The Power of 3 Reversal System

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 24 Mar 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

nodntap	24 Mar 2004
The Power of 3 Reversal System Reversal Resouces People either don't read reversals, or have a problem reading reversals. There are all kinds of ways to read reversals and the 'Power of 3 System' is just another way you might like to try. The neat thing about this is that you don't have to come up with meanings for reversals. All you need is the cards upright meanings and a little intuition and imagination. Let's say you use reversals, or that you have been reading the upright cards for awhile and have decided to give reversals a try. Of all the books out there I would recommend 'Tarot Plain and Simple' by Anthony Louis to learn reversals even over Mary K Greer's 'The Complete Book of Tarot Reversals', or Joan Bunning's 'Learning Tarot Reversals'. The reason being is the book (Tarot Plain and Simple) is simplier and easier to learn from and instead of using the tired old Rider-Waite cards for illustrations it uses the Robin Wood deck (which I love). But let's assume you are on a tight budget and can't afford any of the books I have mentioned, or any others that might deal with reversals. The 'Power of 3' gives you what I think is a fairly easy way to do reversals ... but it does reversals in a completely different manner. And the best thing about the Power of 3 Reversal System is that it's .... free! Empowerment and Cultivation (How to) My reversal system is called the 'The Power of 3' (Po3) and it's something I have been working on for awhile now and I hope you find that it's worthy of your time and effort. If not ... that's okay too, LOL. Instead of coming up with individual meanings for reversed cards The Power of 3 System uses upright meanings for the cards to; 1.) Indicate what will empower the seeker, and 2.) What the seeker needs to cultivate in their life, or how to use the things indicated by the empowerment card to cultivate certain things into your (the seekers) life. Don't stop reading yet this is actually pretty easy kids. First let me set some ground rules. With the Major Arcana the cards run 0-The Fool to 21-The World. With the Minor Arcana the cards run from the Aces (Number #1) to the Kings which are number #14. I.E. Ace (1) to 10, Pages=11, Knights=12, Queens=13, Kings=14 Note: No numerology is needed in the Po3 system but it can add to things if you know, and use it. Okie doke then. You draw a reversed card, either as your daily draw card, or in a spread. Either way the Po3 system works. Let's say the reversed card in question is 'The Devil [rx]'. The Power of 3 can't be much easier. The Devil is Trump #15 [xiv]. Simply subtract 3 from 15 to get 12, and add 3 to 15 to get 18. Trump #12: The Hanged Man (15-3=12) Trump #15: The Devil [rx] Trump #18: The Moon (15+3=18) Or put another way; ....... Upright ................ Reversed ......... Upright .. ... Empowerment ........ Card Drawn ... Cultivation The Hanged Man ... The Devil [rx] ... The Moon Now, you aren't drawing these cards, although that often helps, but you are using the upright meanings of the 'other two cards' to define what the seeker needs to 'empower' themselves and how to cultivate (use the qualities of) this empowerment card. The Empowerment and Cultivate cards are read using the 'best and most positive attributes possible'. Here is what I jotted down in my notes for 'Empowerment/Cultivate' for the reversed Devil. Empowerment: (The Hanged Man/Upright) You must be willing to let go of, and to sacrifice that which binds you, that which blinds you, and that which keeps you from growing spiritually, and as a person. There is light, and hope at the end of the tunnel. Qualities to Cultivate (The Moon/Upright) You need to - recapture your dreams You need to - stop deluding yourself You need to - embrace your intuition and deep feelings instead of fearing them So The Devil [rx] would be: You must be willing to let go of, and to sacrifice that which binds you, that which blinds you, and that which keeps you from growing spiritually, and as a person. You need to recapture your dreams, stop deluding yourself, and embrace your intuition and deep feelings instead of fearing them. There is light, and hope at the end of the tunnel. Using the Po3 system you will often have to wrap around, either high or low in order to find the cards three away from the reversed card. For example; The Magician [rx] is Trump #1. Three down from that is, 0, 21, 20 - or Judgment. Three above of course is 1+3=4: The Emperor. Empowerment: (Judgment/Upright) You need to honestly look at your life and make some serious changes since you don't appear to be on an even keel (Judgment), especially concerning your thoughts and ideas (The Magician/Mercury/Air). Qualities to Cultivate (The Emperor/Upright) You need to - find stability You need to - cultivate your own personal authority You need to - find self-will and will-power to do what's right You need to - see the truth of matters So The Magician [rx] would read: You need to honestly look at your life and make some serious changes since you don't appear to be on an even keel, especially concerning your thoughts and ideas. You need to - find stability, cultivate your own personal authority, find the self-will and will-power to do what's right, and to see the truth of matters. Many people read The Magician [rx] as a misuse of their skills, talents, and abilities. The Po3 system says the same thing but in a more uplifting and positive manner (in my opinion), plus gives you things you can do to better your (the seekers) self.. With the Kings three under would be the Page of the same suit and three over would be 3's of the same suit. Example: Page of Swords .. King of Swords [rx] .. 3 of Swords (this ones a toughie - try it and see what you come up with). With the Aces - three under would be the Knight of the same suit and three over would be the 4 of the same suit. Example: Knight of Cups .. Ace of Cups [rx] .. 4 of Cups (remember to read the 1st and 3rd cards in the most positive manner possible). If you understood the Po3 sytem [grin] then give it a try and let me know how it works for you. If you have questions - fire away. Feel free to share this with ... whoever. Don S.

Phoenyx*	24 Mar 2004
Thank you for this Don, I'm going to print it out if you don't mind, put it in my Tarot journal and mull over it the next few days.

nodntap	24 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Triquetra Thank you for this Don, I'm going to print it out if you don't mind, put it in my Tarot journal and mull over it the next few days. You are more than welcome to print it out.

Tarotmyst	25 Mar 2004
I read this on your site the other day and was wondering why the number 3? Did you choose it for magical correspondences of some sort, or was it more a case of trial and error? I haven't tried your system yet but it seems like a very good idea. I was just wondering about the 3 thing...

gloria	25 Mar 2004
This is a very interesting idea Don......shall be giving it a try. Also look forward to your answer to Tarotmyst's question. G.

nodntap	25 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Tarotmyst I read this on your site the other day and was wondering why the number 3? Did you choose it for magical correspondences of some sort, or was it more a case of trial and error? I haven't tried your system yet but it seems like a very good idea. I was just wondering about the 3 thing... Three (3) is a workable number. 3 in numerology means (self) expression and the joy of living. By trail and error I have found three to work best. And I like the The Hanged Man - Devil [rx] - The Moon combination, [grin]. The question no one has asked me yet is what if you get something like the following in a three card spread. 5 of Swords .. 8 of Swords [rx] .. Page of Swords Now these are the cards you dealt out but if you look closely the two outside cards are also the cards you would use to read the 8 of Swords reversed. 8-3=5 8+3=11 [page] By reading the reversed 8 of Swords [rx] you have in essence read the entire card layout but everything is intensified becase things (the cards) are basically doubling. Empowerment: You are currently going through a time of unhealthy mental thinking and attitutes. But you have the intelligence to turn things around. Cultivation: Look at things in a new way. Seek a higher and deeper enlighenment and spirituality. Let your own inate intelligence and inquistiveness to your guide. You are a quick thinker and can handle any situation that comes your way. So turn your thinking around and all should be right with the world. If you don't then ...

The The Power of 3 Reversal System thread was originally posted on 24 Mar 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.