The Lovers is the sixth card in the Major Arcana, numbered VI (6). This card represents relationships, union, harmony, and choices. The Lovers signifies not just romantic love, but also the concept of deep emotional connections, commitment, and the alignment of values and desires. It is about the union of opposites, the decision-making process, and the ethical or moral considerations that arise in relationships or life choices.

General Meaning:

The Lovers card typically depicts a man and a woman, often with an angel or other divine figure overseeing them. The angel symbolizes divine guidance, spiritual connection, or the sacred nature of love. The couple stands in a harmonious balance, symbolizing the potential for union, partnership, and shared values. The card suggests the need for alignment, communication, and commitment in relationships, as well as the importance of making choices that reflect your true desires.

Upright Meaning:

• Union & Relationships: The Lovers card is most commonly associated with love and romantic relationships. It suggests a strong emotional and spiritual connection between two people. If you are in a relationship, the card may signal harmony, mutual respect, and deep emotional intimacy.

• Commitment & Partnership: The Lovers also represents the bond of commitment and the decision to partner with someone. It may indicate a time to make decisions regarding your relationship, or it could signal a long-term commitment that will bring about growth, stability, and shared goals.

• Harmonious Connection: The card points to a relationship or partnership that is balanced and harmonious. It may indicate mutual understanding, respect, and support, where both parties feel comfortable, loved, and valued.

• Choices & Decisions: The Lovers often highlights important choices that need to be made, particularly those related to love, values, or significant life decisions. The card asks you to consider the alignment between your desires and your ethical or moral principles when making a choice.

• Attraction & Desire: The Lovers can signify deep attraction, passion, or a sense of soul connection between two people. It can also represent the beauty of mutual love and the magnetic pull between two people who are aligned in their desires.

• Self-Union & Inner Balance: The Lovers card is also about the union of the masculine and feminine aspects within yourself, reflecting the need for inner harmony and balance. It suggests a time for aligning your desires, values, and actions to create peace and unity within.

Reversed Meaning:

When the Lovers card appears in reverse, it may indicate disharmony, misalignment, or difficult choices, often related to relationships or inner conflict.

• Disharmony & Conflict: The Lovers reversed may suggest a time of disharmony in a relationship, where communication, trust, or values are out of sync. There may be tension or misalignment between you and another person, or you may feel disconnected from your partner emotionally or spiritually.

• Breakup or Separation: This card in reverse can also signal a breakup, separation, or the end of a significant relationship. If you're in a partnership, it could suggest that the relationship is no longer serving both parties, or that a choice is being made to part ways.

• Unhealthy Choices: The reversed Lovers may highlight choices that are not aligned with your true values or desires. It could indicate making decisions out of fear, guilt, or external pressure, rather than from a place of authentic desire or integrity.

• Confusion or Indecision: When reversed, the Lovers may point to indecision or difficulty in making choices. You may feel torn between options or struggle to find a resolution to a situation. The reversed card asks you to reflect on what truly matters to you and whether your choices are in alignment with your higher self.

• Internal Conflict: The Lovers reversed can also reflect internal conflict, where the masculine and feminine aspects within yourself are out of balance. This might indicate a struggle between your desires and your values, or between different aspects of your personality that need to be reconciled.

Symbolism:

• The Angel: The angel in the Lovers card represents divine guidance, spiritual protection, or the higher, sacred aspect of love. It suggests that the union between the two figures is not just physical or emotional, but also spiritual. The angel also symbolizes the influence of higher wisdom when making choices in love and relationships.

• The Couple: The man and woman in the Lovers card often represent duality, the union of opposites, and balance. They can symbolize a romantic partnership, a union of inner masculine and feminine energies, or two people who complement and complete each other. Their connection signifies harmony, love, and shared values.

• The Tree of Knowledge: Often depicted in the background, the tree of knowledge represents wisdom, growth, and the consequences of choices. It may also allude to the biblical story of Adam and Eve, highlighting the idea of temptation, free will, and the choices we make in love and life.

• The Fruit: The fruit, often an apple or similar symbol, represents temptation, desire, and the choices that lead to growth or consequences. It reflects the idea of making decisions and the duality of choices, where every action has both positive and negative aspects.

• The Mountain: The mountain in the background symbolizes the challenges and obstacles that may lie ahead in a relationship or significant life choice. It suggests the effort required to overcome difficulties and reach a higher understanding or level of connection.

In Summary:

The Lovers card is a powerful symbol of relationships, union, and choices. It highlights the importance of alignment in partnerships, both romantic and otherwise, and reflects the need for harmony, commitment, and mutual respect. The card encourages you to make choices that reflect your true values, desires, and integrity. It can represent deep attraction, a soul connection, or the potential for a significant and lasting bond. The Lovers also invites you to consider the choices you make in life, and how they align with your higher purpose and moral compass. When reversed, the card may indicate conflict, indecision, misalignment, or unhealthy choices, urging you to reflect on the direction you’re taking in love, relationships, or life decisions.