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.
Blocked Energy
Reversed cards often indicate energy that is present but not being expressed constructively. This “blocked” energy may point to challenges preventing growth or harmony. For instance, Temperance reversal may suggest a desire for balance currently hindered by external chaos or internal resistance.
How to Apply This: Ask reflective questions like, “What’s preventing you from experiencing harmony right now?” or “What steps can you take to remove this block?” You can also draw additional cards to uncover actionable advice for overcoming these obstacles.
Upside-Down Imagery
Reversals can also be interpreted by observing the visual changes in a card’s imagery when it’s upside-down. This technique engages your intuition and offers fresh perspectives on the card’s meaning.
For example:
- The Ten of Swords reversed shows swords falling away, suggesting a release of past pain and the start of a healing process.
- The Page of Pentacles reversed may appear as if the coin is slipping out of the figure’s hands, representing missed opportunities or a lack of focus.
How to Apply This: Let the reversed imagery guide your interpretation. Trust your intuitive reactions to the card’s visual cues and use them to add depth to your reading.
Tips for Reading Reversals
With multiple ways to interpret reversed cards, you might wonder how to decide which method to use. Here are some tips:
1. Set an Intention Before the Reading
Decide on a specific method for interpreting reversals and mentally commit to it. For example, you might interpret all reversed cards as “blocked energy” for that session. This clarity helps align the reading with your chosen approach.
2. Follow Your Intuition
Sometimes, your gut instinct will guide you to the correct interpretation. Trust your inner voice and let your intuition inform how you read a particular reversal.
3. Look for Patterns
Pay attention to recurring themes in the cards. For instance, if multiple reversed cards suggest blocked energy, this might indicate an overarching challenge the querent is facing.
4. Build Experience
Over time, you’ll develop your associations with reversed cards. Reflect on past readings and gather client feedback to refine your understanding of reversals manifest in real-life situations.
How to Start Using Reversals
Ready to dive into reversals? Here’s a simple way to get started:
- Shuffle with Intention: Mix upright and reversed cards into your deck. You can split the deck into three piles, flip one pile, and shuffle them back together, or use a “messy pile” shuffle to create reversals.
- Decide Orientation: Determine if you’ll read the cards facing you or the querent before you begin.
- Experiment: Start incorporating reversals into small spreads and practice different interpretation methods.