The Lovers Revisited
Harmony
of opposites
““One travels the path of lightning,
the other, the path of the serpent.
Despite the inevitable
collision of their meeting,
they reach out for one another.
Finally,
two who were once solitary
find completion and
harmony in their duality.
Their decision to become one
unifies the world
and they find truth
in each other,
and a new path
together.”
”
In another happy coincidence, this card falls at just the right time of year for me—between my anniversary and Valentine’s day (again when I originally posted this). Until this point, the cards in the Fool’s journey treated the masculine and feminine, light and dark, divine and material, separately, but here is where they finally come together in perfect harmony as The Lovers. In the Hermetic Tarot, it is known as ‘Children of the voice divine.’
The grounded figure represents the masculine principle and the conscious mind. The figure above represents the feminine principle and the subconscious. The wings on the figure above represent divinity. With their hand on the other’s cheek, they tilt their gaze upward towards the heavens. This illustrates the conscious mind passing through the subconscious to transcend to a place of enlightenment, or the super-conscious. She looks down to meet the lower figure’s gaze and descends towards material temptation. They are connected physically through touch and mentally/spiritually through their gaze. The arrow is a symbol of Sagittarius, which is the star sign that rules over Temperance—a card closely linked to this one. It is also emblematic of Cupid, the god of desire. The dormant volcano in the distance is symbolic of untapped passion and inevitable destruction. Strong partnerships are delicate and require balance.
This card is ruled by Gemini, the twins.
The Lovers is a card with a depth of meaning and can be read literally or more metaphysically depending on the circumstances. Literally it points to love, passion, temptation, and sexual union. At its core it represents strong connections, and harmony. This connection may be with a lover, friend, family member, or within yourself. It can also represent choices and balancing right and wrong. Love is a choice you make. When you decide to love someone you are deciding to always choose them. It asks you to consider the teachings of all the cards that came before it, but ultimately establish your own values to live by. Openness and honesty is as important in relationships with others as it is within yourself. Only when the way you feel is in balance with the way you act can you be truly happy and accept love. The Lovers may reveal that you have found that balance. However, not everything is black and white. You have to accept the dualities that life throws at you and find harmony between seemingly opposing forces. Overall I believe this card is a statement about the enlightenment that can only be found in love. No matter what you believe in there is no denying the power of love to heal, strengthen, and overcome obstacles. Love is pure magic created by the unification and harmony of opposites.
The reversed Lovers may reveal some discord or imbalance in your life, either internally or externally in your relationships. It asks you to focus on self love instead of placing too much value on love you may not be receiving from others. When faced with a difficult decision you may be tempted to abandon your ideals, but this card urges you to stick to your guns and be true to yourself even in the face of hardship.
