Lovers as External Influences (Upright & Reversed) Tarot Card Meaning

The Lovers is the card of love, relationships, passion, desire, and choices. Ruled by Gemini (the Twins), the Lovers speaks to the duality of unity: yin and yang, masculine and feminine, heaven and earth. The Lovers show that perfect union is possible. You can find your soulmate. 

The Lovers feature Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, with the archangel Raphael looking upon them from above. There is the serpent’s temptation on one side, and burning desire on the other. Raphael unites the couple, as he is the angel of communication. Although the world the Lovers inhabit is not perfect, they are each other’s other half.

Upright Lovers as External Influences

If you are asking about external influences, and you draw the Lovers, it means that relationships, choices involving deep emotional commitments, or the influence of significant partnerships are currently shaping your situation. This card highlights the importance of harmony and the balance between opposing forces, suggesting that the choices you make now, especially those involving close relationships, will have profound effects on your path. It’s a reminder that these decisions should be approached with care, considering both the heart and the mind.

The Lovers as external influences can represent people such as romantic partners, close business associates, or anyone with whom you have a significant, decision-influencing bond. These relationships are characterized by deep connections and mutual respect, where decisions are often made together, impacting both parties’ futures. Their influence in your life serves as a catalyst for growth, pushing you to consider not just your own needs but the shared goals and values that bind you.

If you are asking about a romantic relationship, the Lovers as external influences means that the relationship is at a pivotal moment requiring mutual understanding and decision-making. This could involve choosing to deepen the commitment, facing challenges together, or making decisions that will affect the relationship’s future direction. The presence of this card underscores the importance of open communication and honesty, ensuring that both partners are aligned in their intentions and desires.

If you are asking about an ex, the Lovers in the external influences position means that unresolved feelings or the impact of that relationship is still influencing your current emotional landscape. This could manifest as lingering affection, unresolved issues, or the need for closure. It’s an indication that processing these feelings and learning from the relationship can provide valuable insights and emotional growth, helping you to move forward more fully.

If you are asking about a friend or family member, the Lovers in the external influences position means that the relationship with this person is facing a significant decision or turning point that affects both of you. This could involve making choices about how to support each other, resolving conflicts, or deciding the future course of your relationship. The situation calls for a thoughtful consideration of what each of you values most deeply in the relationship, fostering a decision that honors both parties.

If you are asking about career and financial matters, the Lovers in the external influences position means that partnerships or choices aligned with your values are critical to your success and fulfillment. This may indicate a need to choose between job offers, business partnerships, or financial decisions that reflect your personal ethics and long-term goals. The Lovers card encourages you to follow a path that not only promises material success but also resonates with your core beliefs and values, ensuring a more satisfying and integrated approach to your career and finances.

Lovers Reversed as External Influences

If you are asking about external influences, and you draw the Lovers reversed, it means that disharmony, misaligned values, or challenges in communication are affecting your situation. This can indicate a time where relationships or decisions that once seemed in perfect alignment are now sources of tension or confusion. It suggests the need for introspection and honest communication to address these disparities, emphasizing the importance of realigning with your core values and seeking resolutions that honor your true self.

The Lovers reversed as external influences can represent people such as estranged partners, conflicted collaborators, or individuals with whom you have a significant disconnect. These relationships may currently be marked by misunderstandings, a lack of mutual understanding, or fundamentally different goals or values. The presence of these individuals in your life challenges you to consider how and if these relationships can be mended or if they serve your highest good in their current state.

If you are asking about a romantic relationship, the Lovers reversed as external influences means that there are obstacles to harmony, possibly due to miscommunication or differing goals. This period may reveal cracks in the foundation of the relationship that require attention and effort to repair. It is a call to open the lines of communication, to honestly express needs and desires, and to work together to find common ground or amicably acknowledge irreconcilable differences.

If you are asking about an ex, the Lovers reversed in the external influences position means that lingering issues or unresolved conflicts from the relationship are causing current disruptions. This might manifest as difficulty moving on, recurring arguments, or the shadow of past disagreements affecting new relationships. Recognizing and addressing these unresolved issues can be crucial for emotional healing and moving forward.

If you are asking about a friend or family member, the Lovers reversed in the external influences position means that differences in values or beliefs are straining the relationship. What once was a source of unity may now be a point of contention, requiring both parties to navigate these differences with empathy and respect. Finding a way to appreciate diverse perspectives or agreeing to disagree may be necessary to preserve the bond.

If you are asking about career and financial matters, the Lovers reversed in the external influences position means that misalignments or ethical dilemmas with partnerships are challenging your progress or integrity. You may be faced with decisions that test your values or find yourself in partnerships where goals and methods diverge from your ethical standards. This scenario calls for a reevaluation of these relationships and possibly making tough choices to ensure that your career and financial dealings align with your personal integrity and long-term visions.

Conclusion

For relationships and feelings, The Lovers is a paramount card. The Lovers speaks of a soulmate relationship with a perfect union under heaven and earth. True love is real, and it is extraordinary. It is not just for the storybooks. This card also teaches us that this love is only possible through excellent communication and a shared understanding. Raphael hangs heavily over Adam and Eve, as their guardian angel of communication. Finally, the Lovers reminds us that just as you want to be loved by another, make sure that you love yourself too. 

If you find yourself needing further clarity in your relationship matters that go beyond reading for yourself, Sibyl offers unlimited tarot readings on love & relationships, as a neutral and objective third party.