So I'm stumped.
Should you use reversals in tarot?
Should you just interpret negative and positive aspects of an upright card depending on your intuition?
Or should you never bother about any ill-dignified cards because if tarot wants to warn you about something negative, it will bring up traditionally "negative" cards -- you know the ones right?
What do you think?
BEM
My answer is likely going to confuse you more. But....first there is no such thing as should. Just do what you want to. If you want to use reversals use them. If you don't, then don't. Many people read their whole lives without doing them and are very good readers. It is not necessary to use them. Some people find it adds something to their readings, others don't.
So how do you know which category you personally fall into, if reversals will improve your readings or not add anything to them. The only way you can know is to try. Then you will SEE from first-hand experience if your readings are better with them, worse because of them, or no difference at all. And once you see the evidence, only then can you decide if you want to keep using them or not.
Learning Tarot is like that. No one can tell you what is the best way for you. YOU are the only one who can find out what works for you. And you find out by trying, trial and error.
That does not mean that you have to start right this moment, if you don't feel ready. Wait until you do, but you can only know if they will add something to YOUR readings or not by trying both ways (with and without) and seeing which leads to better readings for you. We are very much individuals when it comes to learning to read. What works for one, may not for another. You have to find what works for YOU personally, by trying.
And yes, imho, intuition is a huge part of Tarot. I believe it even trumps your usual card meanings. If your intuition tells you in a reading that the cards are telling you something different than your usual meaning that let your meaning go and follow that intuition. You can tell if a card is saying something more positive or negative by intuition. A lot of times you can tell by the logic of the question too. Eg if the question was "What can you tell Joe right now that will make him really happy to hear it?" You can bet the answer will be very positive, if the answer is something that will make him happy.
That being said, and here comes the confusing part, reversals do not at all have to change negatives to positives or vice versa. There are many different methods of using reversals. I alternate between 4 different methods. NONE of them change positives to negatives or vice versa. Yes, I also find that it is unnecessary as my intuition can tell me which is meant to be the answer.
Some methods I use are:
1) a reversed card indicates something is stalled or blocked. It says what the card is talking about WILL happen but you have to be patient as it will take some time. It says what the card is talking about is trying to come to you, but something is in the way and slowing it down.
When this comes up there are two things you can do. If you WANT this this thing that is trying to come to you, you can pull more cards and ask what it is that is slowing it down and getting in the way. And then how you can remove it so what you want is free to flow to you.
If you don't want what is coming you can ask how to keep the blockage in place or how to change the future to one you like more.
2) In relationship readings about two people, I often use upright cards to indicate the querent and reversed readings to indicate the other person. This is useful in questions like "What will our relationship bring in the next 2 years?" For example, if you get The Lovers reversed and Hermit upright it could be saying that the other person will feel a lot of love for you, but you will feel the need to take some alone time to think and make sure he is the right person for you. Reversals here let you know which one of the two of you each card is talking about. This can be useful in readings about two people.
3) I also sometimes use upright cards to indicate what is INSIDE the querent and reversed cards to indicate what is coming to them from the world around them,from OUTSIDE them. Eg in a question such as "What does Joe need to know about this situation right now?" And let's say The Magician comes up. If it came up upright it could say that Joe needs to know that he himself has within him all the he needs and more to deal effectively with whatever may come up. If The Magician reversed came up it might be saying that Joe needs to know that he can trust in the magic of life/the universe. And that if he tunes into that and follows it he will end up in the best place for him. Upright,the magic in him, reversed it is coming from the world around him.
I have one more method I usually use but is one I invented myself. ALWAYS remeber you are free to invent your own methods. Anything that works for you and gives you the results you want is valid.
Personally, I am not a fan of the methods that turns positives into negatives....To me, you can tell all that by intuition so it means more work to do and it doesn't add much.
Those are my opinions and experiences, and my belief that you can only know what will work for the individual who is you by trying. Keep doing what works. Alter or let go of whatever does not. No guilt. We are individuals and it is normal that different things work differently for each of us. It's ONLY about finding out what works best for you. And you WILL find out. Just keep at it.
I never even bothered to learn about ill-dignified cards personally. I didn't feel called to. And my readings never suffered from it.
Babs