How To Read Reversed Cards in Tarot
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How To Read Reversed Cards in Tarot
Choosing whether to read reversals in a Tarot reading is a completely personal choice up to you- some Tarot readers like to use them, others don’t. When first starting to learn Tarot, it is generally recommended not to use reversals so you don’t confuse yourself, but as you become more proficient in the card meanings and speaking their language, you may like to try out reading reversed Tarot cards and seeing if they work for you.
I personally love using reversals in my readings because I feel they add an extra layer of nuance and distinction, but I never used to! I don’t ascribe to the more traditional notion that a reversed Tarot card means the opposite or more negative meaning than its upright version because I feel that that can muddle the message and also be not very empowering. The Tarot already deals with all the situations we encounter in life, and so that naturally contains difficult and unpleasant elements- there’s no need to make them even more negative!
My readings significantly strengthened when I instead ascribed to the more modern notion of reversals largely indicating a resistance to the message of the card. For example, The Sun reversed can indicate a slight resistance to joy, or perhaps that a feeling of success is there but not quite as satisfactory as you had anticipated it to be.
Read on below for 4 of my favourite ways to read reversed Tarot cards with:
4 Ways To Read Tarot Reversals
Below are the 4 most common ways I personally use to interpret Tarot card reversals, I’m sure there are plenty more out there, and which one is appropriate for each situation will vary depending on your own intuition tells you is the correct choice first and foremost, as well the spread and question the card is answering, and the person you are reading for (if any).
Reading reversals can be a really empowering way to lessen the blow of the more negative cards as well as adding more detail to your interpretations, I highly recommend you try them out and see if it works for you!
To get reversals to show up in a Tarot deck, you can either divide the deck in half and turn one half upside down before shuffling them back together do you have a more equal ratio of upright to reversed, or you can lay them all out on the floor and mix them around for a more organic, haphazard combination of upright cards to reversals.
Once you are ready to do a reading, here is how you can interpret reverse Tarot cards:
Resistance
By far the most common method that works for me and resonates with the querent as well is looking at a reversal as a resistance to the message of the card. This can be seen as deep down knowing what is right or what the answer is to our question, but not wanting to accept it, whether consciously or unconsciously.
For example, if the 2 of Swords reversed comes up, we may know that we have to make a choice but we don’t want to, we are resisting the energy around us. Or, similarly, we may be resisting using a combination of logic and intuition, and instead solely focussing on one or the other, or trying to balance both options instead of taking a stance.
Lessening
The second option is a lessening of the intensity of the card’s meaning. This can be a lessening of the energy depicted in the card, such as perhaps a positive card not feeling as positive as we thought it would, or, equally, a more difficult card showing up but we are actually handling it quite well.
For example, if the 3 of Cups reversed is pulled, we may feel a sense of joy and community around us, but it is not abundant as the card might otherwise sometimes suggest. Or, the 5 of Pentacles reversed comes out and we are currently experiencing some financial hardship but have a longterm plan in place and are handling it as best can, it is not affecting us internally as much as it might for somebody else.
Completion
This is another common modern interpretation of Tarot card reversals, although I use it less frequently. It is taken it to mean as the coming to an end of the current cycle represent in that card, a completion of the lesson held in its message. This could mean that you have almost assimilated the message in the card into your psyche and are moving your way out of this energy, or simply that it is coming to a natural ending.
For example, if you pull the 5 of Cups reversed, your intuition could tell you that you are coming to the end of a period of grief, you are still mourning something but are coming out the other side. Or, if you pull the 2 of Pentacles reversed, it could mean that this full moment of multitasking and juggling of options will naturally resolve itself with one task completing.
Internalised
A final popular way of reading reversals is that the energy is more internalised and felt within, rather than witnessed without. This could be particularly beneficial in the case of Court Cards where they can represent the querent (seeker), an external figure, or the situation. If it comes up reversed it can indicate that the querent is feeling this archetype inside in their emotional world, rather than someone else representing these qualities or describing the situation. Using the internalised energy option can also mean that the feeling depicted in the card may not necessarily be an accurate indication of what is actually going on, it simply feels that way.
For example, pulling The Tower reversed can mean that we feel as if the very world as we know it is crumbling and all our unsteady foundations are falling, but externally this is not so. Or, The World reversed may indicate an internal sense of completion, growth, and new phase beginning, but this is just a newfound sense of inner satisfaction and cycle coming to an end, there may not actually be anything distinctive happening around us. Internalised can also be taken to mean as the subconscious, rather than conscious mind.
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There can also be combinations among the options, such as an internalised resistance, or a feeling of lessening as we are coming to the end of period. For example, if the Queen of Wands reversed is pulled, it can be an invitation to step into the confidence of the Queen of Wands and embody her exuberance. Or, the 10 of Swords reversed can indicate that we are dawning a new day after a difficult ending, that although we may still be suffering the consequences of something that occurred, we are coming out of it with a fresh sense of strength or hope.
Another way then can be useful is when you interpret reversed Tarot readings as a whole- if there are a lot of reversals and only one Tarot card upright, it can signify a lot of resistance or tension to the situation at hand. Similarly, it can indicate that as a whole the querent is almost at the end of this situation in general.
Other options I have seen people use also include the reversal holding the energy of the card preceding it, which is an interesting way to begin telling a story between them. Or, similarly to my 2nd option of a lessening of energy, some Tarot readers take reversals to indicate a more extreme manifestation of the meaning. Conversely, sometimes a lessening of energy could not be a good thing, like there is a lack of energy to achieve the message. Others find that it indicates a blockage to the energy or message of the card, which I also quite like.
There’s a variety of ways you can look at reversals, experiment and have a play with what works best for you, as with all exercises in intuition- it’s about strengthening your own connection to the method! There is no one right way, only what feels right in the moment. As I always, I look at the Tarot as an invitation, a guiding light we can choose to act upon. With a reversal, we are be posed the question- what action would it take to turn it upright? It is here that I find them to be most empowering.
In summary, reversed Tarot cards can be read as resistance, a lessening or internalisation of energy, or a completion of the message in the card. They can also be read as the opposite or a more negative indication of their usual meaning if you prefer. I personally find these 4 ways to be more accurate and empowering- I encourage you to try them out and let me know how you get on with them in the comments section below :) or if you have questions or anything else to think about including, I’d be happy to hear it!
If you want more details on reading Tarot cards in general, check out our post for a full list of How To Read Tarot Cards for Beginners.
Do you want to experience what message the cards have for yourself instead? Click here to book in a Personalised Tarot Reading with me and let’s connect!
To deep dive into the mystical world of Tarot complete with all the Tarot card meanings, their astrological correspondences, beginner’s spreads and more- check out our Tarot Guidebook For Heightened Intuition.
