soon will be.

This card carries with it a strong sense of sexual energy, as well as an invitation to explore deeper spiritual connections with others. If you are searching for love or looking to deepen your existing relationships, trust that the energy of The Lovers tarot card is here to help guide you on your path.

Open yourself to the idea of love. This card tells you that whoever you find will be well-suited to you. This is not a short-lived affair that burns out and leaves you hollow; it’s a unification that will rewrite the world as you know it.

He’s more myself than I am.
Whatever our souls are made of,
his and mine are the same.

Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights

If you’re feeling uncertain, put your worries to bed. The one you’re meant to meet will complement you in every way, the perfect balance to your personality. Once you meet (if you haven’t already), you’ll forget what life was like before they entered your life.

The Lovers Tarot Card – Money Meaning

When the Lovers tarot card appears in a money tarot reading, expect changes in your financial situation. You may soon receive a promotion or enter a new career.

The Lovers upright meaning may also allude to a lucrative business partnership in your future. This is someone you can put your trust in, who will honor your choices and keep the money flowing all the while.

The Lovers Tarot Card – Health Meaning

When this major arcana card appears in a health reading, know that you have the support you need. If you struggle with your mental health or are facing a physical ailment or injury, someone is there to help you through it, likely a dedicated friend or lover.

The upright Lovers card is a particularly positive card in a mental health context. You’ve spent time building upon your personal belief systems, and your sense of self is stronger than ever. If you feel like you haven’t accomplished true self-love, this card tells you that you can. Commit to treating yourself like you would a loved one, with compassion and respect.

The Lovers Tarot Card – Timing Meaning

When the Lovers card appears in your tarot cards, you are ready to make a big change. While this could mean that you are in the position to change careers or move to another location, it’s more likely that you are ready for a new relationship, especially if you’ve been single for an extended period of time.

Sometimes we heal in relationships, and sometimes we heal alone. The Lovers Card says that you’ve worked on yourself, and you’re able to trust again. Let go of your fear and need for control, and take the leap into love!

The Lovers Card Yes/No Meaning

As a card of choices, the upright Lovers card is a yes!

The reversed Lovers reeks of disharmony within yourself and within your relationships. What once were healthy relationships have soured into something rotten. You will be faced with separation. This could be a divorce, breakup, or end to your employment.

If you’re struggling with a relationship, the reversed Lovers card doesn’t mean that your partnership is automatically doomed, but there are problems you have to work through.

This card will likely show itself during the transitional period of the first year of marriage or after the birth of a child, especially if you or your partner don’t feel like tasks are distributed evenly. Ask yourself: does your partner share the burden, or are you expected to do more? This is fairly common in households where one partner expects the other to fulfill traditional gender roles.

You can’t spend your life in an ongoing power struggle with your partner. Change will need to occur if you want to secure your happiness.

The Lovers card is an indicator that you and the other person do not have the same values. Likely, you’ve noticed that you conflict on matters of politics, religion, social issues, etc. We can have committed relationships with those who have different opinions, but fundamental differences in a belief system give you shaky foundation to build your home upon.

Communication is essential when you choose love. You want to be sure you’re on the same page with someone before you hand them the key to your apartment or get down on one knee. Don’t dive into desire if you can’t accept the whole of your partner, including their personal beliefs.

You may be compromising your own needs in another way. The Lovers card reversed says that casual is not for you. You want Titantic-level romance, someone who has a deeper understanding of your mind than even yourself. Stop wasting time on meaningless flings that leave you sobbing on the kitchen floor and start asserting what you want from a partner: commitment!

Practice self-care by being firm in what you want from your relationships. The Lovers card is the card of Love, not settling.

Questions For The Lovers Tarot Card

• How committed am I to my current relationship?
• How can I make the best choice in the situation I’m facing?
• Am I treating myself with compassion?
• Is there someone that I should get closer to? If so, who?
• What can I learn through my relationships?
• Do I share values with my partner?
• Am I meeting my own needs in my relationships?