The Lovers: Modern RWS Tarot Card Meanings
‘KEY VI: The Lovers’, Rider Waite Smith tarot.
The Lovers Upright Meanings
Keywords
Attraction, Freedom, Temptation, Consequence.
In A General Reading
The Lovers card signifies a moment of profound significance, centered on a major life decision and the alignment of personal values. This is not a trivial choice, but a foundational one that will define the path forward. It represents the point where you must consciously choose what you stand for, often by selecting a path or a partner that is in perfect harmony with your deepest, truest self. This card also speaks to the power of a harmonious partnership, be it a successful business collaboration or a deep, platonic friendship. The core energy is one of synthesis and rightness: you are at peace with your choices because they are a true reflection of who you are.
In a Love Or Relationships Reading
In a love reading, The Lovers is the ultimate card of a deep, soul-level connection and a truly harmonious relationship. This is not a card of simple infatuation; it represents a profound union with another, a perfect partnership where two individuals come together to create a third, greater whole. It can signify a new romance that is based on a deep and immediate recognition of shared values. In an established relationship, it is a powerful affirmation of that bond, often pointing to a marriage proposal or a deepening of commitment. This is the archetype of the "divine union," where the connection is not just emotional or physical, but spiritual.
In a Money Or Career Reading
In a money or career context, The Lovers points to a successful business partnership or a major career choice that is in perfect alignment with your personal values. This card signifies the end of a long search for the "right fit." It can manifest as finding a job you truly love, one that feels like a calling rather than a simple paycheck. It is also the most positive card for any form of collaboration. It represents a business partnership that is both profitable and spiritually fulfilling, where all parties are united by a shared vision and a deep sense of mutual respect. This is the energy of "right livelihood" made manifest.
In a Spiritual Context
Spiritually, The Lovers card represents a profound choice related to one's spiritual path. It signifies the union of the human and the Divine, the moment the individual consciousness chooses to align itself with the will of the higher self. This is the alchemical marriage of the inner "masculine" and "feminine," the lower self and the Divine Soul. This card can represent a conscious choice to commit to a specific spiritual tradition, a moment where you move from a casual seeker to a dedicated Novitiate. This is similar to the energy of The Hierophant, but with a key difference: where The Hierophant represents the outer tradition, The Lovers represents the inner, heartfelt choice to commit to it, creating a harmonious relationship with your own higher purpose.
In Common Spread Positions
As Advice
Make a value-based choice. Seek harmony. Commit to the partnership.
As (Ultimate) Outcome
A harmonious union. A successful partnership. A major, positive life choice made.
As Obstacles
A difficult choice. A conflict of values. A relationship is the primary hindrance. Like The Empress reversed.
As Hidden Energy
An untapped potential for a significant partnership. A major choice that is not yet conscious.
As Resources/Alliances
Help from a partner or collaborator. Your own clear values. A harmonious environment.
The Lovers reversed Meanings
Reversed Keywords:
Disharmony, Misalignment, Poor Choices, Conflict, Indecision
In A General Or “Open” Reading
Reversed, The Lovers card signifies a profound sense of disharmony, conflict, and the consequences of poor choices. The perfect alignment of the upright card is shattered, leaving a situation defined by a misalignment of values. This represents a moment where you are fundamentally out of sync with your life path. It can manifest as making a major decision that goes directly against your own values, leading to a feeling of inner conflict. This can also point to a major falling out with a friend or partner, where a foundational disagreement reveals that you are no longer on the same page. The core energy is one of synthesis that has failed: instead of harmony, there is discord, and you are left to face the consequences of a choice that was not true.
In a Love Or Relationships Reading
In a love reading, the reversed Lovers card is a powerful sign of a relationship in conflict. The deep, spiritual union of the upright card is broken, pointing to a misalignment of values between partners that may be irreconcilable. This is not a simple argument; it is a foundational disagreement about the core principles of your lives. This card can often signify a painful breakup or separation, where the "choice" is to go your separate ways. It can also be a strong indicator of infidelity, a choice that harms the relationship by breaking the sacred trust of the union. At its core, this card represents a connection that is no longer in harmony, and a difficult, truth-facing choice is now unavoidable.
In a Money Or Career Reading
In a money or career context, the reversed Lovers points to a failed business partnership or a career that is not fulfilling. The harmonious collaboration of the upright card has devolved into conflict with a business partner, where a misalignment of values or ethics is tearing the venture apart. This card can also represent a profound personal conflict: the feeling that your job compromises your ethics. You are facing a choice between a paycheck and your own values. It can also, more directly, signify the negative outcome of a poor financial decision, a choice that was made out of alignment with a sound, logical plan, and which has now created disharmony in your finances.
In a Spiritual Context
Spiritually, the reversed Lovers signifies a serious disconnect from your spiritual path, often resulting from a "crisis of faith." It represents a choice that goes directly against your spiritual beliefs, leading to a feeling of profound disharmony with the Divine or your higher self. Where the upright card is the alchemical marriage of the self and the soul, the reversed card is a painful divorce. This energy is similar to that of Temperance reversed, as both point to a lack of inner harmony. But where Temperance reversed is an imbalance or an extreme, The Lovers reversed is a conscious choice that has created that spiritual break. It is a sign that you must re-evaluate your core values and make a new, more authentic choice to find your way back to your path.
In Common Spread Positions
As Advice
Re-evaluate your values. Address a conflict in a key relationship. Avoid making a hasty decision.
As (Ultimate) Outcome
Disharmony and conflict. A poor choice made with negative consequences. A partnership ending.
As Obstacles
A toxic relationship. Your own indecision. A misalignment of values is preventing success.
As Hidden Energy
A hidden conflict is brewing. A poor choice made in the past is unconsciously affecting the present. Similar to Judgement.
As Resources/Alliances
Ending a disharmonious partnership. Making a difficult choice is the necessary path forward.
The Lovers In Key Card Combinations
Combinations with Major Arcana
The Lovers & The Hierophant
The Lovers (↑) & The Hierophant (↑): A traditional marriage. A choice that aligns with your values. A relationship blessed by family.
The Lovers (↓) & The Hierophant (↑): A relationship that is in conflict with tradition. A choice that goes against family values.
The Lovers (↑) & The Hierophant (↓): An unconventional but harmonious relationship. A choice to break with tradition.
The Lovers (↓) & The Hierophant (↓): A relationship that is both unconventional and disharmonious. A poor choice made by rejecting all advice.
The Lovers & The Devil
The Lovers (↑) & The Devil (↑): A passionate but obsessive relationship. A choice that leads to addiction or bondage. A soulmate connection with a toxic element.
The Lovers (↓) & The Devil (↑): A relationship breaking apart due to addiction or jealousy. A choice that leads to a toxic situation.
The Lovers (↑) & The Devil (↓): A harmonious relationship that helps you break free from an addiction. A choice to leave a toxic situation.
The Lovers (↓) & The Devil (↓): A relationship that is both disharmonious and free from addiction. A poor choice that helps you see a deeper truth.
Combinations with the Suit of Swords
The Lovers & The Three of Swords
The Lovers (↑) & The Three of Swords (↑): A painful but necessary choice. A harmonious relationship that is hit by a heartbreaking truth. The painful truth of a love triangle.
The Lovers (↓) & The Three of Swords (↑): A breakup or painful conflict in a relationship. A poor choice that leads to heartbreak.
The Lovers (↑) & The Three of Swords (↓): A harmonious relationship that helps to heal old heartbreaks. A choice to move on from past pain.
The Lovers (↓) & The Three of Swords (↓): A relationship that is stuck in a cycle of conflict and pain. A refusal to make a choice, leading to ongoing suffering.
Additional Notes on The Lovers
Waite’s Divinatory Meanings of The Lovers
"Attraction, love, beauty, trials overcome. Reversed: Failure, foolish designs. Another account speaks of marriage frustrated and contrarieties of all kinds." (Pictoral Key To The Tarot, 1911).
The Lovers RWS card symbolism.
A.E Waite’s Lovers card depicts Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Above them, the angel Raphael bestows a blessing, signifying divine approval of their union. Behind Eve is the Tree of Knowledge with the serpent, representing temptation and the choices that lead to worldly experience. Behind Adam is the (Biblical) Tree of Life with twelve flames, representing the passions. The scene is not merely about romantic love; it is a profound allegory for the necessity of choice, the union of opposites, and the alignment of one's personal will with Divine purpose.
Meditations On The Lovers Card
What evil might tempt me in my current situation? Where in my life am I in alignment with Divinity, and where am I out of alignment with it? Is there a key relationship or partnership that needs my attention?
Is The Lovers always about romantic love?
No. While it often represents a romantic partnership, The Lovers is more broadly about the principle of choice and consequences. It can signify a key business partnership, a choice between two career paths, or the alignment of your actions with your core values.
