Arcana 6 – The Lovers: Meaning, Kabbalistic Numerology & Tarot Insight

Arcanum 6 – The Lovers: Meaning, Kabbalistic Numerology & Tarot Insight

March 22, 2017

Arcana 6 – The Lovers in Kabbalistic Numerology

Meaning, Symbolism, Axioms, Correspondences & Divinatory Interpretation

The 6th Arcana, The Lovers, is one of the most profound mysteries in Kabbalistic Numerology and the Tarot. It reveals the eternal struggle between love and desire, virtue and temptation, and the human challenge of choosing the right path at life’s crossroads. This Arcana carries the vibration of balance, union, ethical choice, and free will, reflecting the tension between our higher consciousness and the impulses that pull us away from it.

The Esoteric Mystery of Arcanum 6 – The Inner Battle of Light and Shadow

Arcanum No. 6 reveals the eternal struggle between the Spirit and the Animal Beast, the tension between the higher self and the lower impulses that seek to dominate human consciousness. It is the cosmic conflict between God and the adversarial forces, expressed through the sacred geometry of the Seal of Solomon.

Within this symbol, the upper triangle represents the divine triad:
Kether, Chokmah and Binah — the resplendent Dragon of Wisdom, the radiant Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is the Immortal and Eternal Triad, the pure essence of the Inner Christ.

The lower triangle, however, embodies the Three Traitors, the antithesis of the Divine Trinity. These forces form the foundation of the Ego — the Black Dragon — which opposes the awakening of consciousness from moment to moment. They are:

The Demon of Desire
The Demon of the Mind
The Demon of Evil Will

These three forces betray the Inner Christ just as, in sacred allegory, Judas, Caiaphas, and Pilate betray the Master. They are the Three Evil Friends of Job, the inner assassins of Hiram Abiff, and appear across multiple traditions:

Christian Tradition: Judas, Caiaphas, Pilate
Egyptian Tradition: Apopi, Hai, Nebt
Masonic Tradition: Sebal, Orteluk, Stokin

Together, they constitute the lower triangle within the Seal of Solomon — the forces of temptation, illusion, and spiritual inertia — forever confronting the ascending light of the Divine Triad.

Arcanum 6 teaches that true victory is achieved through discernment, free will, and the conscious choice to align with the higher path.

The Symbolism of Arcana 6 – The Lovers

This Arcana traditionally depicts a man standing still where two paths meet. His gaze is fixed on the Earth.
Two women stand beside him:

On his right, a woman crowned with a golden halo — the personification of Virtue.
On his left, a woman crowned with a vine leaf — the embodiment of Tempting Vice.

Above them, the Genius of Justice hovers within a radiant halo, aiming the arrow of karmic consequence at vice.

This scene reflects the inner battle between passion and conscience, the crossroads of the soul where free will becomes our greatest test.

The Essence of Arcana 6

A chain of connection
Balance between opposites
Love versus desire
A bond between man and woman
The supreme affirmation of the Inner Christ and the negation of internal corruption
The struggle of choices that shape destiny

Kabbalistic & Esoteric Correspondences

Sephirah: Tiphereth
Hebrew Letter: Vau
Planet: Venus
Sign: Taurus (Hermetic Kabbalah: Gemini / Sense of Smell)
Esoteric Influence: Neptune in Pisces

Meaning of the Hebrew Letter Vau

Vau represents the operative cause that acts within a being.
It is the principle of the Word as efficient cause, the knowledge of Good and Evil, Natural Law, and the dynamic between vice and virtue.

Transcendent Axiom of Arcana 6

“You give me work, Lord, but with it strength.”

And the ancient teaching adds:

“Remember, Son of Earth, that for the common man,
the attraction of vice has more prestige
than the austere beauty of virtue.”

This Arcana is also summarised by the phrase:

“Indecision in the act of choosing between two paths.”

Divinatory Meaning of Arcana 6 – The Lovers

If The Lovers appears in a reading or within the karmic influences of your destiny, it warns you:

Be cautious with major resolutions
Obstacles may appear before the happiness you seek
Your will may waver between opposing forces
Indecision is more destructive than the wrong choice

The teaching:
A chain of flowers can be harder to break than a chain of iron — sweet temptations bind more than heavy burdens.

Predictions

Relationships between the sexes; privileges and duties
Conflicts, antagonisms of forces
Separations, divorces, breakups
Fulfilment of desires — some uplifting, others disappointing

General Meanings

Attraction, love, beauty, idealism
Doubt, indecision, emotional conflict
Affective relationships and duality
Union of opposites
Important choices
Paths diverging

Symbolic Keywords

Feeling, free will, adulthood, test, choice, chain, plot, embrace, struggle, antagonism, balance, combination, marriage, connection, union, creative polarity.

Message of the Arcana

This is a time of big decisions. Barriers must be overcome.
Good fortune favours the bold.

Spiritual Meaning of Indecision (Kabbalistic Interpretation)

Indecision reveals:

Our ability to accomplish tasks step by step
How we divide and channel energy
Whether our foundations are secure enough for growth

The Lovers teaches that basic structures must be established before we can invest in greater dreams. Only when your essential needs are met can you expand into new possibilities.

This Arcana brings a period where new options appear, giving you the chance to choose the path that truly fulfils you.

Current Influence (as a period)

You have recently stabilised your foundations. Now, you feel a thirst for life and new experiences.
Many options unfold before you — not confusion, but possibilities. You are opening a “fan” of choices, exploring until you discover the path that integrates your emotional, spiritual, and material fulfilment.

Cartomantic Interpretation (Traditional)

Voluntary decision
Election, vows, aspirations, desires
Examination, deliberation, responsibilities
Affective relationships

Spiritual Plane

Instinctive knowledge of right and wrong — the moral law guiding conscience.

Symbol: The Goddess Neith, archer and Virgin Mother of Ra, representing sagacity, science, protection, and the connection between desire and its realisation.

Mental Plane

Abstinence vs. gluttony
Freedom vs. necessity
Duty vs. right

The man stands between adolescence and adulthood, choosing between the established family (mother) and the future (fiancée). This is the transition from youth to maturity — a symbol of free will.

Material Plane

The determination of conduct, marriage or celibacy, abstinence or fulfilment.

Symbol: A boy at the apex of a pyramid, representing the Egyptian belief that pyramids channel and radiate energy — fertilising the Earth with power.

Arcana 6 in Different Tarot Decks

Tarot of Marseille (Camoin, Kris Hadar, Oswald Wirth)

A man stands between two women, while an angel (Cupid), in front of a solar disk, prepares to release an arrow.

This symbolism expresses:

Mental: Love for beauty and the arts
Emotional: Dedication and sacrifice
Physical: Desire, love, sacrifice for homeland or ideals

Positive Meaning

Union, marriage, attraction, overcoming trials.

Negative Meaning

Separation, rupture, divorce
Temptation, seduction, misconduct
Indecision, hesitation, impotence

Esoteric Worlds of Arcana 6

Divine World: Science of Good and Evil
Intellectual World: Balance of Necessity and Freedom
Physical World: Antagonism of forces; chain of cause and effect

Tarot Arcanum 06 The Lovers

The Lovers in the Rider–Waite–Smith (Card 6)

The Sun shines at its zenith.
Below, a winged figure pours divine influence upon Adam and Eve, who stand together in innocence.
Behind Adam is the Tree of Life (12 fruits).
Behind Eve, the Tree of Knowledge entwined with the serpent.

This depicts human love as a sacred path, the Covenant, and the mystery of Free Will.

Modern Interpretations

Attraction, love, beauty
Important decisions
Fidelity, unity, devotion

Reversed

Failure, bad choices, betrayal
Frustrated marriages
Setbacks of all kinds

Archetype & Higher Wisdom

Archetype: The Path of Separation
Objective: Union of opposites
Spiritual Meaning: Vision of richness in voluntary self-limitation
Shadow: Lack of focus and resolve

FAQs

Quintessence of Number 6

A loving path of clarity, trust, and conscious decision-making.

Q1: What is the meaning of Arcana 6 – The Lovers in Kabbalistic Numerology?
Arcana 6 represents the crossroads of free will, the tension between virtue and temptation, and the union of opposites. It expresses the spiritual challenge of making choices aligned with one’s higher path.

Q2: What are the Kabbalistic correspondences of The Lovers?
Arcana 6 corresponds to the Sephirah Tiphereth, the Hebrew letter Vau, the planet Venus, and the zodiac influence of Taurus (or Gemini in Hermetic Kabbalah).

Q3: What does The Lovers card mean in a tarot reading?
It signifies love, attraction, union, important decisions, and the need to choose between two paths. It may also indicate relationships, emotional choices, or integration of duality.

Q4: What is the reversed meaning of The Lovers?
Reversed, it warns of bad decisions, infidelity, separation, emotional conflict, or hesitation that leads to missed opportunities.

Q5: What is the spiritual message of Arcana 6?
It teaches that clarity of choice, balanced desire, and conscious free will lead to spiritual growth. It reminds us that indecision can be more harmful than making the wrong choice.