Reversals, use 'em or not? Why?

[LisaT4P]

Reversals. Do you love 'em? Hate 'em? Use 'em, don't use 'em?

Why or why not?

There have been other discussions on this in the past (see the FAQ) but since we have a new batch of folks it might be nice to talk about it again.

[Vigdisdotter]

I find reversals to be useful; they provide another level of insight.

But I don't use them all the time. It depends on which deck I'm using. Same are quite adamant about all being upright.

I should mention that my usage of reversals is NOT as the reversed meaning of the upright card. Rather, I view reversals as indicating that the engeries/situation of the card is unknown or being ignored/repressed.

[Yticilef]

I use them purely as it extends the vocabulary with which I can interpret readings...
Yticilef

[brymble]

I can't imagine not using them, as the altered perspective they provide is so vital to how I read and coach with the cards.

[LisaT4P]

When I started reading cards I was adamant about using the reversals. How can you just dismiss 78 more meanings?

Then I was challenged to do an experiment where I read with only upright cards for a while, to see if it affected my readings. I was surprised to find that it really had no impact. I still saw "reversed" meanings where they were supposed to be.. call it weakly aspected or what have you, but it worked.

So, now I have a few older decks that still have reversals shuffled in, but when I get a new one I don't bother. If I happen to see a reversed card in a deck that I know I have not shuffled to have them that way, I pay more attention to it, but that is about it.

[Nachtigall]

I don't use them. But I work mostly with the Thoth Tarot, and reversals aren't meant to be used with this deck anyway.

[Chaos Hawk]

I do not use reversals. Some decks I have have separate meanings for them, others do not. I think there is enough cards in the deck to convey the message without them.

[Chronata]

Nope. Just can't do it. When there is good and bad and everything in between to be found in each card, I find that reversals tend to be limiting.
Or maybe I just never really got the concept of... here is the meaning, and when it's reversed here is an opposite meaning.

[aranarose]

I use reversals with the Revelations Tarot, because it is designed to use reversals. Other than that, I don't use them.

With the exception of round decks, where I use a sort of degree/turning system.

[brymble]

Nope. Just can't do it. When there is good and bad and everything in between to be found in each card, I find that reversals tend to be limiting.
Or maybe I just never really got the concept of... here is the meaning, and when it's reversed here is an opposite meaning.

I think that shows a rather limited and simplistic understanding of the rich depth of subtlety of interpreting reversals.

[PaganSpirit]

I do sometimes, but lately I've been reading more with just upright cards. I'm still very new to tarot, but I'm really starting to get the hang of it now, I'm interpreting cards more easily and I think I'm becoming more intuitive the more I practice.
Generally I find reversed cards a little confusing, which is why I've stopped for a while. I'd mostly been reading them as something being blocked or repressed, but every time I came upon a reversed card, all I'd be able to think of is my general interpretation of the card right-side-up, but blocked or repressed, and nothing really deeper than that. So for the time being I've taken a break from reversed cards, at least until I'm a little more experienced in reading.

[CheshireEyes]

Reversals. Do you love 'em? Hate 'em? Use 'em, don't use 'em?

Why or why not?

There have been other discussions on this in the past (see the FAQ) but since we have a new batch of folks it might be nice to talk about it again.

Like a wrestling move? :p :bow:

[Xander67]

Nope. Just can't do it. When there is good and bad and everything in between to be found in each card, I find that reversals tend to be limiting.
Or maybe I just never really got the concept of... here is the meaning, and when it's reversed here is an opposite meaning.

I consider the Tarot to be an Oracle. For me each card is like a letter of the esoteric alphabet. The 78 cards and their reversed counterparts make up a total of 156 letters (glyphs) in this cosmic alphabet so to disreguard one half of the letters is like gibberish. It takes the intended message and distorts it into something entirely different.

I have the utmost respect for everyone who takes up the work of reading for others and whether I agree or not with their methods, I respect their work and feel that they are giving of themselves to help others.

I do not do readings for others unless it is for someone I know or their friend who is in need of the indepth method of Divination that I use. The querrent (person I am reading for)
is contacting their higher self in the most sincerest and serious way and recieves a message from their higher self which I then give a complete detailed translation from the glyphyos to a language they can understand as it applies to their problem.

I practice Tarotology using Gnothology. Basicly what that is, is to contact the higher self and allowing it to speak through the cards. I use the Astrological, Numerological, and Qabbalistic associations of each card and then put it into context with the situation of the person I am reading for while also considering past and resent events.

I use two decks which I never touch except using the silk cloth to take them out of and return them to their box. This way my energies are not picked up by the cards and they are aways cleared before I return them to their storage box,

I use A 78 card rider waite deck. Which I hand to the person to play with and shuffle while they are talking to me about their situation. I use the Qabbalistic Celtic Cross spread. If four or more Major arcana cards appear in the reading that tells me that their higher self considers this message to be serious enough to warrant using the Malkuthian keys.

Once All ten cards are laid into position If four or more majors are present, I then Hand the person the Second deck of just the 22 major arcana cards which will complete the Malkuthian aspect of the spread.

There is a short ritual that is done before the reading involving lighting the appropriate candles and a short prayer done with both myself and the person reading their portion of the prayer.
Then the reading starts.

The entire process takes about two or three hours depending on the information coming through.

[cosmic89]

I have half the deck reversed and the other half not reversed, because I think it is better that way, not that I am good at reading them, but it helps

[LisaT4P]

here is the meaning, and when it's reversed here is an opposite meaning.And that's just it... it's not always opposite. :) And you CAN see the good and bad and even opposite in an upright card, at least that has been my experience.


I think that shows a rather limited and simplistic understanding of the rich depth of subtlety of interpreting reversals. I think that might be true of some folks who choose not to read them. If someone is new to the cards, they may not use them simply because to do so is overwhelming. I think all folks should make an effort. However, I know that Chronata is NOT a newbie (she has been reading for many years) and I'm sure she's at least made an honest effort to use reversals. Having seen many of her posts on another site, I can say that I don't think the lack of reversals has affected her abilities as a reader or deck creator in any way.


Like a wrestling move? :p :bow:Don't make me suplex you, dude.

[LisaT4P]

Xander, thank you for sharing your process and your understanding of how the cards work as an alphabet. That was fascinating! Way more involved and spiritual than what I do when I read. Using the second majors only deck is really interesting, too. If I had anything reallly important to ask, I'd be tempted to hit you up for a reading! :D

[Windsmith]

I use them with the Stained Glass Tarot, but not with the Victoria Regina, because it has an oriented deck, so I would always know which ones were reversed before I even started the reading, and I don't like the way that colors my interpretation.

I enjoy using reversals because of the way they force me to slow down and really look at the card to figure out what it's saying. But I don't feel I'm missing anything when I don't use them.

[hunter*]

I started out using reversals and stopped. I think my readings improved. I look, really look at the pictures now. I rely more on intuition, less on logic and memorized meanings.

[Xander67]

if you can utilize your intuition that is also good because the symbols on the cards are meant to connect with your psyche!

[Sparkles]

I always use reversals; I prefer to make use of as much symbolism and as many messages from each card that I can when I perform readings. Basically, I pretty much see a reversal as telling that the effect of the card could be far away but approaching, it could be blocked or prevented (or should be blocked or prevented) from manifesting, or it could be moving away or ebbing. But there are all kinds of shades and textures of meanings. I recently pulled The Tower reversed with my Welsh deck, which shows a tower being inundated by a tsunami, on a day when we were experiencing a nor'easter storm. Chaotic water falling from above, indeed!!

[Xander67]

OMG that noreaster was awesome! We still have january feb and march lol

[CheshireEyes]

OMG that noreaster was awesome! We still have january feb and march lol

yeah, you didn't hafta shovel a 500ft driveway, i'm betting!! _wedgie_

[Chicory_Witch]

Depends on the deck. I have a travel sized deck that uses reversals and he likes to throw them a lot especially if they aren't exactly positive. The jerk. :nuhuh:

[AncientFlame]

Yes, I do pay attention to reversals if they turn up in a reading. Like Vigdisdotter, I tend to regard reversals as energies/information that are being ignored/repressed.

[1111]

I use reversals with the Revelations Tarot, because it is designed to use reversals. Other than that, I don't use them.

With the exception of round decks, where I use a sort of degree/turning system.

Same for me on both of those decks.

Although, if it comes through reversed out of no where I will pay close attention to it.


I consider the Tarot to be an Oracle. For me each card is like a letter of the esoteric alphabet. The 78 cards and their reversed counterparts make up a total of 156 letters (glyphs) in this cosmic alphabet so to disreguard one half of the letters is like gibberish. It takes the intended message and distorts it into something entirely different.

I have the utmost respect for everyone who takes up the work of reading for others and whether I agree or not with their methods, I respect their work and feel that they are giving of themselves to help others.

I do not do readings for others unless it is for someone I know or their friend who is in need of the indepth method of Divination that I use. The querrent (person I am reading for)
is contacting their higher self in the most sincerest and serious way and recieves a message from their higher self which I then give a complete detailed translation from the glyphyos to a language they can understand as it applies to their problem.

I practice Tarotology using Gnothology. Basicly what that is, is to contact the higher self and allowing it to speak through the cards. I use the Astrological, Numerological, and Qabbalistic associations of each card and then put it into context with the situation of the person I am reading for while also considering past and resent events.

I use two decks which I never touch except using the silk cloth to take them out of and return them to their box. This way my energies are not picked up by the cards and they are aways cleared before I return them to their storage box,

I use A 78 card rider waite deck. Which I hand to the person to play with and shuffle while they are talking to me about their situation. I use the Qabbalistic Celtic Cross spread. If four or more Major arcana cards appear in the reading that tells me that their higher self considers this message to be serious enough to warrant using the Malkuthian keys.

Once All ten cards are laid into position If four or more majors are present, I then Hand the person the Second deck of just the 22 major arcana cards which will complete the Malkuthian aspect of the spread.

There is a short ritual that is done before the reading involving lighting the appropriate candles and a short prayer done with both myself and the person reading their portion of the prayer.
Then the reading starts.

The entire process takes about two or three hours depending on the information coming through.

Damn! :thumbsup:

[Corvis Canis Latrans]

Sometimes yes, sometimes no.

If I've deliberately put all the cards upright and still manage to get a reversed one, I do interpret it as a reversal...figure if it's reversed despite my efforts to the contrary, it's probably trying to get my attention.

[1111]

Sometimes yes, sometimes no.

If I've deliberately put all the cards upright and still manage to get a reversed one, I do interpret it as a reversal...figure if it's reversed despite my efforts to the contrary, it's probably trying to get my attention.

Exactly.

Mine are always upright, but then sometimes boom reversal and I go ohhhhhh---I see. :lol:

[WarriorZhanna]

I don't reverse my cards. It makes more sense to me when a card just pops out of the deck and falls reversed onto the ground (which is what happens sometimes), and then I can be sure that it's got a message for me and I pay more attention to it.
But mostly, I think that when you have chosen not to do reversals, the deck will still find a way to get negative meanings across with cards that are upright because not all upright cards are necessarily positive.

[RedCoil]

I can't read the cards, it's not one of my abilities; but I know that when I'm having the cards read for me and reversals turn up my heart sinks (rightly or wrongly). So I don't like them being used.

RedCoil :)

[Rev_Vesta]

Hi...
many interesting thoughts and opinions on using reversals.....

for me personally there is no right or wrong way to read reversals.. it really is a personal journey for each and everyone of us as readers.......

whether for ourselves or others... in a more indepth reading or a quickie daily reading......

for me personally.... it does not matter which deck I work with... if a card is reversed in a spread for whatever reason.... i look at the surrounding cards......( i normally link 3 cards together) the relationship between the three cards and intuitively know if it means either an opposite meaning, or more indepth perspective ........or something quite completely different.....

I don;t always read reversals... it really depends on what is needed for the client.... the message.......

[Boudicca]

My Arthurian deck was never meant to be read reversed and when I first began using it this was something I struggled with, feeling, as others have mentioned, that I was ignoring a whole other side to the interpretations. Having come from a traditional method of reading using the Raider Wait and having had lengthy experience using both aspects I no longer feel it a requirement to forcefully include reversals into the deck but I give them due consideration should they come up just as I do with cards that jump out during shuffling. I now consider more the position the card is placed in, in the spread and surrounding or supporting cards for an indication as to if I need to consider the negatives or repression of the energies also in the event of the suits I check to see how many others of that suit are in the reading and if it is a low amount and the card in question is in an unfavourable position I will consider it a reversal and read it accordingly. I find if a card is meant to be reversed it will find a way to make this fact obvious by either showing up upside down or being placed in an unfavourable aspect.

[aluokaloo]

yes i use them because there's no point in ignoring the unfavorable aspects of a reading. impo

[thought_on_a_wind]

depends on the deck... there are some decks I feel demand them, and others that I feel do not.