cover and cross Why this way?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 10 Feb 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

theredhead	10 Feb 2003
I have a question that has probably been asked and answered before, but I'm wondering more on the why. In the traditional CC, in Tarot Plain and Simple, it is stated the crossing card is traditionally read in its upright position. Whether it comes up reversed or not. WHY? Or is this simply his way of doing things? If it came up reversed why wouldn't you interpret it that way? I'm curious, I've been doing a simple cover and cross for my daily reading. Strangely enough after looking through my journal the crossing card has never come up reversed, (not that I've been doing this for a really long time or anything) whether in the CC or just a 2 card cover and cross spread. Anyone care to comment on how they handle this, or the why? trh

sagitarian	10 Feb 2003
I'm just now starting to learn how to read cards in reverse. I thought about that myself, about the crossing card, which direction would it be to consider it to be reversed. I wonder if that's why the crossing card is always read right side up. I also think that it was just his way of doing things. I've always felt that you should read them how you see fit. There was a great article that I found last night that was posted here about limitations. www.ata-tarot.com/ata2-0/reflections/01-15-03/DoWhatScaresYou.htm This is a wonderful article to help you realize what else you and others limit themselves to when doing readings. I'm guilty of quite a few of them myself, which is part of the reason why I'm starting over with a brand new deck. I got used to the card meaning the same thing each time it turned up. I wanted to start new with a different deck to "relearn" tarot all over again from all different sources, vs. just a tutor and instincts.

fairyhedgehog	10 Feb 2003
I don't use reversed cards, so it doesn't apply in my case. But if you would like to read the crossing card as reversed, why not? Your opinion is as valid as the author's opinion. Why not try it both ways? Decide in advance whether you will read that card as reversed (if it comes up reversed) and see whether you get better readings with allowing it to reverse or not. I use my own meaning for some of the Celtic Cross spread, and I place the crossing card in the direction that at least one author says is reversed. I also lay card 3 (the past) to the left whereas some authors say it 'should' be to the right. My way works for me and that is what matters. I hope you find the way that works best for you :)

theredhead	10 Feb 2003
Sagitarian, I checked out that site and I liked that article. I don't think I've been at tarot long enough to get stuck in a rut, but I could definitely see me with too many should's and should nots down the road. I started doing reversed readings probably too early, but I'm a jump in type of person. 78 meanings didn't seem like enough, not that I had a handle on the upright meanings, when I started mind you. I'm still floundering at times. Fairyhedgehog, I think I'll stick with the way the card shows up and interpret it that way, but I was just really curious to know the why to do it that way. This is the card that strenghthens or hinders the situation. It just didn't make any sense that I couldn' t be reversed. Just wondering and maybe its a silly question. Just wondered if there was some logic behind it I didn't know. trh

fairyhedgehog	11 Feb 2003
Quote: Originally posted by theredhead Just wondered if there was some logic behind it I didn't know. trh I don't know, either, sorry :( Maybe someone else will read this and know the answer, or maybe it is just how it seemed right to that author. I hope you find out :)

jmd	11 Feb 2003
As the 'crossing' card is already read in a way which 'crosses' or hinders, some say that there is no need to view it as reversed (ie, for some, reversed basically implies a hindrance or crossing - already given by the position). On the other hand, precisely because of this, others see the crossing card as always equivalent of reversed :). Others, however, do have a method to read this crossing card as either upright or reversed: An 'upright' may be deemed to have its base or 'feet' in the past, and its top or 'head' in the future (irrespective as to whether you decide to use the left as either the past or the future position - two amongst other variations). I suggest you decide on what makes the most sense to yourself, and try variations - and also be ready to allow the actual specific spread to alter what you may expect (for example, a specific reading may 'want' to be read in the opposite to that which you become accustomed: be flexible, but clear, and responsive to that small voice within :)).

vijeno	12 Feb 2003
I don't have "reversed" crossing cards, for the very simple and pragmatic reason that I know myself - I would start to wonder what side I defined as "upright" now, and how to read the card... better to not get confused... *g* vijeno

theredhead	12 Feb 2003
ok, not to be obtuse here, but if when you draw the card its reversed, then you interpret it in the reversed position. Laying it on its side doesn't change that. Am I not looking at the crossing card correctly in this? I see it as the card that either hinders or strenghthens the situation card. A positive card helps the sit shows that which can help. Neg shows the obstacles, things that will hinder. I know I can interpret things any way that seems right to me, I was just intrigued by the idea that this should always be that way. Have to's always make me search for the reason it is so. Interestingly enough I have yet to have my cross card come up reversed. hmmmm possibly a message in this? thanks for everyones thoughts, trh

Major Tom	12 Feb 2003
The crossing card can be read as both upright and reversed. Both meanings will apply to the situation. :laugh: That's why some people read all cards upright. They can still see the reversed meaning. ;) But you can do it anyway that feels right to you. :laugh:

The cover and cross Why this way? thread was originally posted on 10 Feb 2003 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.