The Lovers VI in the 5-Card Spread with the Rider Waite Tarot

The Lovers as second card : Challenge / Obstacle
in the Rider Waite Smith 5-Card spread

In the opposition position, The Lovers reveal difficulty in making choices, inner conflict, or strong emotional ambivalence.

The consultant may feel torn between two directions, two people, or two world views.

Feelings may be confused, the heart and mind may not be aligned, or fear of making the wrong choice may be blocking progress.

This opposition may also reflect emotional dependence, excessive idealisation of the other person, or difficulty defining one’s own needs within a relationship.

The Lovers in opposition may also show attachment to an illusion, a refusal to take a clear position, or a tendency to want to please at all costs, at the risk of betraying oneself.

It is also possible that karmic issues or old relationship patterns are being replayed, making the decision difficult to make. This card invites you to ask yourself: ‘Am I being true to myself in what I am experiencing?’ or ‘What is really motivating my choice: fear, desire, loyalty, guilt?’ The opposition here highlights an inner conflict, sometimes paralysing, that needs to be addressed with clarity and courage.

The card calls for a conscious decision, aligned with personal values rather than external pressures or emotional illusions.

The Lovers as third card : Advice
in the Rider Waite Smith 5-Card spread

As advice, The Lovers invite you to listen to your heart honestly and make a conscious choice. This card encourages you to move towards what resonates deeply within you, even if it means leaving your comfort zone or taking an emotional risk. It asks you to question what is truly right and aligned with your values, feelings, and inner truth. It may be time to choose a path, a person, or a stance, without spreading yourself too thin or letting others decide for you.

The Lovers also encourage you to cultivate harmony in your relationships, clarify your expectations, and communicate authentically.

It is also an invitation to commit fully if the connection feels right, or to disengage respectfully if it no longer aligns with your path.

On a more personal level, this card may suggest bringing together the opposing parts of yourself — unifying the mind and heart, the shadow and the light — to find inner peace. It urges you to live in accordance with your romantic and spiritual values, to make your life an expression of true love, not dependence or fear.

In short, the advice is: choose with love, not by default.

The Lovers as fourth card : Outcome
in the Rider Waite Smith 5-Card spread

In the outcome position, The Lovers herald a union, a clear and committed decision, or successful inner harmony. The card therefore tends towards an emotional or moral resolution, where a choice has been made with clarity and alignment.

This may mean entering into a sincere relationship, consolidating an existing bond, or even resolving a relationship conflict.

The Lovers can also signal a happy partnership, whether romantic, professional or spiritual. The outcome evokes reciprocity, fruitful complementarity and an openness of heart.

On another level, this card may mean that the consultant will succeed in overcoming an inner duality, making peace with a part of themselves or their past, and finding a direction in life that is consistent with who they really are. This outcome speaks of a conscious, fruitful choice that is a source of fulfilment.

It can also symbolise a blessing: a moment of unity, shared beauty, or deep reconnection.

However, this card also reminds us that any union or commitment involves responsibility: the outcome will be positive if the decision has been made with full awareness and respect for oneself and others. It is a gentle but powerful outcome that celebrates the maturity of the heart.