I confess – I don’t usually read Tarot cards reversed. I always shuffle my deck so that all cards remain upright and if by chance a card happens to be reversed, I turn it right side up.
Why? Because I feel that incorporating reversals often adds unnecessary messiness and confusion. It’s like watching a foreign movie that’s dubbed and then trying to read lips and translate the other language and compare it with the language you heard to see how it matches up. Arrrgghhh!
Maybe that’s a bad analogy…but you get my drift! You don’t want to make extra work for yourself if you don’t have to. But having said that….
A few Tarot pros – namely Mary K. Greer and Radleigh Valentine – have inspired me to try reading with reversals. And you know what? It’s FUN!!!
So why read Tarot cards reversed? For starters, it adds a new dimension to your readings and it spices things up. It’s like adding a pinch of cayenne to your reading (or a red lacy thong).
When should you read with reversals?Ā Only when you are totally bored of reading your Tarot cards upright. When that no longer feels challenging for you, its time to consider incorporating reversals. However, if you are just learning Tarot or still find it challenging enough, don’t bother with reversals, it will just make your head hurt!
Okay, so here’s the BIG question: How do I read a reversed Tarot card?
In 21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card, Mary K. Greer describes 13 different ways to read Tarot reversals. Such as seeing a reversed tarot card as blocked, unavailable, unconscious, overturned or changing direction (to name a few).
So there isn’t just ONE way to read a reversal. You can experiment and see what fits best (and I will be writing more about this in future blog posts).
But if you are brand-new to reading Tarot reversals, its best to start with a simple approach so you don’t drive yourself bat-shit crazy.
When I was at Doreen Virtue’s Certified Angel Card Reader workshop in April, co-teacher Radleigh Valentine explained reversals this way:
When a Tarot card is reversed, it simply means that you need to pay extra attention to that card. The card’s message is just that much stronger. So if you do a reading and one or two cards are reversed, you would give special emphasis to those reversed Tarot cards.
For example, lets say you get The Empress upright in your reading. The message may be that your sense of creativity and abundance is at an all time high. Yay! But if you get The Empress reversed it means holy shit! You need to pay attention to your creative yearnings because this is IMPORTANT!!!!
So by now you might be thinking well which is it? Do I read reversals as “blocks” or do I read them with “emphasis”?! Give me something solid I can go on here.
Here’s a super-juicy secret about reading Tarot cards:
You communicate to your deck how you will read with it, not the other way around.
Next time you do a reading, shuffle the deck so that at least 1/4 of the cards are reversed. Hold your deck in your hands, close your eyes and mentally tell your deck that you intend to read the reversed Tarot cards in the same way you would if they were upright, only with a stronger emphasis.
Now your deck knows what language to use when communicating to you.
So you don’t need to worry that you are wrongly interpreting the reversed cards. If you intend to interpret them that way, you are doing it right. So don’t be thinking “but what if it is actually indicating a block?” It isn’t. Unless you intend that all reversed cards symbolize blocks.
So once you’ve got your reversed card (or cards) in front of you, try reading it upright first and then reversing it again. Notice how reversing it changes the vibe or meaning for you.
In the comments below, tell me what reversed Tarot cards you got when you tried this. How did it deepen the reading for you? Do you normally read reversed cards? If so, what is your method?
I’m new to reading but when I get reversals the first impression I get is I’m looking at the card the way the person I’m reading for should focus on. In a sense it makes the meaning of the card more obvious for me then if it were just upright.
For example I got The Hermit reversed for what my fiance should focus on today. When I looked at it upright I was like, “Okay..what does this mean exactly?” Then when I flipped it back to take a look suddenly I understood better what it meant. So for me I feel like for now, since I just started reading, reversed cards are helping me interpret the meanings more clearly.
That’s fantastic Audrey – thanks for sharing your perspective on this š
Thanks for the tip about communicating with the deck! I am just learning, and throwing reversals in has been a bit confusing to me. I think I’ll stop for the time being, but I think that’s going to be handy in the future!
Hello Kate. I’m a teenager and I was wondering if there was an age restriction against buying tarot cards. Please respond š
Hi Mady,
As far as I know there is no age restriction. I know on some Tarot readings sites they won’t read for people under 18, but i don’t think there’s any restrictions when it comes to learning Tarot!
Good luck š
Kate
Thank you! First for your cool (accessible) tone, and then for sharing Radleigh Valentine’s take on reversed cards. I now feel inspired to let ‘er rip, up or down, in any deck I use — not stumbling through new or confusing interpretations, but simply increasing my attention to reversals.
Chet, I’m so glad I’ve freed you up to experiment with reversals š
Happy Tarot Reading!
Kate
I did a reading for a friend recently (and I think she’s a skeptic but she claims otherwise) and she prefers to look up the card meanings herself even though I am very familiar with most. She pays extra attention to reversed meanings and in the last reading I did for her I saw her deliberately spin a card hoping I wouldn’t notice. What kind of effect does this have on her reading? Should I have read the reversed card as if it was upright? And what effect does her skepticism have? Are readings only successful for people who have faith in Tarot? I feel as though I should have called her on her BS, but she has always been the type to criticize if she thinks you are doing something wrong, even if she has no knowledge on the subject.
I don’t know, it just frustrated me and made me lose confidence in my new skill and I figured that since your blog has helped me out SO much during this exciting adventure in my life, I would ask a professional! Thanks for all your passion for such a FUN field!
I’ve never understood the fear that comes with reading cards in reversed. Reversed cards are no different than regular cards. You have your positive cards and you have your warning cards. For instance: the moon upright warns you against deceptions and to follow your intuition; the King of Pentacles reversed warns you that you may be dealing with someone unfair, dishonest, or untrustworthy, and to make sure you understand the terms of a contract.
I asked what are the obstacles in my relationship. I got 10 of cups reversed which tells me that we need to focus more on the good things in life,and appreciate what we have more than usual. 4 of cups which tells me that I was being offered something I didn’t want(which is true) and that I shouldn’t disgard it straight away without thinking about it first. I also got the hermit which tells me that us being apart (me at my place and she at hers) is a good thing,that we both need this time before getting too comfortable with each other where we just in it for the sake of it.
Close?
Finding strength within the cards.
Hi Kate:)
Nice disscution about the reversed cards, I had alsow an experience ,I wanted tot know what will happen in my life when in come about love, did V. has reals reals feelings for me and if we ever be together?, it will be another man in my life? and the cards are : the hermit 3 of cups reversed and temperance. Shoud I understand that it is over for good? 3 of cups reversed coud mean that Iā m the 3 th person ? And the temperance sugest that I can find another man by being patient, and not rush in to anything befor thinking carfoully? Thanks for the advice and have a verry nice day:)!!
I would read your cards to say there is an event you’re going to that you’re not really going to enjoy,there will also be a lot of drinking going on & that there is going to be some kind of health issue that will turn out to be ok.reading reversals is just as important as reading upright.
I usually don’t use reversed, although my local group of tarot readers has an experienced reader who is all for it. So I tried it, related to a work situation, rephrasing my question from ‘what is going to happen’, to ‘how can the situation work for me’.
I drew the 9 of Pents reversed, the Magician upright, The World upright and the ten of cups upright.
So the way I see it I have to let go, (I’ve been too scared to make a decision about this small venture), use the resources I have and make a decision so things will go well and settle down.
What do you think, Kate?
Thanks for all the interesting articles.
Hi Sue,
I like your interpretation – the 9 reversed does seem to be urging you to take a risk – especially with the Magician upright. I see the 9 of pentacles as a really relaxed, comfy card and you reading seems to be telling you to not let the desire for comfort and familiarity stop you from moving ahead.
Good luck!
Kate
Hi Kate, I am a new to Tarot and this site, but I wanted to share that I do use reversals as it implies to me that there is something more to learn in that area of my life. Kind of like I’m not quite there yet…April š
I’ve always been horrified to read the reversed cards, just because I’ve always seen them as Negative or denoting bad luck and failure [show me a reversed Cups and you’ve got one worried individual]. Perhaps I should try telling my deck that, I confess I’ve been reading them since I was 14 [I’m 23 now] and I stopped for a few years because I’ve been too scared to read them. My experience with my deck is that it tells me what I need to know sometimes, and not what I want to know [because it’s more important for me to pay attention to their message than my own personal frivolities].
And, for instance right now, I feel that I have too much in my life to lose that I don’t want bad news [which is probably silly, because I’m the only one who can ruin this for me. Don’t think my Fiance is going anywhere, but I’m paranoid.]. I’ve been easing back into reading them, with one card readings, and they’ve been supportive of my schooling and even pursuing a photography business. Maybe I’ve been too negligent or harsh to them in the past. I think they missed being used and I”m trying to not be freaked about it. I digressed greatly in this, but would you have any advice? Should I tell the cards how I feel about all the stuff [the paranoia and fear, namely] so they can understand how to communicate with me? Because I do miss them. :c
Hi Kate. Thanks for introducing this topic. I don’t read with reversals either, and never have. Every time I’ve tried, it seems too easy to bring confusion and ambiguity in interpretation. I’ve also found that seeing a card reversed tends to scare some clients. For me, all the possible meanings are implicit in the upright card. It’s up to the reader and client together to discuss what the cards are showing, and how ‘negative’ or difficult cards might be overcome by a shift in perspective. This way the client has a chance to think about their situation and what they might change, rather than be ‘read’ to.
Rowan, this is a wonderful way of reading the cards – thanks for sharing it here. I agree that whether the cards negative or positive aspects are dominant depends on the intuition of the reader and the feedback/interaction of the person being read for.
Hi Kate. I had stayed away from reversals for that same reason. It seemed too complicated! Radleigh’s advice did make it easier so I decided to give it a try again and it worked out well. I barely use reversals tho. I’ll probably try it out more often now. Thanks! Oh a few months ago I bought Revalations Tarot which has half the card with upright pic and when in reverse another pic for reveresed meaning. I feel it was helpful and I’ve had great readings with this deck. I guess cause it’s easier not having to turn the card upright to look at it. Lol! Do you by any chance have this deck? If so what is your take on it? Thanks!
Hi Erica,
Glad this approach to reversals worked out for you š
I don’t have the Revelations Tarot, so I can’t give you my thoughts on it, but it sounds really interesting, so I will have to check it out.
Cheers,
Kate
Finally :)) Was waiting for a long time to hear what you have to say for reversals, since I like your aproach to Tarot very much.
At the moment I don`t use reversals because there is enough complicated cards in tarot already, but the way of looking at reversed cards as they need extra empovering antantion is good and kind of positive. Since im more tarot information pump š than practioner, in many books including the ones by Mary K.G, the reversals are kind of depressing. Just imagining geting most of cards reversed in Celtic Cross is demotivating š
Karina, I agree! I also feel like there is enough to work with when reading upright cards – why complicate it? And yes, often reversals are seen as somewhat negative – like a block, or a “problem”, but of course, they don’t have to be. Thanks for your comment š
I have tried to read with reversals, but it bothers me that I cannot see the pictures on the cards clearly. So I have to turn them over to read them reversed. (LOL) After some awkward readings I tend to stick with the upright cards. Thank God there are 78 of them!
I think that’s why I have stuck to reading upright cards too – although sometimes a whole new picture reveals itself when you look at them upside down!
I totally love your advices! And Radleigh Valentine’s, too! Since I prefer to keep things simple, I won’t bother with the “blocks”! But still, I was thinking quite a lot of reversed cards, but now I feel completely relieved! Thanx! š
Thank you EG – let me know how it goes with trying out the reversals. š
Thank goodness someone else feels exactly like I do about reversals. I normally just don’t do it. I like my cards to all be upright, yet I am curious about reversals and feel I might be missing something by not acknowledging them. Now you have me being a little more open to try it. Thanks, Kate!
Your welcome! I hope you do try it – it can be really fun š