Lovers Tarot

In most tarot decks, The Lovers tarot card has the image of a man and a woman, who are often times naked. In the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, this card has Adam and Eve with two trees, the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, including the Serpent. Above them is the sun and an angel, who is said to be Cupid. The Lovers card is also associated with the astrological sign Gemini, which is often seen as The Twins in other decks. The idea of making choices seems to be evident in the The Lovers card, which has always been portrayed in pairs: man and woman; Adam and Eve; and The Twins.

This card is also an embodiment of how opposites manage to find harmony. When caught in the whirlwind of love, most people are confronted by prejudice and fear. These are natural for human beings who tend to hang on to familiarity due to their fear of failure. But then, love is what often makes people braver than what they believe themselves to be. This is where the irony takes place -- when men are able to overcome every obstacle for their belief that another human being can complete them, an idea that contradicts their belief in individuality.

According to most interpretations, The Lovers card stands for choices and relationships. When this card turns up in a spread, it usually means that the seeker is bothered about his present relationship or a dilemma concerning two potential lovers. It may also mean that the seeker has found himself on a crossroad, where a person, challenge, or career may alter his direction. Often times, he finds himself diverging from his original plan despite the difficulties he encounters. Most tarot card readers advice seekers who encounter this card to trust their instincts and refrain from always staying on the safe side. In the event of uncertainty, it is often wiser to take risks rather than live a life full of regrets.