Should newbies wait before using reversals?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 08 Jun 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Moongold	08 Jun 2002
I am a very new student of Tarot. I read some where that newcomers are advised against incorporating reversals in their readings at first because of the depth of knowledge needed to interpret these cards. What do others think? I was a little concerned at some reversals received at a particularly difficult time. I left the reading (my own) with a heavy, despondent feeling and for some days after dreaded getting another reversed card. I use the Rider Waite deck and sometimes the Cannon Witches deck. Am also reading "78 degrees of Wisdom" by Pollack. Many thanks for your thoughts.

aeonx	08 Jun 2002
Greetings Moongold and welcome to the forum! :) I see you read the 78DW. *tadaa drumsolo* :D I love that book and it's the one I use all the time (except for Thirteen's Tarot Basics, which you ought to check out: Basics. ) There is so much to learn about Tarot and is a very comprehensive area, so I would suggest that you wait with the reversals. How long have you been reading? When I first started, I got to know every card at first and wrote down my own interpretations. Your perception of the cards and your intuition are the most important. Start a tarot journal where you first list your own meanings, then you can come back to these later. Read a lot, and write down every one of them, in your tarot journal. 3-card spreads and 5-card spread are good to begin with, then you won't get (too ;) ) confused by so many cards at once. I will list a few links below for spreads and such discussed at the forum earlier. Browse the forums. There are many great discussions on all matters of tarot here, suggestions, idéas and perceptions that could really help you out. And if you have any questions, just post them! :D We'll help you out. Back to your original question, reversals. I use reversals now because I feel they are great guides to blocked areas, for instance. Others don't use reversals at all, no matter how many years they've been studying. It's all up to you! :) Last, but not least, good luck! :) Links: Favorite spreads of us Aeclecticans Discussion on reversed cards 5-card spreads How to keep a Tarot Journal Um. Yes. :) Then just browse yourself and you'll find lots of interesting information. ~aeonx~

Diana	08 Jun 2002
edited.

Keslynn	08 Jun 2002
I use reversals for all my readings. It started because I was so impatient, and I always just want to dive right in. After a little bit, I started to question my ability to read the reversed cards correctly and considered leaving them out until... I read Mary Greer's Book of Tarot Reversals. This is an excellent, excellent book. She takes great pains to point out that reversals are useful tools in tarot and not just to cast a pall over a whole reading. Even if you ultimately choose not to use reversals ever, this book can still give you a lot of insight. I highly recommend it to you for when you feel ready to move in that direction. :) Kes

Moongold	08 Jun 2002
Thank you, all, for for your responses and the useful links and other information. This is my fourth week with the Tarot so I am very much in beginner mode. It does seem wondrous, however, and I'm enjoying it very much. Moongold

Phoenix	08 Jun 2002
Mary K. Greer's book The Complete Book of Tarot Reversals is an amazing book!! I second the suggestion! I find that some decks are easier to read than others. But whatever feels right for you.

Starfish	08 Jun 2002
I can't wait to receive my copy (I ordered it online). Reversals really challenge me. Starfish

aeonx	09 Jun 2002
I've also put this book on my wish-list! :D Tomorrow I'm going to pick up "Tarot Combinations". Looking forward! :) ~aeonx~

Keslynn	09 Jun 2002
This is sort of a tangent, but... I was looking through the Amazon customer reviews for Tarot Combinations, which were generally good. However, some person had complained that the book seemed to be mostly about combinations and didn't really say anything about the cards by themselves! *lol* I guess he/she wasn't paying any attention to important details, like the title!

Starfish	09 Jun 2002
I was at Borders today and picked up Tarot Combinations, along with the Faeries Oracle with my 25% off total order coupon. Now, to get some good reading done this afternoon! Starfish

Ivy Rhiannon	02 Jul 2004
um...if you are having trouble understanding reversals, then yes start without them. but to me it is just the opposite meaning so if i can read it upright, then i can read it reversed!

Thirteen	02 Jul 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Ivy Rhiannon um...if you are having trouble understanding reversals, then yes start without them. but to me it is just the opposite meaning so if i can read it upright, then i can read it reversed! This is good advice in general. But you should know that Moongold, herself, has come a looooong way since this early post. If you look at the wee date there in the lower left-hand corner under her name and all, you'll see this beginner's post was posted over two years ago. It's okay; most times I don't even glance at the date either. Whether or not she's now using reversals in her spreads, Moongold can most assuredly read them. And I doubt she still finds them so disconcerting. She's left her apprenticeship behind and is on her way to being a real Master of the Tarot. I suppose this just goes to show that what goes around comes around. And that certain tarot questions--and their answers--are eternal.

Moongold	21 Sep 2004
Thirteen ~ Thank you so much for these kind words. The post you are alluding to may have been my very first post. I notice the date is the day I joined Aeclectic. I think I may have been "lurking" for a couple of weeks before joining. From memory Aeclectic seemed a magical place with the mysterious but compelling attraction of the Tarot and the people here with all the "magical" names. Whatever I have learned, it has been here , Aeclectic forever answering whatever queries I had and providing everything in terms of learning opportunties. With people like yourself, MeeWah, Marion, Umbrae, Mooncat2 and many others it has been the perfect place for learning. Dear firemaiden joined two days ahead of me, so we are peers in that sense. Reading the Tarot is a great interest and love. I am not using reversals at the moment but I may go back to using them. At the moment I just read with the flow of the cards, intuitively, with all the internalised knowledge I've gained. I feels right to do that without reversals just now. Many blessings ~ Moongold

dawns_eve	22 Sep 2004
I have chosen to to read without reversals for the time being but I may someday. I have been reading for a couple years but only 1 year intensely. I still consider myself a newbie so I will wait on the rev.

The Should newbies wait before using reversals? thread was originally posted on 08 Jun 2002 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.