Reading reversals

[EmpressAdora]

Hi all!

 

I just found this forum today, and I am so happy that I did!  This is my first post, so I guess it will double as an introduction as well as a discussion on some ideas I had. You can call me Adora. I have been reading Tarot for somewhere around 20 years now. Although I didn’t get really serious about learning and memorizing the cards for the past few years. I read based solely on intuition before that. Some of you may recognize me from other forums that used to be around, I certainly see some familiar names here!

 

In my reading career I have always struggled with reversals. For the majority of the time I read I completely disregarded them completely.  I had been under the impression that they were always to be the opposite of the dignified version of the card. That never seemed to be accurate for me. Of course we know that’s not true. So, I have done a lot of reading and found many many other ways to read reversals. Blocked energy of the card, upside down etc etc. I still found that non of that really worked for me. Though it also found that leaving reversals out was lacking as well, because I didn’t think the regular upright version is what the card was trying to tell me!  Out of frustration I pressed on this more. I just had the thought, what if they mean an extreme version of the upright card?  Has anyone used this interpretation before?  I know each card can have a million different meanings in different readings of course. For example, in a reading where the 6 of cups meant that you were nostalgic about your past with someone, reverses would mean something along the lines that you’re obsessing about the past and not moving forward. ( this isn’t a real reading just the first thing that came to mind). I would love to hear what everyone’s thoughts are on reversals. Also, hello and nice to meet you!

[Guest libra]

Nice to meet you! Welcome to the forum - I can hop you're going to love it here by how much thought you put into subjects, this is driveline a great forum for really digging deep into tarot!

 

I actually use that technique for just reading tarot in general (I made a thread recently called Tarot to the Extreme that you can find in the forums!). I believe that every card has a wide range of meanings, so I haven't yet got the point where I feel like my practice needs reversals. I put a lot of time into seeing how a card might read if it were blocked energy, if it were the shadow energy, if it was distorted, if it were over amplified etc etc. I generally use the surrounding cards - the colours, the suits, the numbers, even the way the characters are facing - to help ease out where in the range of possibilities the meaning lies. And then, if it's a single card pull, I'm 100% relying on my intuition to tell me. Like if someone asked "How can I make more friends?" & I pulled the 3 of Cups. Maybe I had a "fly-on-the-wall" vibe, looking in at the 3 happy people but separate from them. Then, the choice is to just take the leap and say hello! But it could have the vibe of being in the thick of it and feeling lonely still, then the card may be asking the querent to put some time into appreciating the relationships they have - or, to leave them and find a new circle where they aren't made to feel isolated in a crowded room!

 

There's so much that can be dug out of the cards, even without reversals! Whichever way you choose to read, good luck!

[EmpressAdora]

Nice to meet you! Welcome to the forum - I can hop you're going to love it here by how much thought you put into subjects, this is driveline a great forum for really digging deep into tarot!

 

I actually use that technique for just reading tarot in general (I made a thread recently called Tarot to the Extreme that you can find in the forums!). I believe that every card has a wide range of meanings, so I haven't yet got the point where I feel like my practice needs reversals. I put a lot of time into seeing how a card might read if it were blocked energy, if it were the shadow energy, if it was distorted, if it were over amplified etc etc. I generally use the surrounding cards - the colours, the suits, the numbers, even the way the characters are facing - to help ease out where in the range of possibilities the meaning lies. And then, if it's a single card pull, I'm 100% relying on my intuition to tell me. Like if someone asked "How can I make more friends?" & I pulled the 3 of Cups. Maybe I had a "fly-on-the-wall" vibe, looking in at the 3 happy people but separate from them. Then, the choice is to just take the leap and say hello! But it could have the vibe of being in the thick of it and feeling lonely still, then the card may be asking the querent to put some time into appreciating the relationships they have - or, to leave them and find a new circle where they aren't made to feel isolated in a crowded room!

 

There's so much that can be dug out of the cards, even without reversals! Whichever way you choose to read, good luck!

 

Hi Libra, thanks for your response!  That's really useful inside and I'll definitely  check out your other thread. I agree with you completely on the cards having so many meanings. I have also den trying to pay more attention to the "movement" in the cards. I find this very helpful. Noticing that the characters are.going towards other cards really does a lot for the dynamic in the reading. You're right about the one card draws though. I find myself drawn to them, but it's so much harder to decipher without surrounding cards!

[Guest libra]

I don't know what decks you work with regularly, but one thing you might want to check out is basically the emotional pulse of your decks, so to speak. If they are all on a similar level, it could  help to diversify the range of decks you use. I found Archeon Tarot and Mary-El instrumental in learning to really expand my knowledge of individual cards - Archeon because  it reads like reversals naturally if you allow it be read intuitively, and Mary-El far it just so different from the norms that you can't rely on what you know of tarot to read it.

 

I'm basically mentioning this because it does sound to me like you've got a really solid understanding of "This card means this (and could also mean this)", but you're looking to take it to the next level - and it seems like reversals could be the next step your looking for, but also that changing up your reading style a bit might scratch that itch as well?

 

Mary K Greer has a book dedicated to reversals, you might want to seek that out. It definitely does help get past the "opposite" meaning, that's for sure!

[EmpressAdora]

I don't know what decks you work with regularly, but one thing you might want to check out is basically the emotional pulse of your decks, so to speak. If they are all on a similar level, it could  help to diversify the range of decks you use. I found Archeon Tarot and Mary-El instrumental in learning to really expand my knowledge of individual cards - Archeon because  it reads like reversals naturally if you allow it be read intuitively, and Mary-El far it just so different from the norms that you can't rely on what you know of tarot to read it.

 

I'm basically mentioning this because it does sound to me like you've got a really solid understanding of "This card means this (and could also mean this)", but you're looking to take it to the next level - and it seems like reversals could be the next step your looking for, but also that changing up your reading style a bit might scratch that itch as well?

 

Mary K Greer has a book dedicated to reversals, you might want to seek that out. It definitely does help get past the "opposite" meaning, that's for sure!

 

Those are really great ideas!  I’m a collector of decks, so I have quite a few. However, I have recently found it easiest to read with the Anna I deck. There’s a lot of action in the cards and I think it helps me understand more of what they’re trying to point at. You’re right, I have been reading for a long time and do have that basic knowledge down. I’m one of those people that always wants to learn more and understand on a deeper level. I think you hit the nail on the head with that. I felt like I was missing out on some diversities by not understanding the role of reversals. I’ll have to check that book ok. I have read a few of her other books and they were very insightful!

[Guest libra]

I don't know what decks you work with regularly, but one thing you might want to check out is basically the emotional pulse of your decks, so to speak. If they are all on a similar level, it could  help to diversify the range of decks you use. I found Archeon Tarot and Mary-El instrumental in learning to really expand my knowledge of individual cards - Archeon because  it reads like reversals naturally if you allow it be read intuitively, and Mary-El far it just so different from the norms that you can't rely on what you know of tarot to read it.

 

I'm basically mentioning this because it does sound to me like you've got a really solid understanding of "This card means this (and could also mean this)", but you're looking to take it to the next level - and it seems like reversals could be the next step your looking for, but also that changing up your reading style a bit might scratch that itch as well?

 

Mary K Greer has a book dedicated to reversals, you might want to seek that out. It definitely does help get past the "opposite" meaning, that's for sure!

 

Those are really great ideas!  I’m a collector of decks, so I have quite a few. However, I have recently found it easiest to read with the Anna I deck. There’s a lot of action in the cards and I think it helps me understand more of what they’re trying to point at. You’re right, I have been reading for a long time and do have that basic knowledge down. I’m one of those people that always wants to learn more and understand on a deeper level. I think you hit the nail on the head with that. I felt like I was missing out on some diversities by not understanding the role of reversals. I’ll have to check that book ok. I have read a few of her other books and they were very insightful!

 

She is one of my tarot superstars that's for sure! There's also some ideas in this YouTube video you might resonate with - https://youtu.be/waOdFy6JJP4.

 

It's up great you found a deck that is both easy to read AND begins new growth and knowledge!

[EmpressAdora]

That video was enlightening!  It also suggested one from John bellantrae that was really really good!  Thank you for the suggestion!

[DanielJUK]

Glad you found us here Adora  8)  X/

 

Nobody has to use reversals, some people use them and some don't. I find they really add to my readings and mostly use them but don't with some decks. But if you do use reversals, it's absolutely fine to work out a method that works for you because there are different ways of using them. I have a tarot reading friend who is a pro reader who uses them like blocked energy which you said in your post doesn't work so well for you but I have had a reading using her style and it worked so well for my reading. So the 6 of Cups would be blocked, if they wanted to see an ex or relive their childhood or go to a place with memories, there might be something in the way. It can represent traumatic childhood memories for example or maybe the ex is married to someone now, the connection is different to high school for example. Sometimes this says to do an action to unblock the upright card's energy.

 

My way of using reversals is to use multiple methods depending on the positions and the reading, I do this in this order....

 

- the meaning I have in my head for the reversed card, for the 6 of Cups (rx) it's someone is stuck in the past or too nostalgic. It's good to have memories but we have to move on with our lives, not live in the past! Many authors have their own reversed meanings, Waite has meanings for the RWS or you can find your own meanings.

 

- the opposite of the upright. I know you tried this and didn't get on with it. I have found it's not always the total opposite, it's more subtle. The 10 of Swords and Tower don't mean everything is going to be okay, they are not completely different to the upright. The 5 cards especially in the suits are very different to the uprights, they are almost always more positive. But Tarot is subtle and changes per reading, the cards reversed can be more positive or less depending per reading.

 

- blocked energy - we covered this but sometimes it is a sign that someone cannot progress until they do something to allow that energy to flow in their life.

 

The extreme of the upright energy is really interesting. I see this in my learnt meaning of the card. It doesn't happen in every card but for the 6 of Cups, this becomes more of an obstacle as a card, they need to work at moving on for their own good.

 

In my readings, the reversals are different for each reading, in each spread, in each position, but I go with what I feel is the best fit.

[Carus]

Now I'll add my Thoth inspired two cents. reversals are not really a thing in the Thoth Deck, instead it uses the interrelationships of the cards to indicate whether a central card is well or ill dignified. Thus Thoth spreads are often in groups of three where one central card can feel the influence of two supporters who dignify the principal card and also "colour" it. This adds a range of subtlety that would not otherwise be there and does not need the blunt tool that reversals can be.

 

n ill-dignified card is not usually so much the opposite, it tends to be a stagnant force. It really does have a different feel to it. I would actually recommend the Thoth if this sort of interplay is of interest to you as it is built in. Regardless though it might be helpful to look at the groupings and see if they are telling you what a reversal might partly indicate. 

[EmpressAdora]

Glad you found us here Adora  8)  X/

 

Nobody has to use reversals, some people use them and some don't. I find they really add to my readings and mostly use them but don't with some decks. But if you do use reversals, it's absolutely fine to work out a method that works for you because there are different ways of using them. I have a tarot reading friend who is a pro reader who uses them like blocked energy which you said in your post doesn't work so well for you but I have had a reading using her style and it worked so well for my reading. So the 6 of Cups would be blocked, if they wanted to see an ex or relive their childhood or go to a place with memories, there might be something in the way. It can represent traumatic childhood memories for example or maybe the ex is married to someone now, the connection is different to high school for example. Sometimes this says to do an action to unblock the upright card's energy.

 

My way of using reversals is to use multiple methods depending on the positions and the reading, I do this in this order....

 

- the meaning I have in my head for the reversed card, for the 6 of Cups (rx) it's someone is stuck in the past or too nostalgic. It's good to have memories but we have to move on with our lives, not live in the past! Many authors have their own reversed meanings, Waite has meanings for the RWS or you can find your own meanings.

 

- the opposite of the upright. I know you tried this and didn't get on with it. I have found it's not always the total opposite, it's more subtle. The 10 of Swords and Tower don't mean everything is going to be okay, they are not completely different to the upright. The 5 cards especially in the suits are very different to the uprights, they are almost always more positive. But Tarot is subtle and changes per reading, the cards reversed can be more positive or less depending per reading.

 

- blocked energy - we covered this but sometimes it is a sign that someone cannot progress until they do something to allow that energy to flow in their life.

 

The extreme of the upright energy is really interesting. I see this in my learnt meaning of the card. It doesn't happen in every card but for the 6 of Cups, this becomes more of an obstacle as a card, they need to work at moving on for their own good.

 

In my readings, the reversals are different for each reading, in each spread, in each position, but I go with what I feel is the best fit.

 

This is so interesting to me. Like you, I feel like adding reversals in certainly adds something to the reading. When I trued to read ignoring them the meanings never felt quite right to me. I think maybe the issue in the past was trying to pigeon hold myself into a way to read reversals. As in, it always means blocked energy, or upside down, or extreme etc. I think that is a mistake. I was second guessing my own intuition into thinking my feeling couldn’t be right because that’s not what that type of reversal would mean. So , think from what you and others are saying is go what feels right. Or what gives you that “ah ha” moment!

[EmpressAdora]

Now I'll add my Thoth inspired two cents. reversals are not really a thing in the Thoth Deck, instead it uses the interrelationships of the cards to indicate whether a central card is well or ill dignified. Thus Thoth spreads are often in groups of three where one central card can feel the influence of two supporters who dignify the principal card and also "colour" it. This adds a range of subtlety that would not otherwise be there and does not need the blunt tool that reversals can be.

 

n ill-dignified card is not usually so much the opposite, it tends to be a stagnant force. It really does have a different feel to it. I would actually recommend the Thoth if this sort of interplay is of interest to you as it is built in. Regardless though it might be helpful to look at the groupings and see if they are telling you what a reversal might partly indicate.

 

I have always been interested in looking into the Thoth decks. I know they are quite different. There are a few cards that I do know the meanings for which I find to be quite relevant even in the RWS deck. One that comes to mind is strength and lust. As in a lot of my readings the strength card has come up in a very lusty sort of way. And I thought oh that makes sense because of Thoth. I can certainly see myself delving into this into the future. I like to learn as much as I can to be the most well rounded reader possible. So, it wouldn’t hurt right?