The Lovers is the sixteenth Path we encounter on the climb back up the Tree of Life. It reflects the return to Grace resulting from the Divine re-Union of apparent opposites.

A man and woman, wearing the velvet and ermine robes and the crowns of European royalty, come together at the apex of their respective Paths. They are bound together at the wrists by a golden cord, a traditional part of the marriage ritual. Between them they hold a Pueblo bridal pitcher illustrated with a sacred Thunderbird flying skyward. Their Union is blessed by the Archangel hovering above them.

In the foreground, the Lion of Fire (Leo) and the Eagle of Water (Scorpio) face each other across a winged egg (Mercury) around which is coiled the Serpent of Wisdom who guides us back up the Tree of Life. The Lion is the subconscious male (Yang) self of the woman. The Eagle is the subconscious female (Yin) self of the man. The space between the stairways represents the Abyss between the Material Creation and the Supernals -- the gulf we must cross if we are to return to the Supernal Eden -- and the alchemical marriage of our Yin and Yang selves is a necessary step in this process. The Archangel and the Winged Egg represent the active forces necessary to reunite our selves to our Selves in such a way that we can be reborn in Divine Grace.

The Three Pillars of the Tree of Life, somewhat masked, stand behind the happy couple, each capped by a Cherub. The Tree of Life is in the background on our left with the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil on our right, the serpent of the temptation coiled about it -- this is not the Serpent Nehushtan who leads us up the Tree of Life. Above, the bluebirds of happiness approach from both sides, nesting materials in their beaks.

In a reading, the Lovers may be passive or mediumistic inspiration, as opposed to the active forms of inspiration of the Hierophant, the Magician and the Hermit. Also, motive power and the action arising from Inspiration and impulse. Alchemical union compelled from without. Marriage blessed from Above.

The data strip shows that The Lovers is Atu number 6, allotted to the 17th Path of the Sepher Yetzirah and the Mutable Air Sign Gemini. It connects the Sephiroth Tiphareth (6) and Binah (3). The Lovers is also assigned to the Hebrew Letter ZAYIN whose gematriatic value is 7 and whose meaning is "armor." The Golden Dawn gives this card the musical note D above middle C.