Introduction

It’s almost inevitable that the heroes in our stories be caught up in the ways of love, and so does the Fool, as indicated by the next card in his journey, the Lovers card. At once exciting, frightening, confusing and mysterious, love gives us different stories for every time it touches us, and when it is done with us, for better or worse, we are never the same again.

Stories

It can be very confusing to know what’s right or wrong when you’re caught in the throes of romantic love! That’s a very good reason why this card is associated with the zodiac sign Gemini. The general idea is that two people, forces unto themselves, decide to spend their lives together, and the process of them adjusting to one another can sometimes be likened to magnets attracting and repelling one another. Sometimes it ends well, sometimes it doesn’t. But it is a universal experience, one we share with fellow human beings, and by the lessons we learn from our own experiences as well as the stories we hear from other people, we learn more about ourselves, our fellow human beings, and how we can improve ourselves to love both ourselves and others better. Those who are unfortunate and separate may eventually find someone else to do this dance with, unless they have decided that it is a time of their lives that they do not need to go through again. Those who have found their life partners go through this cycle with each other over and over again, until they are both refined by each other to reach their individual full potential.

General Meanings

This card tends to mean choices that need to be made using intuition and not intellect. Since this is a Major Arcana card, it implies those decisions may be difficult and have substantial impact. These decisions may not necessarily be about love, but involve commitments or situations about creativity. More importantly and more obviously though, it’s about the various challenges of relationships, whether love or not – and how they impact the people in it, whether they love/care for each other only superficially, honestly or deeply.

Imagery

In the traditional Rider-Waite deck, the Lovers are depicted as a nude man and woman in an open field, with a mountain at the background and one tree behind them each. Their nudity symbolizes their honesty – they do not have to hide anything. An angel apparently seems to be blessing them from the heavens; we can take this to symbolize that divine forces are working with and through them as they grow together in relationship. In other depictions, the couple are still there, but frequently there is also one other person mediating. What is going on? Why aren’t the Lovers left alone? Thing is, in a relationship, three stories unfold at the same time: each partner’s version, and the version everyone else sees. This is only the beginning of how the stage of life represented in this card can get confusing. However, there’s no need to worry – as long as both work together to complement and support one another, both parties can achieve fulfillment both in their relationships and in their individual lives!

Interpretations in Various Areas of Life

Work

Is something turning into a “he said – she said” argument? Or is the querent at a crossroads about choosing between two sides of a situation? Take a cue from the card and look to the higher powers for guidance. Of course, this could also mean love in the workplace, whether it’s a romantic or a higher platonic nature, which can be natural as it develops spontaneously as two individuals go together the same trials and experiences. The other cards in the reading can help bring light into which is which.

Love

If the querent was asking if their romantic partner was for real, then there’s no greater positive affirmation than this card! This is the epitome of the la grande amour everyone yearns for. Of course, this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s happily ever after. Outside of the movies, true love goes through cycles as a couple grows individually through and with each other, and the best kind of love relationship involves a couple surviving all odds, changing, evolving, and growing into better versions of themselves through trials.

Finances

There is wisdom in not putting your eggs in one basket, but then putting your eggs in too many baskets is also a thing. Focus your efforts on a handful you can truly watch over prudently. Are you investing according to your mind or your heart? Doing the latter does not do harm for as long as you’re doing it with your eyes open – meaning you know exactly what you’re doing as you take your risks.

Health

This card indicates that all the querent may need to address health concerns is to surround themselves with people who love them. It’s likely that any health problems are psychosomatic and stem from buried issues the person in question is refusing to face. It would be a great time for them to start introspection on what changes they can implement that can holistically address these issues, as well as make changes to their daily life to help alleviate any health issues.

Spirituality

The path of the person in question seems to be rooted in living everyday life in laughter and love, which is pure and uncomplicated. Love yourself well, and share it with the people around you!