Just to add in, there are many different ways to use reversals. They don't have to follow the plan where a reversal turns the upright card into its opposite. I have used 5 different reversals methods over time (I still each of them at times depending on what feels right. But I have never used the usual method that turns negatives into positives or vice versa..I never saw that as necessary. To me all cards contain all aspects of their situation already in them. The plus and minus. They can talk about the absence of their energy as well as the presence of it. Which one the cards are talking about, you can sense that with your intuation and from which makes more sense given the questions asked.
Briefly just to add it in. here are the methods i have used for reversals.
1) Here a reversed card says that the energy of the card is there and trying to manifest itse;f but it will take time. There will be a delay as something is blocking it from coming. I've found that is usually something the querent is doing. Then you can ask what is blocking it and how to remove it so that what hte person wants can come more quickly and smoothly to them.
2) This one is for a relationship reading. Upright cards represent the querent, reversed cards represent the other person involved. It serves to clarify which person of two the cards are talking about.
Like if Mary asked where were relationship with Joe will be 6 months from now. And if she got the Lovers reversed and the Hermit upright, it could say that in 6 months from now Joe would be in love with her, but she would be unsure inside and need time out to think things out. Reversals are handy in that kind of quesitons to show which the cards are talking abou where.
3) I sometimes use reversals to differentiate between inner and outer processes. Here an upright card means what is going on inside the querent and reversed means something more general of coming from outside of themlselves. EG The Lovers upright could be love they feel for something of someone. The Lovers reversed could to talking of the concept of love itself, univeresal love, or talking about the energy of life being love-based.
4) Reversals are also the simplist, imo, way to do yes/no questions. When I do this, upright = yes, reversed=no. No guesswork, just pure and simple.
5) My own personal method I invented, which is the one I use most and that I won't get into at the moment. Somewhat complex but it's me. My last bit of advice is to always remember that you ARE free to invent anything you want to in Tarot. Whatever method works well for you is fine. No matter where it came from.
If you ever find you would like your cards to do something for you they are not currently doing, invent it. Reverse problem solve. Figure out what the end result you want is and think out ways the cards can get you there. Keep experimenting and trying out the new ways till you get there.
Babs