Beginner’s Guide to Reversed Tarot Cards: How to Interpret and Use Them

Reversed tarot cards often get a bad reputation, even among seasoned readers. Words like “betrayal,” “deception,” or “manipulation” can make reversals feel overly negative, leading many readers to avoid them altogether. However, reversed cards offer incredible depth and insight that can enrich your readings. By approaching reversals with a balanced mindset, you can unlock their full potential and use them to empower yourself and your clients. In this guide, I’ll share practical methods to interpret reversed tarot cards in a way that’s insightful, balanced, and free from unnecessary negativity.

Why Use Reversed Tarot Cards?

If you’re new to tarot, you might wonder why you’d complicate things by adding reversed cards to your readings. Incorporating reversals can feel overwhelming initially, but you don’t need to learn 78 new meanings for every card. Instead, you can use simple techniques to interpret reversals by building on the upright meanings of the cards.

Reversed cards add insight to your readings, offering a deeper understanding of situations. They help you identify internal versus external energy, recognize imbalances, and pinpoint blocks. By incorporating reversals, you can expand your intuitive practice, moving beyond traditional meanings into personalized interpretations. While reading with reversals isn’t mandatory, it’s an excellent way to deepen your connection with the cards and enhance your skills as a tarot reader.

4 Effective Methods for Interpreting Reversed Tarot Cards

Here are four of my favorite techniques for understanding reversed tarot cards. These methods focus on balance, empowerment, and practicality, making them ideal for beginners and experienced readers.

Internalized Energy

Tarot cards symbolize energy in its many forms. Upright cards often represent external, outwardly expressed energy, while reversed cards signify internalized energy. This means the power of a reversed card is more personal, private, or self-directed. For example, the upright Empress may symbolize nurturing others or bringing projects to life. In reverse, the Empress may point to self-care or personal creative growth. Similarly, upright energy might focus on external relationships, while reversed energy centers on inner work or reflection.

How to Apply This: Add the word “self” or “private” to the upright meaning of a card to uncover its reversed interpretation. This approach keeps the reading neutral, focusing on where the energy is expressed rather than labeling it as “good” or “bad.”

Too Much or Too Little Energy

Reversals often highlight an imbalance in the energy of a card. This imbalance can manifest as either an excess or a deficiency. Take the Queen of Wands as an example. Upright, she embodies confidence and charisma. Reversed, she might represent being overly dominant or aggressive (too much energy) or shy and withdrawn (too little energy).

How to Apply This: Use reversals to explore where energy is out of balance. Frame it as a question: “Are you feeling too assertive or not assertive enough in this situation?” This opens a dialogue and empowers the querent to reflect on how they can restore balance.