Reading Reversals

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 08 Nov 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Majecot	08 Nov 2003
I notice that some of you do not read reversals. May I ask why that is?

Adele	08 Nov 2003
I do not read reversals b/c I do not find them necessary to get an accurate reading.

MoreMagic	08 Nov 2003
My first tarot teacher was taught by his grandmother to read from a deck of ordinary playing cards. Since they don't reverse, he never learned to read reversals. Since I learned from him, I learned to read without reversals as well. His readings were wonderful and not reading reversals never seemed to limit his (or my) readings in any way...

Star Spirit	09 Nov 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Adele I do not read reversals b/c I do not find them necessary to get an accurate reading. Ditto. Unless I see something specifically in a reversed card at any given time.

Emily	09 Nov 2003
I don't read reversals because I think there are enough negative cards in the deck for you to get a good reading. I have tried to read them but get confused readings its easier not to try and instead go with the flow of the reading, even if it does mean refering to the shadow aspect of a card if the spread doesn't feel like it is a fully positive one.

WolfSpirit	09 Nov 2003
I can't stand to look at the cards upside down, it really bothers me and blocks my intuition. I read a card in the reversed meaning depending on its position in the spread, or if it is clear from the surrounding cards that the reversed meaning applies.

Majecot	09 Nov 2003
I was taught to read by my best friend, who was taught by her mother.. very into the ritual side of things ( this is this and that is that...can't buy your own cards kinda thing, Which I might add, I broke that "rule" several times right from the get go :) ). I have never been comfortable with reversals because as you say Emily, there are enough negative cards, and it would be confusing to me and seemed like none of my readings were good ones. So I stopped using reversals about 2 years ago, and when I mentioned it to my friend I got the "but you aren't getting the true reading" speech. I never really felt like I was cheating my readings so to speak, but they are definatley not so confusing to me. I just wondered at every ones elses perspective on not reading reversals. And was glad to see I was not the only one. Thank you (smidge of remaining guilt now erased) :D

Umbrae	09 Nov 2003
Pssssst…over here. Act innocent, and nobody will notice you’re talking to me. Shhhhhh. I love reversals. But just cuz a card comes up reversed does not mean I read it as reversed. You develop a feel after a few years, you read the space between the cards and allow the cards to tell you how to read them. Reversals when looked at through the eyes of an Author with their rules, “This card reversed means this”, and a reversed card is always reversed. See it’s the inflexibility of reversals that create an air of negativity. Reversed cards are not always bad! See, the Tarot is supposed to reflect life. Life is dynamic. Tarot as presented by Authors and books is static, inflexible, and rules based; that’s not tarot…

sagitarian	09 Nov 2003
when I was taught tarot, I was taught to not read reversed cards. For years I didn't read reversed. Then after going back to a more traditional tarot deck (Universal waite) and learning the signifigance behind the basic symbols, I just felt that when I did readings with this deck, if there was a reversed card, that I should read it as so (with the exception that Umbrae has presented, which I agree with and do myself). When I "studied" reversed meanings, it didn't make sense, but I still felt as though I should be reading "reversed cards, and my WONDERFUL Sister Alissa here (for those that don't know, we really are blood sisters) explained to me another aspect of reading reversed (which is published by a author, but I don't remember which one). I use the same meaning for the card, but I apply it to the querent internally vs. externally. So if the chariot comes up reversed in a past influence position, I would read that as, "not too long ago you were really influenced by your own sheer will power, it's as though you had "enough" with what you were battling and "snapped" on the inside. Your motivation and drive to take care of the battle, or issue at hand came soley from your internal self. It wasn't "emotions" of anger, it was that part of you that has to get something done RIGHT NOW. However, this wasn't done in haste, you had time to think on how you want it done. You've won your battle." I'm not sure if that example helped or not, but in any case, I apply reversed meanings to the internal self vs. external issues...such as, internal influences vs. what is influencing you externally.

Alissa	09 Nov 2003
Quote: Originally posted by sagitarian and my WONDERFUL Sister Alissa here (for those that don't know, we really are blood sisters) explained to me another aspect of reading reversed (which is published by a author, but I don't remember which one). I use the same meaning for the card, but I apply it to the querent internally vs. externally. Always cite one's sources. Gail Fairfield was the author, book was "Choice-centered Tarot," although the title later changed with subsequent editions. Fairfield presents one method of reading reversed cards is to think of reversals as applying to the "internal world" (that of the thoughts, feelings, emotions). So, non-reversed cards would, of course, apply to one's external world. It was the way I first started using reversals myself (although nowadays I either keep them in or throw them out, depending on how they feel at the time, which isn't a helpful answer for your question, I imagine).

Dexter	10 Nov 2003
Normally I don't read reversals. But I've had a few unusual things happen lately with my cards. Since I don't read reversals I always make sure before I put my deck away that all the cards are upright. But to my surprise after shuffling the cards and going to lay them a few showed up in the reversed position. And to my surprise the ones that were reversed were exactly right. An example is that with my weekly spread the Thursday card was a reversed 9 of swords. Now normally I am very outspoken have a hard time keeping my mounth shut. Now my husband and I are going away for the weekend. It is a working weekend for him and he has been quite stressed over it as he is the co-ordinator and it has been difficult to place 150 people in their courses and assign rooms as everyone has specail requests. So!! Basically this card is saying "Lynn keep your mouth closed, no compalints about last minute changes etc." We leave Friday morning and guess what card was for friday " The Chariot" upright thank goodness. Anyway the cards are right again.

Sulis	10 Nov 2003
I don't read reversals because I prefer to see the pictures as they were drawn or painted. Seeing them upside down confuses me, I can't tell what the picture is. Every card has a wide range of meanings, both positive and negative so I rely on the position of the card and on those surrounding it. Love and light Sulis xx

firestorm	10 Nov 2003
I don't read reversals but it has more to do with the fact that there is so much in Tarot to learn and I've only been reading for a year. I never say never to anything, but it just seems to me that with 78 cards, and a multitude of spreads and postitions, that just about every issue is covered already. I'm willing to reevaluate my postition at any time, though.

Rusty Neon	11 Nov 2003
(1) If the deck was really meant for reversals, it would come with two-sided artwork. :) I like to view my artwork upright. (2) I don't think that a reversed card should be seen as special. Probability-wise, a reversal would take place something like 50% of the time, yet a reversed card is said to have one of a dozen or so special significances that an upright card somehow doesn't or can't have. (OK, I know some of you will say that it's not strictly probabilities; that the reversals will come when the universe thinks a reversal should come up.) (3) I prefer to see each card as having light and shadow, positive and negative meanings, depending on the spread position, question, etc.

Diana	11 Nov 2003
I'm with the guy just above me.

The Reading Reversals thread was originally posted on 08 Nov 2003 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.