Card reversals are an optional perhaps helpful technique, not a necessary technique.

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 22 Feb 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Rusty Neon	22 Feb 2004
Card reversals are a technique to bring out the relevant subset of meanings or nuances that a tarot card can have. It can certainly be a useful technique. As well, there are other narrowing-down techniques available to bring out the relevant subset of meanings or nuances, e.g., dignities (elemental dignities, numerological dignities, etc.) or combining reversals with dignities. Even without the use of narrowing-down techniques such as reversals or dignities, a card still possesses the full range of meanings and nuances. Intuition, the spread position, the reading question, etc. can bring out the relevant subset of meanings or nuances. As well, a number of tarot card readers use a technique whereby the various conflicting meanings and nuances of a given card are highlighted for the querent by the reader as a way of brainstorming or of empowering the querent. See http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?threadid=21752 for a discussion of alternatives to reversals or dignities: including 'Light and Shadow' and Doubling/Tripling methods. However, some tarot readers and tarot authors will suggest that the use of reversals (or for that matter, dignities) is a _necessary_ technique. They may say that a novice doesn't have to learn it right away, but that he/she should use the reversals technique as the he/she becomes "experienced". The myth is proprogated and perpetuated that a tarot reader is not skilled or experienced unless he or she uses and masters the technique of reversals. Although the reversals technique has longevity in the history in cartomancy and was popularized by Etteilla, that technique may be helpful, but isn't "necessary". What are your views?

Aerten	22 Feb 2004
Hmmm. Please excuse my ignorance, but I've been wondering... what is a dignity? Is it just the persuasion of the element/number?

Kissa	22 Feb 2004
A site about dignities: http://www.tarotmoon.com/articles/Elemental_Dignities/elemental_dignities.html Kissa

Phoenyx*	22 Feb 2004
Thanks for the link Kissa :) *goes to read it over and take notes*

lionette	22 Feb 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Rusty Neon: Even without the use of narrowing-down techniques such as reversals or dignities, a card still possesses the full range of meanings and nuances. Intuition, the spread position, the reading question, etc. can bring out the relevant subset of meanings or nuances. Thanks for starting this thread Rusty Neon. I'm in agreement that reversals aren't *necessary*. I use the "light and shadow" and the "doubling" methods. To clarify a spread I've been known to drawn 3 cards for each position to get a deeper look or clarify. Granted, I'm still a novice, but these other methods encourage me to further develop intuition and more well-rounded card meanings. I'm afraid that relying on reversals will not help me learn more right now ... maybe sometime tho :)

ros	22 Feb 2004
Don't know how experienced I am, but when I do readings I just read what I feel like doing. Sometimes I will use reversed meanings but lately I have been just pulling extra cards for the reversed cards to get more meanings. I just think that if the client is happy & you feel like you have given the best you could give at that time, what the hay! Sometimes also I think it depends on how many cards you are using. On small spreads I think reversals are fun but on large spreads I just let the client pull another card. Also depends on the energy you get from the client. Reversals- depends on the day! Reversals are good to learn for extra info, then if you use them or not it's up to you. IMHO

Marion	22 Feb 2004
I have been through a couple of stages with this. First I read without reversals. Then I always read with reversals. Now, quite seriously, depends on the day. I am comfortable with reversals, but do not always feel the need for them. I never learned the dignities method.

Ruby7	22 Feb 2004
I don't believe that reversals are necessary, they are an option that can be used or not. Personally I do not read with reversals. I like to see all my cards face up. This doesn't mean that I don't sometimes see the "reverse" in a card. I like to think of each card as having many different meanings and to me this depends on the question, the querent, the other cards and my intuition, not whether the card is upside down or right side up. I just don't like them being upside down when I'm reading them. Ruby7

jmd	22 Feb 2004
There is a difference between allowing for reversals and so-called 'dignities', in that the latter already seeks to interpret what the cards present with either assumed or preferred elemental attributions. Allowing for reversals, if one is going to make a comparison, is more on a par with allowing the cards to emerge from a good shuffling and just take note of what occurs. Some of the noting will include, for example, whether a large number of court cards, or cards of a particular suit, or Major Arcanas, are present, and, importantly, their respective orientations. Here, it may be that only by allowing reversals will two figures be able to, in their respective positions, be able to either face each other, look towards the same place, or indeed face away from one another (and still be those specific cards). As an example, take the Emperor and the Fool, in that order adjacent one another. Of course, in order to do a reading, one need not reverse any card - nor, for that matter, need one have any spread, nor even use cards at all. The reading of Tarot has many forms. I personally do not see reversals as adding to the possibilities, but rather see it in the inverse: not allowing for reversals takes away some possibilities from the possible presentations of cards, whatever spread is used. This taking away possibilities from the way the cards fall, however, is independent on the ability of the reader to interpret the reading in front of them, reversals or not, one card or ten, incorporating insights from other disciplines and attributed to the Tarot or not. There is no technique - to return to the heading of the thread - which in my personal view is necessary in the reading of Tarot. What is necessary is a growing insight into its makeup.

HOLMES	23 Feb 2004
i started off using reversals and can not do with them in a reading for i know when a reversals shows up that it is a conflicted area that needs to be looked at. (i expect once i learn dignities that it will be doubly efficent). it is true that there is a shadow in every upright card, and a light in every reversed card. so why brother one may ask ? i do it because it becomes easier to understand in my mind when a blockages occurs. when i read about half of the cards are reversed, and that to me is normal for i know that as light and shadow are in one then there must be half of each in a readng (give or take). i am a sytemic man, hence every aspect of a tarot reading for me only adds to it to make it more specific that is why i use a numerolgy system, learning an astrology/qabbalah system, looking forward to learning the elemental dignities from the forthcoming book. some i know keep them all upright and only pay attention to reversed cards.when pops out. but why is that ? you have your reasons and i have to respect that that is a given.... it reminds me of the tarot reader i seen in winnipeg who takes out the swords, the devil and the death card, when they read. if i don't understand the court cards i don't take them out. but then there is those who don't use them for they don't like them and they have explored the reversals. and for them i have to say i respect them for they at least tried the reversals. for me they are necessary as the numerology and astrology of the tarot. as necessary as the colours of the deck an the quality of the images themselves. (to be the advocate here, i have to share that i learned from the celtic cross, and using reversals from day one, and so as a result i can read a cross like no tomorrow but that is a differnt matter,, long live the cross eheh) i am of a strong opnion here, but those who know me know that i am enthuasist of systems of understanding as applied to the tarot.

jog1118	23 Feb 2004
...reversals was immediately part of my studies when i began learning the tarot and is still part of my reading style when i use 4 of my 5 decks. with my 5th deck (thoth) however, i felt that i did not need reversals and instead applied elemental dignities... giving much thought to it i realize when i use reversals that its always a primary area of concern (since i see the cards reversed immediately) while... when i use elemental dignities, my intuition is prioritized over the ED's... IMO, its probably the other way around...when you're a beginner, reversals (and even ED's) assist you in reading the cards right...but when you've gained experience and somehow strengthened your psyche, you'll be able to read the cards with or without reversals (and ED's)... :smoker:

crystal cove	23 Feb 2004
I use elemental and numerological dignities as a guide. However, it's my belief that every card has its positive and negative aspects to begin with. There is a wealth of information there that I wouldn't want to overlook just because the card isn't physically turned upside down. The tarot is a mental, spiritual, intuitive and abstract art, I can't fathom being limited by the card's physicality. JMO

HOLMES	23 Feb 2004
using reversals don't limit the cards, they enchance it. and are there should we need. i remember when somone suggested just upright all the cards when you read before i ever came to the forum in a book. (that was probaly a uprightal deck like the inner child cards ). i tried to do it when they turn up in a spread,, but .. but it felt like cheating. to use an other example , i did a 11 celtic cross readings using the numerology system that is based on tarot constellations. if i used them everytime i did a reading it would be the equivent of reading like 4 cards for every positon. instead i use it for when i get stuck or when i want to add to a reading. i don't know about experience meaning you don't have to use reversals, or eds. i believe it is the intermediate reader/advanced reader who uses them. example would be flatpicking guitar. just reading the cards straight without any addition would be the basic. then you add in a lick, run, or picking techique to dress it up a bit. and then you add in going up and down the neck. and you end up with an advanced sounding master level solo for a fiddle or bluess grass tune. you would end up with a master levle tarot reading.

Moonbow*	23 Feb 2004
I think when reading cards you should use everything at your disposal. Whether it be the picture, spread, colours, numbers, astrology etc etc. You can only use what you know, what comes to mind and if reversals come up then I use them. I also sometimes don't use reversals - this would depend on the deck. There have also been times when I have deliberately reversed the card because it fits in with the reading (or put the card upright). To me cards are the tool, intuition is far more important - otherwise, why do we take note of cards that fall out of a pack when shuffling. It all means something, interpreting what it means is the most important part. I think the struggle is trusting your intuition, sometimes we just ignore it.

mingbop	23 Feb 2004
I'm older and set in my ways here--read tarot for 40+ years, and I have to use reversals--its like reading with half a deck if you dont. For me the reversals ofter have a totally different meaning to the upright card--so if you cut out revesals then you cut out half your meanings. But dont listen to me--I dont even look at the designs or artwork on the cards !! I got my own way of reading and its not like yours..but as bruce lee said "if it works, then use it "!!!

The Card reversals are an optional perhaps helpful technique, not a necessary technique. thread was originally posted on 22 Feb 2004 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.