The Lovers & Gemini
Key 6 in the Major Arcana, The Lovers, corresponds with the third sign in the Astrological Zodiac, Gemini. Wait, Gemini? Not the sensuality of Taurus? The sultriness of Scorpio? Well, those are aspects of being a Lover, indeed, but without Gemini, and its corresponding planet Mercury in the picture, intimate relationship with others, or within oneself, would never get off the ground.
Seasonally, Gemini corresponds to the time of spring here in the Northern Hemisphere where young creatures who’ve survived through Aries season and the blossoming of Taurus season have the maturity and curiosity to explore their world and one another. That curiosity, and the need to be present and attentive to truly satisfy that curiosity, is paramount to healthy Gemini energy.
Being curious, present, and attentive to another, to have another be curious, present and attentive with you. To nurture attentive presence within yourself - just take a moment to recall moments when you have felt in touch with these. See how loving that feels?!
When we see the Lovers card in the Rider-Waite deck we see two human figures and an angelic figure between. In the old Marseille deck, we see three humans, and an angel above. There are many ways to interpret these, but as I am focusing on the relationship of the Lovers card to Gemini I am looking at this primarily from layers of communication and the Gemini ability to move between multiplicities. Mercury (Ἑρμῆς, or Hermes in Greek) was the divine messenger able to between the Upper World/Olympus (home of the gods), Middle World/Earth and the Underworld/Hades. What an ability to be present to so many kinds of worlds, and communicate so many levels of information! The ultimate translator. Each person we encounter is in some ways their own world, and going between their own layers of experience of upper world/middle world/and underworld journeys.
With all of this attending energy, one thing to watch for with the Lovers card, and the energy of Gemini/Mercury is losing sight of oneself of being with others. Shuttling back and forth between self and other, or between parts of self, is important to keep clear that you are you, and I am me. This is not the Piscean energy where those meld together, though these are good examples of the common mutable energy that both Gemini and Pisces hold.