Everything Under the Moon

Hi. I just wanted to ask. If you draw a Tarot card and it is upside down does it mean the opposite of what the card means right side up? I have read Tarot books some say yes, others say no, and then some don't mention it. I was just wondering. I have this new deck that I am getting personalized with and the book doesn't mention reversal meanings...but I have a Rider-Waite deck that does. Just wondering. Thank you

No it doesn't always mean the opposite, but it can. it usually just modifies the meaning, as do any adjacent cards. It's up to you to look to the theme coming through from the whole spread to divine the meaning. For in depth description of meanings I use the website trulyteachmetarot.com. Check them out, they are very comprehensive.

thank you so much this helps a lot

The reversal may point to different things, it often depends on the general reading (as Dark Moon wisely wrote). Sometimes it could mean that the energy of that card is deep in the subconscious mind and still not accessible to you (in the sense that you would have to dig deep to access it), or perhaps there is too little or too much of that card's energy (for example, the Sun reversed may say that you have little energy or that you are burning too much energy). Sometimes the card's energy is blocked or delayed, or it may have belonged to the past (the Nine of Swords reversed could be telling that you have left your nightmares behind you). As already said, the other cards can usually point you in the right direction when interpreting reversals.

Synergin, I really like what you wrote about the energy of the card perhaps being blocked when reversed, and I think that's a really accurate way of conceptualising it. Thanks.

Thank ya'll so much this is a big help Definitely gives me a lot to think about!!

i was taught to ignore reverse?and see what all the cards are? few have two or three meanings to them ?so it depends what cards are before them? and after them? im still learning though,i only know the basic meanings of tarot,i get a warm feeling from the cards just not senceing what they are trying to tell me has yet

thank you

Your welcome I have the rider Waite cards with writing on too, it has reversed meanings on it as well, I was taught they are good ones to learn with? But to ignore the meanings on them and taught how the medium learnt and taught us in a group.im trying to hear and see what they tell me? But I'm not picking spiritual messages as yet but I'm trying the oracle cosmic cards now? I'm doing the tips I'm read on this group and odd times I am getting little bits from them , my pendulums told me to work with them more. I'm learning a lot from reading in the group I talk to them more and keep them in a lovely purple velvet bag and under my pillow a few nights too, I hope you get on well with your cards as well

thank you

your welcome,we never stop learning things hey?im always reading books,and online,maybe to much at times lol.but things interest me and we do learn by reading and trying things too

yea!!!

Reversals are tricky because many books contradict one another on their meanings. That is why I don't always use them. Sometimes I feel compelled to use them though. Some people feel that a reversal of 9 Swords, for example, makes the meaning more intense (depression/nightmares) whereas others would see it as emerging from a dark tunnel and finding optimism. You can decide to stick to a book's meaning for a particular deck or you can decide what feels right for you. I agree that the surrounding cards can aid in the insight of the reversed card.

This is an older thread, but I have yet another point of view that I could add to this...you may want to consider.

With my deck (Mystic Faerie Tarot), reversed cards are cards that are especially significant in the reading. Not opposite meaning, just extra potent. Something to think about.


~Falcon

I tend not to use reversals in my tarot readings. I feel like there's already plenty going on with 78 different card meanings. I can usually let my intuition fill in the rest -- as I try to create a coherent narrative out of a spread, I generally can tell whether this card is something in development, or partially inhibited. I like having a little bit of latitude when I'm writing up the interpretation!