The Lovers Tarot Card: Meaning, Symbolism, and Message
The Lovers is card six of the tarot, the symbol of relationships, choices, and alignment. Explore its upright and reversed meanings, symbolism, and message.
The Lovers is one of the most recognizable cards in the deck, and one of the most misunderstood. Numbered six in the Major Arcana, it certainly speaks to love and connection, but its deeper theme is choice: the kind of decision that asks you to know what you truly value.
The image and its symbolism
In the Rider-Waite-Smith image, a man and woman stand beneath a great winged angel, often read as the archangel Raphael, who blesses them from above. Behind the woman grows the tree of knowledge with its serpent; behind the man, a tree of flames. The sun blazes overhead.
The picture layers union and choice together. The two figures are connection and partnership. The angel is a higher blessing, a reminder that real union has a spiritual dimension. The two trees recall the choice in the garden, the moment of deciding. The Lovers is not only about who you love, but about what you choose and why.
Upright meaning
Upright, The Lovers speaks of:
- Relationships and deep connection
- Harmony and alignment between people
- Meaningful choices made from your values
- Union, balance, and mutual respect
When it appears, it can signal a relationship deepening, but it can equally mark a crossroads where you must choose in a way that honors who you really are.
Reversed meaning
Reversed, The Lovers can point to disharmony or imbalance in a relationship, to values out of alignment, or to a difficult choice avoided. It may be a nudge to look honestly at where a connection, or a decision, has drifted away from what matters most to you.
A famous admirer
Tarot’s language of love and longing has long drawn musicians. Lana Del Rey, who often references tarot and mysticism in her work, has spoken about pulling cards, and the deck’s romantic symbolism echoes through the dreamy, fated imagery of her songs. The Lovers, with its blend of devotion and destiny, sits right at home in that world.
A closing thought
The Lovers reminds us that connection and choice are entwined. To love well, and to choose well, you first have to know your own heart. For the bigger picture of the cards, see our beginner’s guide to tarot, or carry symbols of connection with you from our collection.
Frequently asked questions
What does The Lovers card mean?
The Lovers represents relationships, harmony, and meaningful choices. It points to deep connection and to decisions made in line with your true values.
Is The Lovers always about romance?
Not always. While it often relates to love and partnership, The Lovers is also about any choice that asks you to honor your values, and about union and balance more broadly.
What does The Lovers mean reversed?
Reversed, The Lovers can suggest disharmony, imbalance, or a choice made out of line with your values. It may point to conflict in a relationship or to inner indecision.