Key Meanings

Upright

Deep connection, harmony, mutual attraction, meaningful choices, alignment of values, partnership, unity, romance, trust, commitment, soulful bonds, authentic love

Reversed

Disharmony, broken trust, avoiding choices, conflicting values, temptation, imbalance in relationships, being at odds with oneself, lack of communication, fear of commitment, codependency, feeling disconnected, infidelity

General Interpretation

Upright

The Lovers is Major Arcana card number six, and it's not all about romance! At the heart of the card is the concept of making the right choices. So when The Lovers appears in an upright position, it can indicate that you are making choices that are aligned. In other words, your head is in agreement with your heart. It signifies a union of two people, two ideas or two parts of yourself and coming into harmony. Everything should be in harmony when this card appears. Your values will align and your intentions will be clear. It also signifies that you are at a crossroads. The decision you have to make is significant and will affect the path you take in life.

Reversed

In a general context, The Lovers reversed can indicate some kind of disconnect. Something just doesn't feel right. It can simply mean that there is a conflict between what someone wants and what they are doing, or that two people in a relationship are not agreeing with each other. It can also signify avoidance, avoiding making a difficult choice because neither option is palatable. Perhaps you are being tempted by something that is not good for you but your heart is pulling you in a different direction. It can indicate that someone is having a conflict with themselves. The Lovers reversed can be a sign that someone is not being truthful with themselves about what they want, and that is causing problems in their life.

Love & Partnership

Upright

If you are in a relationship, The Lovers upright is a great card to get. It signifies a relationship based on mutual respect, strong attraction and shared values. Communication will be flowing easily and you will both feel understood. It can signify a couple becoming closer or more in tune with each other. It can also signify a major decision in a relationship, such as moving in together, getting engaged or deciding to commit.

If you are single, The Lovers can indicate that you will be meeting someone soon. Not just a fling. This is the type of meeting that feels different from the outset, you know when something just clicks. It can also indicate that you will make a choice in regards to love and may be getting more clarity on the type of partner/relationship that genuinely works for you rather than choosing from what's available.

Reversed

In existing relationships, The Lovers in a reversed position can simply indicate a rough patch. Trust may have been compromised or perhaps communication has broken down significantly. Or maybe you just don't feel like you are on the same page anymore. Your core values or goals may no longer align. The card can signify infidelity or temptation, but it's not a given. More often than not, it's nothing more than two people who have stopped putting the effort into their relationship.

For those who are single, The Lovers reversed can indicate that you may be repeating unhealthy patterns in regards to love. For example, pursuing the same type of person even though the relationship doesn't work out for you. It can also indicate that you may want intimacy but may be afraid of letting down your guard. There can be a disconnect between the qualities people say they want in a partner and the type of partner they actually go for.

Social Relationships

Upright

In terms of friendships and socialising, The Lovers upright usually indicates that you have some very supportive friendships within your social circles. These are the friendships where you can be completely honest with your friends. They show up for you and you show up for them. There is respect and genuine care. It also can indicate a time of high cooperation in group situations.

With regard to new social connections, The Lovers indicates that you will meet someone who you will connect with on a deeper level. Maybe a new friend with whom you share a similar outlook on life or a creative collaborator whose brainwaves are in sync with yours. There's a natural chemistry.

Reversed

In terms of existing social relationships, The Lovers in a reversed position can indicate disharmony. Perhaps a friend was not truthful with you or you have a disagreement over values. It can also simply indicate a friendship where one friend is putting far more into the relationship than the other. The inequity causes resentment.

For new social connections, The Lovers reversed can warn you to beware of misread signals. Someone may appear to be a great match for you initially...but their intentions are not what they appear to be. All flash and dash but no substance! It can also signify that you may be finding it hard to open up to new people as a result of previous social experiences.

Work & Career

Upright

The Lovers in a career context is all about partnerships and collaborations that work. Business partnerships where you share the vision. Team projects where everyone is rowing in the same direction. It can also signify a choice in terms of career, choosing a career path that aligns with your values rather than just choosing it for financial gain or status. When this card appears in a work context, it usually indicates your professional fulfilment and personal fulfilment are starting to align.

Reversed

Reversed in a career reading, The Lovers can indicate tension in the workplace or that a partnership in business may be turning sour. It can also signify that a job isn't quite right for you even though it may look great on paper. You may find that you are clashing with a colleague and can't find a way to resolve it. It can also signify that you are indecisive about a career move. You may be torn between taking the safe option and the option that you really want. You are so torn you can't even decide to take a step forward.

Money & Finance

Upright

Financially, The Lovers upright can simply relate to making choices with integrity. For example, your spending and saving choices may reflect what your true priorities are. Or you could be entering into a joint financial arrangement with someone and being upfront and fair with each other. It can also signify a financial decision that needs a balance between head and heart, such as investing in a company you believe in ethically even if a more lucrative investment is available. The main focus of this card is making sure your financial decisions align with what matters to you.

Reversed

As with the general meaning, The Lovers reversed in a financial context can indicate making financial decisions on impulse rather than using your head. This may take the form of arguments with your partner over money or making a financial deal with your partner that involves some form of deceit. The Lovers reversed in relation to money can also be a sign that you are making a financial decision that you know deep down is wrong, but you are going through with it anyway. Again, you are ignoring your instincts in relation to finance, which is not advisable.

Spirituality

Upright

Spiritually, The Lovers signifies the coming together of light and shadow, masculine and feminine, the conscious and the unconscious mind. You may be experiencing a sense of inner wholeness at this time as different parts of yourself finally start to collaborate instead of conflict. It also has links to sacred love, the belief that our relationships with the people around us can help lead us to our higher spiritual selves. Sometimes we connect to others because we need to connect to ourselves.

Reversed

When reversed in a spiritual context, The Lovers indicates that you are divided. There may be a disconnection between your beliefs and actions, or you may be finding that you have chosen a spiritual path that is not truly calling to you but instead one that you chose to please others. You may be struggling to trust your intuition. Your head says one thing, your gut says another, but neither voice seems to prevail. The Lovers Tarot card reversed can signify a time of spiritual questioning. This is not always a bad thing. Sometimes you have to lose your footing in order to find firmer ground.