Reversals - history and use with Thoth

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 27 Apr 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

JulieG	27 Apr 2004
Hi everyone! I've checked out older threads on reversals and although I found some stuff, I couldn't find anything that specifically answered my questions. Can anyone help? 1) Am I right in thinking Thoth is designed in such a way that reversals should NOT to be used? 2) What's the history behind reversals? (e.g/ do we know when or from whom the method originated?). Was it an original part of Tarot or a later addition? I've always tried to incorporate reversals but although I feel intuitive connections with uprights, I feel total blanks with reversals - I literally get no vibes with them at all: just a big black veil of nothingness. As a result, they have often prevented me being able to read the spread as a unity. Given the divided views on reversals in general, should I just follow my gut instincts and not read reversals? That's what I WANT to do, but I'm worried I'd then be missing vital information from the reversed cards. I'm in quite a quandry over it to be honest and it is the ONLY ONE THING that is actually ruining my progress with Tarot as a whole. If it were not for reversals, I'd fly through. It really is becoming a major problem for me. I'm really baffled - any suggestions?

closrapexa	27 Apr 2004
Don't know much about reversals, don't use them. But more importantly, and as time goes by you may feel that what I'm saying is a cliche, but you shouldn't feel obligated to do anything. It may come in time, but then it may not. Tomorrow I may start reading with reversals, but today it doesn't interest me much. As for the Thoth and history, I've heard that the Thoth isn't designed to be read in reverse (as opposed to being designed NOT to be read in reverse,like you said, there is a difference) because of the card backs. More than that I really don't know.

Thirteen	27 Apr 2004
Quote: Originally posted by JulieG Given the divided views on reversals in general, should I just follow my gut instincts and not read reversals? That's what I WANT to do, but I'm worried I'd then be missing vital information from the reversed cards. I can't answer your question on Thoth, but I can answer this. Absolutely follow your gut instinct. As wisely pointed out, it may be that you're not ready for reversals yet, or it may be that you just don't need to use reversals at all. But if you worry about them, or use them and you're not ready it will just interfere with your readings. DON'T worry that you'll be missing vital info. There's this misconception that positive cards are positive upright and negative reversed--and vice versa. Which, if it was true, would indeed mean that you'd be missing vital meanings. But this is not true. Every card has positives and negatives and you can judge which it is from position in the spread--or just raw intuition. You don't need to reverse it to get that vital info. I tend to think reversals are a mistake for apprentice readers because beginners are still plumbing the depths of meaning in the upright cards--why add to that/confuse things with reversals. On the other hand, reversals can be a good thing for journeymen, especially those who may either be stuck or have so many possible meanings in their heads that they need more direction. If you find you keep giving the same interpetation of a card everytime you see it (the the Emperor always a father figure, for example), or can't decide on a meaning, then reversals can...well, turn things upside down, make a reader remember meanings, good or bad, that they may have forgotten, see the card in a new light or focus. But in the end whether you use them now, later or never is always up to you. You know what's right.

The Reversals - history and use with Thoth thread was originally posted on 27 Apr 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.