The sun shines in the zenith, and beneath is a great winged figure with arms extended, pouring down influences. In the foreground are two human figures, male and female, unveiled before each other, as if Adam and Eve when they first occupied the paradise of the earthly body. Behind the man is the Tree of Life, bearing twelve fruits, and t he Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil is behind the woman; the serpent is twining round it. The figures suggest youth, virginity, innocence and love before it is contaminated by gross material desire. This is in all simplicity the card of human love, here exhibited as part of the way, the truth and the life. it replaces, by recourse to first principles, the old card of marriage, which I have described previously, and the later follies which depicted man between vice and virtue. In a very high sense, the card is a mystery of the Covenant and Sabbath.
The suggestion in respect of the woman is that she signifies that attraction towards the sensitive life which carries within it the idea of the Fall of Man, but she is rather the working of a Secret Law of Providence than a willing and conscious temptress. it is through her imputed lapse that man shall arise ultimately, and only by her can he complete himself. The card is therefore in its way another intimation concerning the great mystery of womanhood. The old meanings fall to pieces of necessity with the old pictures, but even as interpretations of the latter, some of them were of the order of commonplace and others were false in symbolism.--A.E. Waite
It is very significant that almost every sentence in this passage seems to reverse the meaning of the previous one. This is because reaction is always equal and opposite to action. This equation is, or should be, simultaneous in the intellectual world, where there is no great time-lag; the formulation of any idea creates its contradictory at almost the same moment. The contradictory of any proposition is implicit in itself. This is necessary to preserve the equilibrium of the Universe.
The key is that the Card represents the Creation of the World. The Hierarchs held this secret as of transcendent importance. . . . The subject of this card is Analysis, followed by Synthesis. The first question asked by science is: "Of what are things composed?" This having been answered, the next question is: "How shall we recombine them to our greater advantage?" This resumes the whole policy of the Tarot.--Aleister Crowley
In readings, Card 6 often refers to a relationship that is based on deep love - the strongest force of all. The relationship may not be sexual, although it often is or could be. More generally, the Lovers can represent the attractive force that draws any two entities together in a "relationship" - whether people, ideas, events, movements or groups.
Card 6 has an additional meaning. It can stand for tough value choices and the questioning that goes with them. In some decks, the Lovers shows a man torn between two women - a virgin and a temptress. This love triangle symbolizes the larger dilemmas we face when we are tempted between "right" and "wrong."--Joan Bunning
The beautiful young Lovers are united in a garden under the sun. They are soulmates, as harmonious as the Gemini twins. They have discovered themselves as individuals and made the choice of mate unique to their own personalities. . . . [A] choice has been made and perfect harmony between masculine and feminine has been accomplished. The love they share has created a third entity, a bond so strong and secure that there is no need or room for anybody else in this intimate world they have created. As with all choices, the Lovers will find new responsibilities. Eros has shot the arrow and nothing will be the same again.--Susan Hansson
Flesh and Bone IMHO The Vision
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