PsychicWitch

Hello,
In the instruction book the divinatory meanings also gives you a reversed meaning, but I have also read a book that says that the author doesn't read reversals and that you don't need to. So should I read tarot reversals or not? Is it manditory and are reversals worth it?

UrbanFool

I think they're worth it myself, but they're by no means mandatory.

You'll find that some people are so intuitive they could read squares of toilet paper, but others do better with the reversals.

Kelly

Gavriela

And some of us read dignities instead of inverted cards, some people use other methods, and some don't do any. It's entirely up to you.

PsychicWitch

what are dignities? and could you explain some other methods used?

rcb30872

No, they are not a must! I don't use them, simply because I don't like them, I have tried, and for me it just makes things a bit too complicated for my liking.

As for most things, each to their own. There is no one thing that is set in stone, using reversals is a suggestion, it is not a requirement. I don't use reversals and give good readings without them!



Bec

frelkins

to paraphrase umbrae: read all the books, practice with the cards, keep a daily journal -- and then throw it all away and do only what works for you. you should be your own expert. never let anyone dissuade your from your own path.

wytchwood

I have always used dignities in the past, but am considering using reversals, at least for a time, to see how I get on with them. As I've never used them before, I won't know whether they're effective or not until I try it. It's up to you really, but I like the idea of using either dignities or reversals, as it gives another dimension to a reading. Saying that, it's probably best to become familiar with the upright meanings first if you're a beginner (you don't say if you are or not).

Edited to add:

Just noticed your question asking about dignities. It's basically a system which can be used instead of reversals. It works like this:

If neighbouring cards are of opposite suits, they can be considered ill-dignified and the 'reverse' meanings are applied. Each suit relates to an element, it is the opposite elements which makes them opposite suits. Therefore Cups and wands (water and fire) are mutually hostile, likewise sword and pentacles (air and earth). Other suits are neutral with each other, but suits of the same 'sex' are more supportive than those of the other sex. eg. Cups and pentacles are female, wands and swords are male. In addition, the meaning of a card can be sweetened or soured according to it's proximity to 'evil' cards, or cards who's meanings put a negative slant on things. It's a flexible system up to a point, but it rules out the possibility of certain cards being read together in other ways as they are controlled by dignity. I tend to play it by ear and make sense of it intuitively.
Hope this helps.

Zoe

EnriqueEnriquez

If they make sense to you, use them. If they don’t make sense to you, don’t use them.

I personally think that a card can have positive and negative associations, but I don’t think that depends on the card being upside-down, or not. It depends on the context, and on the feelings the card elicits in the person you are reading for.

But as Grouch Marx said: “This is my philosophy. If you don’t like it, don't worry. I have another one!” :-)

__________________
Laboratory of meaning: making sense since 1969

jayem

completely up to you. the beautiful thing about tarot is that you dont HAVE to do anything!
i personally dont use reversals, for i believe the cards were meant to be read right side up... but, i am trying to learn the meanings for reversed cards if i feel like using them in the near future. to me, though, they make things more complicated.