Tarot Tid Bit: The Lovers

What’s on the Card?

The Lovers card shows a couple, presumably Adam and Eve, standing naked under the Archangel Raphael. The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (complete with a snake) stands behind Eve. The Tree of Life stands behind Adam. This tree’s fruits are twelve flames representing the twelve signs of the zodiac. A mountain (challenges) looms in the distance as the river we’ve seen in previous cards winds its way at the mountain’s foot.

What does it all mean?

Raphael is the angel of healing and compassion. What do you need when you’ve made the wrong choice? Frequently, you need healing and compassion. The trees behind our couple represent choices. The Biblical story of Adam and Eve describes the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil as the “wrong” choice while the Tree of Life was the “right” choice. But why call the card the “Lovers” and not “Decisions?” When the Tarot de Marseilles-style decks first appeared, divorce was not an option. The person you chose to marry was your spouse until “death do ye part.” You had to make a good decision as to who that person might be. Your spouse was probably the biggest single decision of your life. The Lovers card addresses decisions that have long-term consequences.

All of this is not to say that the Lovers can not reflect love and romance. It can, but it comes with choices that must be made as well. Afterall, Adam and Eve were a married couple. As with any other card, the context of the reading must be considered.

Interpretations: decisions with long-term consequences, more than one choice, trial and error, temptation, a companion or lover (remember, we choose these as well), romantic love

Comparative Tarot: Which of These Lovers Would You Choose?

Our first example is the Lovers card from the Wandering Star Tarot. Here we have a couple in love and standing under the full moon. They are in complete harmony and ready to face their decisions together as a team.

Next up, is one of my all-time favorite Lovers cards. Arcus Arcanum has a “Prince Valiant” feel to it. If you don’t know who that is, take a look at this example: Prince Valiant Comic Strip | Comics Kingdom. In this version of the Lovers, we are reminded of the decision-making process attached to this card. A couple approaches a crossroads together as a man and a woman arrive from separate paths. Both partners are free to choose whomever they wish. They can stay together or take one of the other potential partners. I like how this leaves the possibility of a same-sex partner for them as well. Polyamory? That's still another choice available to them.

The bottom card is from Gaurdian of the Night Tarot. In this illustration a Luna Moth floats above two snakes wrapped around a staff to create the suggestion of a Caduceus (the symbol for medical professionals). This implies healing and compassion just as the angel Raphael does in the Rider Waite Smith version. Below the staff, two scorpians are engaged in a mating dance. The female chooses her mate based on how well he dances. If he displeases her, she can decide to end the dance by killing him. Ahh, romance…
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Tarot Tidbits are short, hopefully informative, looks at the cards of the Tarot.