Decks that don't reverse -symetrical images

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 06 Jul 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Woof	06 Jul 2003
Sorry to dig up reversals again. I recently purchased Il Tarocco Bizzarro. I love the look and feel of the deck but one thing puts me off. I read with reversals and some of the cards (4 or 5 of the wands) are symetrical across the horizontal axis. And the backs are symetrical so they don't give you a hint either. Questions: 1) any other decks like this? 2) should I just drop the reversals or should I read the ones I can reverse reversed? (Either way feels so awkward!) Thanks much! Woof

Cerulean	06 Jul 2003
1. My suggestion is to use a nonreversible tarot when the message meanings have to be absolutely clear. Some people suggest that a reversal can have a similar meaning, just diminished. For instance, the Devil upright could mean a physical manifestation that is bad your health or well-being. You could be in a negative situation or receiving critical feedback from negative sources. The Devil reversed in the same layout could mean you feel a lack in your physical health or well-being. You might be so tired that you haven't been perking yourself up. The only difference is one is an external activity and the reversed might be more of a feeling or realization. The differences can be so subtle that you can include the reversal as an added meaning. I think some decks have books that don't go into reversals at all. They want the reader to come up with their own definitions that will expand or contract, depending on a reader's layout and ideas. 2. There are decks in historical patterns known as Liguria-Piedmont or Piedmontese with the double figures. I think in another Mark Filpas review, there is a double figure tarot with majors that look the same: http://www.spiritone.com/~filipas/Masquerade/Reviews/doppia.html I think I would try that way of reading. I think some of the classical Marseille variant tarots can sometimes be a challenge enough, though...&) . 3. I do confess, for about two years I've had the deck below, also reviewed by Mark Filpas. It has double figure courts, French poker suits and majors with two different scenes. It's rather predictive in the booklet meanings. I find though I'm not keen on reading with French playing card suits...I like the designs of the majors and courts and plan to keep it. http://www.spiritone.com/~filipas/Masquerade/Reviews/orell.html Anyway, hope you don't mind the rambling and some of this is helpful.

Jeannette	06 Jul 2003
While not entirely symetrical, Monica Knighton's (now OOP) Tarot of the Dead has many minor arcana cards which I would classify as "orientationally ambiguous." They aren't exactly the same upside down as they are right-side up, but once you start mixing up the deck so that some cards are reversed, you can never quite tell which way was "officially" right-side up anymore. The back designs aren't 100% symetrical, but the upright/reversed distinction in the design is pretty subtle, and I hate to be flipping cards over during a reading to scrutinize them just to tell which way is up. I love the deck, but it's definitely not one to employ when you want to put a lot of emphasis on upright vs. reversed interpretations. -- Jeannette http://www.tarotgarden.com

Woof	10 Jul 2003
I like this deck so much and want to use it as a reading deck ocasionally, but I'm so used to reversals I can't read the cards all upright. So I took a permanent marker and put a little dot on one side of the white border. When the card in question shows up with the dot at the top I'll read it as upright. When the dots at the bottom, I'll read it at as reversed. So there! problem solved. Woof

The Decks that don't reverse -symetrical images thread was originally posted on 06 Jul 2003 in the Tarot Decks board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Decks, or read more archived threads.