The Lovers: The Power of Choice
When I first dove into tarot, I always took the Lovers card to indicate a steamy romantic relationship. In my 20s, I was always super excited to get the Lovers in a reading because I thought it meant a new chapter was opening for me relationally, but this view often served only to hurt me. I recognize now this was not at all accurate, one dimensional, and far from a nuanced view of the human experience indicated in this card.
Perhaps my view was limited because I had not yet uncovered the immense power of self-love and inner balance!
The Lovers may indeed represent a love affair, but it also may simply be our own inner marriage of conscious and subconscious, light and dark, and solar and lunar energies. We must dive fully into all of the symbolism this card provides in order to understand the bigger picture.
Symbolism and Interpretations
The Lovers is a complex and multi-layered card that represents the interplay between the conscious and subconscious mind, divine intervention, and the power of choice. Its message urges us to trust our intuition, make decisions that align with our values and beliefs, and strive for balance and harmony in our relationships.
The man and woman represent the conscious and unconscious minds, as well as the masc/Solar and femme/Lunar energies within each individual. The angel above them represents divine intervention and the presence of a higher power. The tree with the serpent represents temptation and the Fall of Man in the biblical story of Adam and Eve. The garden setting represents a paradise-like state of being, a place of purity and innocence.
Another interpretation of the Lovers card is that it represents a choice between two paths, a decision that must be made between the heart and the head. This choice can be between two people, two options, or two aspects of oneself. The Lovers card urges us to trust our intuition, to listen to our inner voice, and to make decisions that align with our values and beliefs.
Affirmation: "I chose to share love with myself and others."
Keywords: Choices, Relationships, and Harmony.
Reflection Questions:
Am I open to receiving guidance from a higher power or my intuition?
What decisions in my life am I currently facing that require me to choose between my heart and my head?
What values and beliefs are important to me, and how do they influence my decision-making process?
How can I create balance and harmony in my relationships, both with others and with myself?
What is a choice you have made recently that created harmony for you?
In what way could you advocate for yourself in a relationship to bring it in to better alignment?
Here in the Living LUNA community, our theme for April is “Sowing the Seeds of Curiosity!” Throughout the month of April, we'll explore the journey of the Fool alongside the symbolism of the Major Arcana cards from Tarot. Each archetype offers opportunities for self-reflection! Follow along or participate in our community by joining our Discord server at: https://discord.gg/5UkGZb9kYp
