Do you use reversals?

[Grizabella]

I don't usually use reversals but sometimes I do. If I do, then I usually see the reversed cards as being blockages of energy or, with the Courts, I read them as the negative side of whatever the Court card is---like what the King of Coins is like on a bad day, for instance.

The other day, though, Barleywine posted that Arthur Waite (I think it was) said that a reversed card referred back to the last card drawn just before the reversed one. I've forgotten the exact details, but that seems like a reasonable way to read them. Maybe Barleywine will come back to this thread and tell us what it was he said in that other thread.

At any rate, if I do use reversals in a reading, I go back through the deck after the reading and upright all the reversed cards. That way I have a fresh start with the deck next time I read with it. If I decide again that I want to use reversals, I just reverse part of the deck while shuffling.

 

[Barleywine]

I don't usually use reversals but sometimes I do. If I do, then I usually see the reversed cards as being blockages of energy or, with the Courts, I read them as the negative side of whatever the Court card is---like what the King of Coins is like on a bad day, for instance.

The other day, though, Barleywine posted that Arthur Waite (I think it was) said that a reversed card referred back to the last card drawn just before the reversed one. I've forgotten the exact details, but that seems like a reasonable way to read them. Maybe Barleywine will come back to this thread and tell us what it was he said in that other thread.

At any rate, if I do use reversals in a reading, I go back through the deck after the reading and upright all the reversed cards. That way I have a fresh start with the deck next time I read with it. If I decide again that I want to use reversals, I just reverse part of the deck while shuffling.

It was Paul Fenton-Smith in his book Tarot Masterclass that I was referring to, but I don't believe it's unique to him.

 

[think]

I don't usually read reversals but then sometimes I feel like my readings need them, so I do them. I have heard that posted above about referring to the previous card in a case of reversals also, but I prefer to just take it as the card's usual energy being blocked.

 

[CosmicTarot]

I use them 9 times out of 10, since I feel you’d be missing out on a lot of valuable information if you'd skip them. I think they can speak of a blocked potential, and they give a certain nuance to the situation.

Not to say they aren’t confusing, because they are, and, I really detest the act of just blatantly making an abundant card such as, let’s say, Ten or Nine of Cups into something negative just because it’s in reverse, but more often than not, that’s exactly what I do with reversals; see them in a negative light. I don’t think that’s wrong per se, because often it seems to reflect the situation accurately, but I try to do it with some intuitive delicacy. It’s never as easy as: Nine of Cups upright (Wish fulfilled) and Nine of Cups in reverse (Wish declined). I think it’s more … Your wish will be fulfilled, but it might not be exactly what you expected, or, it might take some time, or, it may come with a twist: A blessing in disguise. So to sum it up: I use them, because they give valuable information, but they will take a lot of practice, experience and feedback to fully grasp.

 

[Barleywine]

I use them 9 times out of 10, since I feel you’d be missing out on a lot of valuable information if you'd skip them. I think they can speak of a blocked potential, and they give a certain nuance to the situation.

Not to say they aren’t confusing, because they are, and, I really detest the act of just blatantly making an abundant card such as, let’s say, Ten or Nine of Cups into something negative just because it’s in reverse, but more often than not, that’s exactly what I do with reversals; see them in a negative light. I don’t think that’s wrong per se, because often it seems to reflect the situation accurately, but I try to do it with some intuitive delicacy. It’s never as easy as: Nine of Cups upright (Wish fulfilled) and Nine of Cups in reverse (Wish declined). I think it’s more … Your wish will be fulfilled, but it might not be exactly what you expected, or, it might take some time, or, it may come with a twist: A blessing in disguise. So to sum it up: I use them, because they give valuable information, but they will take a lot of practice, experience and feedback to fully grasp.

Precisely. I think you've got the gist of what they're about, and the wide range of alternative possibilities they offer.

 

[JMI_Tarot]

I decided early on not to use reversals.
It felt to me just too random and when I was learning it was an added level of confusion.
Later I chose to stay with that decision feeling the possible combinations created by 78 "upright" cards was already practically endless.

But every once in a while, despite my efforts to keep the cards "upright" one will come up reversed, and I am always amazed at how intense the message of that card being reversed at that particular moment is.

So, when it happens like that, sort of unexplained, I take it very seriously. I find reversed cards in this situation very meaningful.

 

[Ron521]

According to Juliet Sharman-Burke: "Reversals can be more confusing and baffling than informative, for each Tarot card carries within its upright position both positive and negative possibilities. The surrounding cards ought to be enough to indicate the 'weight' of the card in the spread."

 

[CosmicTarot]

Precisely. I think you've got the gist of what they're about, and the wide range of alternative possibilities they offer.

Thank you for your response, Barleywine, and, what you said: The wide range of alternative possibilities they offer.

I must admit I was way more uncomfortable with reversals before I started to seriously shuffle my deck before every new spread. That is, I put all cards down on the table and ruffle them around and gather them back together. I also decided that I would always pull my cards a certain way. With that rule and the shuffling, suddenly reversals felt very natural to me. Like every spread has its unique and fair potential. The interpretation process still has its difficulties, but I can't imagine proceeding without them.

 

[Barleywine]

According to Juliet Sharman-Burke: "Reversals can be more confusing and baffling than informative, for each Tarot card carries within its upright position both positive and negative possibilities. The surrounding cards ought to be enough to indicate the 'weight' of the card in the spread."

It depends entirely on the individual reader. There is no "right way" for everyone, so categorical statements like this don't carry a lot of weight. I get a lot of mileage out of reversals, but as the saying goes "YMMV."

 

[Maru]

There's more to Tarot than just the missionary position

... is my answer