The Lovers tarot card explained
What does The Lovers mean in tarot?
Ah, The Lovers. Probably one of the most recognizable cards in tarot, and definitely one of the nicest to draw when you're doing a love reading.
The Lovers is the seventh card in the Major Arcana, numbered VI (6). And despite its name, it's not just about romance. The card represents relationships, personal values, and the choices we make in life.
Think about how many decisions we make based on what matters to us. Who we choose to date, where we want to live, or what kind of career we want to pursue. Sometimes, these choices are easy. Other times, we have to compromise or give something up.
Start a free tarot readingThe story and symbolism behind The Lovers
Scan by Saskia Jansen · Wikimedia Commons
In the traditional Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck, The Lovers depicts a naked man and woman standing in a garden, with an angel watching over them.
The imagery is obviously heavily inspired by the biblical story of Adam and Eve. Behind the woman is a tree with a serpent, representing temptation and the consequences of our choices. Behind the man is another tree with flames, often associated with passion.
Above them, the angel Raphael represents guidance and healing. There's also a mountain in the background, which can symbolize the challenges that come with relationships. It's quite a dramatic illustration for a card about love, but that's because The Lovers isn't just about finding someone attractive or falling in love. It's about making meaningful choices and understanding the consequences of those decisions.
In modern life, that could mean deciding whether to commit to someone, figuring out what you want from a relationship, or choosing between two paths that both seem appealing.
The Lovers in a love reading
Well, this is probably the card most people hope to see when they ask tarot about their love life.
The Lovers can represent attraction, connection, and finding someone who shares your values. But don't get too excited just yet. Drawing The Lovers doesn't automatically mean your soulmate is around the corner!
If you're single, maybe it's time to think about what you're actually looking for in a partner. Are you dating someone because you genuinely like them, or because you're tired of being alone?
And if you're already in a relationship, The Lovers could encourage you to look at how compatible you really are. You might love someone deeply, but what if one of you wants children and the other doesn't? Or one person dreams of moving abroad while the other wants to stay close to family?
Now, let's combine The Lovers with another Major Arcana card.
Imagine drawing The Lovers as where you are now and The Devil as what to avoid. The Lovers could suggest that you're experiencing a strong romantic connection. But The Devil, which represents unhealthy attachments and temptation, might encourage you to question whether that connection is actually good for you.
Maybe the chemistry is incredible, but you're ignoring some pretty obvious red flags. It's a nice example of how two cards can complement each other while encouraging you to look at different sides of the same situation.
Start a free tarot readingWhat can The Lovers tell you about your career?
The Lovers might seem like a strange card to draw in a work reading. After all, what does romance have to do with your career?
Quite a lot, actually, if you think about the card as being about choices and values. We spend a huge part of our lives working. So naturally, the decisions we make about our careers have a big impact on how happy we are. Maybe you've been offered a job with a much higher salary, but the company culture doesn't really align with your values. Do you take the money, or stay somewhere you feel more comfortable?
The Lovers encourages you to think about what matters to you beyond your job title. For example, imagine drawing The Lovers as what to focus on and The Emperor as what to avoid. The Emperor represents structure, authority, and stability. Combined with The Lovers, perhaps you're being encouraged to make a career decision based on your personal values rather than simply following the most secure path.
Good chemistry is great. Shared expectations are pretty important too.
Give our free online tarot reading a try
So, The Lovers isn't necessarily telling you that romance is coming. It's asking you to think about the relationships and choices that shape your life.
And that's exactly what we want to encourage with Turbo Tarot.
Our online tarot reading is completely free, and you don't need to create an account. Just choose whether you want to reflect on love or work, and draw three cards.
You'll explore where you are now, what you should focus on, and what you should avoid. Maybe The Lovers will appear, maybe it won't. The interesting part is seeing how the cards interact and what they make you think about.
Start a free tarot reading