Making the switch : reversals

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 20 Apr 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

samantha	20 Apr 2005
WWWAAAHHHHHH!! I'll try and keep this brief . Firstly Reversals . I have *never* read with reversals . In about 2% of readings a couple of cards somehow managed to flip themselves around ( despite a firm grasp !....) and on those occasions I really took notice of said card and assigned it the 'difficult'/ blocked energies of such without a second thought . ( And infact that was the way things played out . ) . The rest of the time I look at combinations , other cards , placements etc etc to get a feel for whether a card is 'easy' or 'difficult' . However , of late this just doesn't seem to be working . I decide on my interpretation ...and then with hindsight learn that the 'reversed' energy was actually what they were trying to tell me . I don't know how to get over this block. I considered starting to introduce reversals , but part of me really doesn't want to do this !! A) I feel that I should embrace the er , discipline ? , of reading without reversals ( as tho' using reversals is like driving on manual !! No disrespect to those of you that do : no doubt you are all better 'drivers' than me !!) B) emotionally it feels wrong , tho' I can't put my finger on why exactly . Has anyone switched from non reversals to reversals ? Why ? Any observations ? I'm really interested to hear your views.

Gypsy Mama	20 Apr 2005
Hi Samantha, I am also like you and often I just pick up on the reverse meaning as it applies in a situation without the card having to be physically reversed. However sometimes I use reversals too and if so I just take notice of the card turn it the right way and then read what comes. The reason I don't use the reversed too much is I find it distracting which is fine I think as long as you are still able to read the message. But if someone has a genuine fear of reading a reversed card b/c they don't want the message then that's where you can get problems. So whether you physically turn the cards is maybe not so much the point as being open to the message. Some people may have to physically see the cards reversed in order to get over the fear of reading them and then could very well move on to not (needing them reversed) or vica versa. Anyways play around, don't think too much! Just enjoy and see what works FOR YOU!!! Take care, Gypsy Mama

Elven	20 Apr 2005
Hi Samantha! Possibly the word 'reversed' is the cause of the baulking when reading them. I start with the deck all upright and will read reversed cards if they come into play. Instead of thinking this card is the reverse of the upright meaning, I use the 'other perspective' approach. This enables me to include both the upright and the 'reversed' meaning in one interpretation. I use the 'other perspective' to emphasize the importance of the card, and why it has shown up in this way. I dont think you can dismiss its message, as it gives a fuller more meaningful interpretation to the reading. Not all 'reversed' meanings are bad or negative. They can offer a great amount of information for the seeker to be able to approach or handle the situation. As an excercise you could try is to read the entire spread upside down and see how it feels to read the 'other perspective' of the cards. This is quite challenging, but the other dimension that the reading can give you is a real mind opener. There is definaetly another perspective in reversals. Good luck. Hope this helps a bit Blessings Elven x

Fudugazi	20 Apr 2005
Hi Samantha, I read with reversals for some years, then decided that for the most part it was senseless, like reading a book upside-down. The important thing to develop is enough intuition to sense when the energy of the card warrants a negative interpretation - that also comes with seeing the other cards in the spread. The great tarotist Robert Place, in his new book, writes this on the topic: "Right-side up cards allow the pictures to communicate more clearly and are less likely to impose unnecessary negativity onto a reading. Some people believe it is necessary to use upside down cards to increase the vocabulary of the cards by allowing for more possibilities, but in fact it only doubles the possibilities". He then goes on to give a mathematical probability proof with several examples. I agree absolutely. My readings - my intuition, my imagination - have been enhanced by my abandoning reversals. The only time I would read a card upside-down is if a card in an otherwise upright pack were to reverse itself accidentally: this does seem signficant, as though the card were calling special attention upon itself.

Sinner	20 Apr 2005
I switched to reversals pretty quickly after starting, then I switched back to upright, and now I use both methods. I think the issue here is not to be close-minded. Try it out for a while even if you don't think it will work, but try to adapt. You can always revert back to what you did before, its not life-or-death. The same could be said about most other things really. It sounds as if you'll make yourself feel bad if you don't attempt it. Theres no harm in experimenting.

-=Light=-	20 Apr 2005
Hi I started reading with reversals right away. I have looked through various books as to their meaning. The book that I found to be most enlightening is Learning Tarot Reversals by Joan Bunning. It actually gives you more information to the reading itself. For instance 3 swords reversed means that the heartbreak,loss and betrayal you have felt has 'turned over' and is now lessening,weakening and is either gone or is well on its way to leaving you. It can also mean that a 'positive card' is being blocked by something if its reversed. Negative card reversed usually has a positive meaning. So in other words its mostly opposite to whatever the card is upright. Although some books do give it a totally different meaning altogether so its best to research and come up with your own 'feeling' on the reversed card and write it down in your journal. I also have enjoyed the book Easy Tarot Guide by Marcia Masino. It's a beginner book but gives a really good description of what she feels the reversed card means. Remember there is no right or wrong answer because each of the meanings are what the reader has experienced. So when you get a 'feeling' write it down. I really enjoy reading the reversals and I find it gives me a clearer picture of the meaning of the cards. Each reader though has a different style and if you find that the readings are clear without the reversals, then its not necessary to use them but could be something to experiment with :) Good Luck Light :)

The Making the switch : reversals thread was originally posted on 20 Apr 2005 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.