The Lovers card is one that people are almost always happy to see. Upright, it stands for a caring relationship that’s healthy and balanced, or possibly a healthy balance between aspects of your own personality. When you see the upright Lovers card, you’ll often think of the romantic relationships in your life, but this card can stand for any healthy partnership, including caring friendships or successful business partnerships.
This card can also represent relationships built on accountability, like when you buddy up with someone to help each other reach your health and wellness goals. At its root, The Lovers card is all about balance and choice.
When you see The Lovers card reversed, it can indicate conflict in your life. This could be inner turmoil or outer conflict in your partnerships. Do you feel like there’s an imbalance in some of your relationships, or are you more emotionally invested than your partner or vice versa?
On that same note, the reversed Lovers card could stand for a communication breakdown, or a lack of personal accountability. Have you been feeling like you’re not on the same page with the people in your life? Now might be a good time to sit down and discuss your mutual goals and expectations.
Reading this reversed card using the “blocked/restricted” meaning
Okay, let’s jump into the different ways you can read your reversed Lovers card. First, you can read this card using the “blocked/restricted” card meaning. When you read your reversed cards like this, you’re looking for a block standing in the way of the upright meaning of the card.
So, for The Lovers, this means something is standing in the way of a healthy relationship or healthy communication. Remember, this doesn’t have to be a romantic relationship. It can also stand for a friendship or business partnership.
Say, for example, you pull the reversed Lovers card when thinking about your job. You feel you’re not being supported at work and your professional relationships aren’t flourishing. What’s standing in the way of the work-life you want? Maybe there’s a particular supervisor you don’t get along with or an unsupportive colleague.
The reversed Lovers card can encourage you to think about your work relationships and who might stand in the way of your success. If there’s someone who isn’t supporting you, try to find a way to work with them that honors their needs and your goals. Communicating with coworkers and supervisors can be difficult, but if you want to improve your relationships, it’s your responsibility to take the first step.
Reading this reversed card using the “opposite” meaning
You can also read your reversed Lovers card using the “opposite” reversed card meeting. When you read your reversed card this way, you’re looking for the opposite of the upright meaning of the card. For The Lovers, this means the opposite of connection and communication – so an imbalance or misunderstanding in your relationships.
What if you pull the reversed Lovers card when thinking about your family? Perhaps you feel like you’re taking on a lot of responsibility lately. Maybe you’re charged with looking after your aging parents, and you have siblings that you don’t feel have been helping out.
Or maybe you have kids and you’re the primary caregiver. This allows your partner to focus on other things, but it can be draining for you! While it’s normal for one person to put in more effort than the other at times, it’s also important that everyone have space to grow and pursue their own goals, including you.
The reversed Lovers card can inspire you to sit down with your siblings or spouse and discuss how you can divide up the responsibility so that you all have time for yourself as well.
Reading this reversed card using the “worse” meaning
You can also use the “worse” reversed card meaning to read your Lovers card. When you look at your cards like this, you’re seeing the upright meaning of the card in a negative light. For The Lovers, this can mean that you’ve focused on a particular relationship to the exclusion of others, or that you’ve placed a commitment above other considerations in your life.
Say you pull the reversed Lovers card when thinking about a new friendship. Perhaps you’ve been enjoying spending a lot of time lately with this particular person, and you haven’t spent much time communicating with or seeing your other friends. New people and relationships have a way of captivating our attention, but the reversed Lovers card asks you to make sure that you aren’t exploring them to the exclusion of others.
Reading this reversed card using the “no/not” meaning
You can also read your reversed Lovers card using the “no/not” reversed card meaning. When you read your cards like this, you put a “no” or a “not” in front of the upright meaning of the card. For The Lovers, this means “no relationship” or “not equal and healthy communication”. When reading your reversed Lovers card this way, you can determine if your relationships lack balance. You can also ask what you can do to make sure you’re not putting in more than the other person.
Say you pull the reversed Lovers card when thinking about your love life. If you’re single and looking for love, you can feel compelled to go “all in” once you meet someone. You might also be willing to do almost anything to hold their attention.
The reversed Lovers card can remind you to be careful in this new relationship and think about how you’re being treated in return. If you’re putting in more effort and affection than your love interest, you’re not getting what you deserve. Unrequited love can be exhausting and heartbreaking, and the relationship won’t be fulfilling in the long run. If there’s no hope for this relationship, move on. You deserve to find a partner who appreciates and adores you!