THE LOVERS - Astrological Associations

I continue my astrological exploration of the Major Arcana with Trump 6, The Lovers. The use of astrological associations with Tarot is completely up to the reader. This is merely intended to be interesting and fun.

Given the fact that Arthur Waite didn't assign astrological signs or planets to his major arcana cards, I have decided to replace the Rider-Waite card with the Thoth card in my Weekly Card series. I will also be using Aleister Crowley's astrological attributions, most of which are identical with those of the Order of the Golden Dawn. I apologize if my previous approach caused any confusion.

Thoth Tarot by Aleister Crowley

Like the Order of the Golden Dawn, Crowley's attribution for The Lovers is Gemini (The Twins), the third sign of the zodiac, a mutable Air sign known for being mentally facile, versatile, clever, and gifted in the ability to communicate. Gemini is ruled by the planet Mercury, planet of communication, intelligence, perception, and intellectual energy.

One World Tarot by Crystal Love

This deck associates The Lovers with the planet Venus, which traditionally rules the signs Libra and Taurus. Love explains: "Venus represents unity through sympathy and feeling. Venus balances, harmonizes, resolves, unifies. Venus is love, affection, and desire. Venus, above all, has a desire to unify opposites."

A.E. Thierens, PhD. (Astrology & the Tarot)

Thierens associates The Lovers, Trump 6, with the zodiac sign Virgo (Earth), the sixth sign of the zodiac. Virgo is ruled by Mercury. Thierens writes: "From the original meaning of the sign Virgo, the virgin matter of the cosmos or world-ether, to that principle which makes 'lovers' is rather a long step. . ." He proceeds to give what I would describe as a long, involved explanation that I do not wish to duplicate here. (Sorry, Dr. Thierens.)

The Celestial Tarot by Brian Clark

This deck links The Lovers with the zodiac sign Gemini, which Clark describes as: "the zodiacal sign representing our first encounter with another soul." He adds that the card "focuses on our balanced relationships, whether with a twin, soul mate, sibling, partner, or friend. The card reveals the need to be mindful of separateness and differing agendas within relationships."

The Mandala Astrological Tarot by A.T. Mann

Mann associates the Lovers card with the zodiac sign Gemini, sign of "diversity,multiplication, vitality, adaptability, instinctive mind, imitation, communication, duality, versatility, mobility, intelligence." Mercury, ruler of Gemini, is "the choice of creative self-expression and duality between oneself and others, and of the mind, as mediator between the physical and emotional bodies."

The Whispering Tarot by Liz Hazel

This deck links The Lovers with the zodiac sign Gemini, ruled by Mercury. Hazel notes that The Lovers card represents "choices in love and decisions about partnership matters. Considering ideas, discriminating between the pros and consequences of choices. Artistic talents. . . coordination, grace, dance. . . Developing a more sophisticated criteria for relationships through a better understanding of human nature and personal wants and needs."

The most common association seen in these examples is that between The Lovers and the zodiac sign Gemini, ruled by Mercury. Love's association of the card with Venus also seems appropriate, at least on the surface. It is interesting that Thierens chooses the sign Virgo, which (like Gemini) is ruled by Mercury.

I welcome your comments!

Zanna