Reversed Tarot cards are simply cards in a reading that come out of the deck and are laid down upside-down and require a different interpretation that their upright meaning. Moreover, there is quite a divide in the Tarot world between Readers who do read reversals and those who do not. For the motives of each camp see our previous post, To Read or not to Read Reversed Tarot Cards. Although I don’t read reversals, if you are in the camp who does, we offer the below 4 simple techniques for reading reversed Tarot cards.
Why Read Reversed Tarot Cards?
It’s a personal choice to read or not to read reversed Tarot cards. Personally, I feel they risk an unnecessary amount of negative meanings to the reading. For the positive cards in the deck are negative when they are reversed and the negative cards are often still negative when reversed.
However, those who choose to read reversed cards, state they do so for assuring their readings are more complex and nuanced than readings without them. And I have to agree with this logic.
4 Simple Techniques for Reading Reversed Tarot Cards
Importantly, for these techniques to be effective, the Reader will need to know the upright meanings of all 78 Tarot cards. However, this is more advantageous than learning an additional reversed meaning for all 78 cards. For many of the traditional reversed meanings have no relationship to the card’s upright meaning.
Nonetheless, if a Reader adopts the below techniques as their mode of reading reversals, the “Wisdom of the Tarot” will assure the correct card comes up reversed in their reading. Then they must use their intuition to determine which of the 4 techniques is appropriate in relation to the reading question, the card’s upright meaning, and the card’s position in the spread.
Note: in the examples in this post we are using the classic Rider-Waite-Smith deck.
1. The Opposite of the Card’s Upright Meaning
This the simplest of the 4 techniques for reading reversed Tarot cards. Assuming you know the card’s upright meaning, you also know the opposite of that meaning. For example: the upright 3 of Pentacle features a tradesman receiving collaboration or teamwork from two others.
However, a reversed 3 of Pentacles could mean that the Querent (reading requestor) is on their own. In other words, help is not coming. They are going to need to take the initiative and accomplish the goal all on their own.
Contrarily, the Querent is not accepting help that is offered, trying to do it on their own, or reinventing the wheel.
2. Too Much of the Card’s Upright Meaning
Yes, we can have too much of a good thing. Excesses and indulgences can distract us from our real goals. For example: the upright 3 of Cups card features three ladies dancing while holding up their cups in joyous celebration.
However, a reversed 3 of Cups can denote there is too much partying going on when real work needs to be done. This is a message to stop playing around and get serious about achieving your goal.
Or in a relationship reading, this card could denote that one partner is going out partying with friends far too often adversely affecting the relationship.
3. Too Little of the Card’s Upright Meaning
Contrarily, there can be too little of a good thing. For Example: the upright 9 of Pentacles features a woman enjoying the fruits of her labors standing in her opulent garden wearing expensive clothing. Moreover, she is seen falconing, considered a pastime of the wealthy. She is a representation of earned wealth, luxury, abundance of material things.
However, a reversed 9 of Pentacles denotes “all work and no play” makes for a dull life. It’s important to take time out to “smell the roses” and enjoy one’s abundance. If not, what would be the point of acquiring things.
Another scenario is the Querent can’t financially afford luxuries and comfort. Or they’re just not allowing themselves these things due to feeling they are undeserving or to an overly thrifty attitude.
4. Internal Expression of the Card’s Message
Instead of what is going on around the Querent, interpret the reversed card as what is going on in inside them. In this technique, a positive card remains positive and a negative card remains negative. For instead of the reversed card’s message playing out into the world, it’s playing out in the Querent’s internal landscape.
For Example: the upright 6 of Wands features a man on horseback riding through a crowd of onlookers. He is receiving public recognition for his great success.
However, a reversed 6 of Wands could denote that the Querent needs to give themselves credit for their accomplishments. Especially, if no one else is congratulating them.
How to Assure Your Reading Contains Reversed Cards
The best way to assure the reading has ample reversed cards is to “stack the deck” so to speak when shuffling. In other words, take half the deck upright and the other half upside-down and shuffle them together. Brrr! For a non-reversal reader, the visual of this technique gives me shivers down to my toes.
Final Words for 4 Simple Techniques for Reading Reversed Tarot Cards
If you choose to read reversals, I know these 4 simple techniques for reading reversed Tarot cards will take the stress out of your readings. And more importantly they will remove the need to learn 78 reversed card meanings. For if you only know the upright card meanings, you can figure out the reversed meanings using these simple techniques. Therefore, why not give them a try.
As always, thank you for reading and Happy Taroting!
Note: To book a professional Tarot reading with Jeannette see our Book a Reading page.
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