Astrological Influence: Gemini
Key words and phrases: Choice. A new relationship. An important decision. Temptation. Reviewing an important relationship. A desire to share your life with another person. Torn between two lovers.
Commitment. Choosing which path to follow. Marriage. Union.
Symbolic Meaning
The Lovers card is a representation of human love. The illustration depicts a naked man and woman standing in a garden with the sun shining over a winged figure hovering above them. Behind the female figure is the Tree of the Knowledge of good and evil with the serpent coiled around it. Behind the male figure is the Tree of Life whose branches bear twelve flames, which may represent the signs of the zodiac.
The sun is a dominant symbol of creative energy, vitality, passion, courage, knowledge, intellect, truth and eternally renewed youth. It suggests
happiness, warmth and conscious awareness, and symbolises the energy that we have.
The winged figure signifies a Guardian Angel (possibly Raphael the Archangel), who gives the couple his blessing. Raphael is the archangel of healing and travellers. He wears the colours of early morning sunlight, and emanates green or yellow rays. The Archangel Raphael is an agent through which the will of God is delivered. Archangels are said to be androgynous, they bring loving kindness, protection and divine messages to humanity. They
The two naked figures standing in a garden has a connection with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The story of Adam and Eve represents them as being a couple of innocents who were totally unaware of their differences, sexuality, good or evil. When they ate the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge, which was forbidden by God, they gained a moral sense of good and bad, and became responsible for the corruption of human nature.
Nudity is linked with innocence and with the desire to be open and honest. However, it can relate to our self-image or self-expression, and the need to be seen for what we are, and not for what is assumed or communicated by the imagery of our mind.
The Tree of the Knowledge is so called because it bears the “fruit of
knowledge,” whether it is the knowledge of good or evil, or of life, wisdom or immortality.
The serpent or snake represents uncontrolled passion and suggests temptation, but also signifies our search for our spiritual nature. The snake has Satanic characteristics as depicted in the story of Adam and Eve, however, the Nassene Gnostics, who concerned themselves with esoteric mystical knowledge, honoured the snake as a liberating influence who helped to make Adam and Eve fully human by introducing them to the Tree of the Knowledge. According to Jung, snakes symbolise all that is totally
subconscious and instinctive, which can come into conflict with conscious attitudes. However, the subconscious and instinct borders on spiritual and unique wisdom, therefore, the snake can symbolise both evil and wisdom that overrides human morality.
The Tree of Life is a universal symbol of creation. It has its branches in the heavens, its trunk in our earthly world, and its roots in the waters of the underworld. It is seen as a way of accessing the mysteries of our spiritual life and our relationship with God, and links heaven to the earth.
On the whole, the naked couple suggests the youth, purity, innocence and love, before Eve tempted Adam with the apple, and contaminating life with material desire. Alas, the concept of original sin was born. We all have to face making important choices in our lives. However, the Lovers suggest that our choices should not be made lightly, as there is often more at stake than we realise. When we enter into a relationship we are attempting to unite
opposites. These two polarities must be gently brought together for harmony to prevail. We all have different traits, whether positive or negative, or some that we are even unaware of, until it is mirrored in our partners. When these aspects of our character are echoed back to us, we then become more self- aware of our traits. We must also be consciously aware of our choices and decisions, if not, complications could result if we choose wrongly. Therefore, self-awareness equips us to take responsibility for our decisions and enables us to become whole. Sometimes this card refers to a choice between two distinct paths that will need a decision as to which direction we take in life, whether it concerns our love life, job, travel, or any other path in life, which will mean our lives will change forever upon our decision.
The number six is associated with the Lovers, and is related to the six-pointed star, which signifies harmony and balance, and is a symbol of union and equilibrium. Six relates to our feelings and emotions, giving and caring, and looking after the health of others.
Gemini is the astrological influence of this card, which is the sign of
adaptability, flexibility, intelligence, eloquence and communication. They are sociable and light-hearted, although they can be changeable and too easily influenced. Gemini focuses on our immediate environment and all the physical and mental processes by which we determine our relation to it, such as
communication, family and education. It brings opportunities for travel, improving our standard of education, ability to attain honours, writing and publishing. Gemini also leads us to activity in transport, communication, spreading ideas, recording facts and with foreign countries. It denotes events
in the lives of brothers, sisters, close neighbours or friends. Gemini also signifies opposites and duality, and is associated with contact, communication and the intellect.
Interpretation
You need to think very carefully about something, and make up your mind as to which direction you want to take. Perhaps you have a crucial decision or choice to make, and are torn between your head and your heart because it is probably to do with a relationship. Possibly there are choices in love and an element of sacrifice is involved, for example, you might have to choose between two different people or you are with someone who will not make a commitment, or you are seeing someone who is already in another
relationship. You will have to weigh up the pros and cons of these decisions because the consequences could have a profound impact. Maybe things are not going according to plan and you are feeling trapped because you are in a dead-end situation or marriage, and feel that you have sacrificed your ideals or dreams, and now you wonder what on earth you are doing in this situation. In this scenario, this is probably a good time have a heart-to-heart talk and then decide whether you want to carry on or move in a different direction. You may even have a conflict between choosing a spiritual path and earthly
passion.
Whatever your choice or decision you are being offered a chance to get back on the right path, and you are likely to find the answer you want by listening to your intuition, rather than from outside sources. There might be unavoidable situations, or predicaments as a result of another, but you will come to the right conclusion when you have made your choice. Follow your heart.
On a brighter note, there may be happiness and harmony in your love life, and life in general. Perhaps it is the beginning of a romantic partnership, and there are bonds of mutual affection, attraction, desire and love. Maybe you have a new lover in your life, or a current love is growing stronger and stronger by the
day, or a love that had gone off the boil has suddenly become fired with passion. In business, joint ventures and partnerships will be profitable. You will receive financial backing and any investments will be protected. Whatever the situation, changes in relationships inevitably mean choices have to be made.
Negative
There may be unfortunate changes in your career or an upset in the family circle, due to your own restlessness or a lack of intelligent planning. Within a relationship there maybe one partner is who controlling the other emotionally or physically. Perhaps your love life has become boring or even non-existent. Maybe you have discovered that your partner is having an affair. It could be that you are separated from a lover and cannot put it out of your mind.
Perhaps there is trouble through slander or malicious gossip concerning your relationship.
People
Those who are in love. Those who have to make a choice of the direction they want to take with a situation or a relationship. A romantic partner. Those who bring people together to recover or introduce a relationship, such as, a
marriage counsellor, a mediator, a dating agent and a singles club agent, or it could be someone who has the qualities you lack. Those in jobs connected with travel, communication, the spreading of ideas and recording of facts.