Reversed Tarot cards can be extremely confusing. What do you mean the card’s meaning could be the direct opposite of what you thought? But yet, including them is completely optional? It can start to feel like the possibilities are endless. A proposal turns into a missed opportunity; a death knell becomes new life. If anything means anything, then it all means nothing, right?
Wrong. While interpretation should be flexible, it shouldn’t be arbitrary. Let me offer you an alternative method for reading Tarot reversals that doesn’t make you feel like you’re pulling interpretations out of thin air.
What is a reversed Tarot card?
A reversed Tarot card is an upside-down Tarot card. When the deck is shuffled and cards are pulled, some cards naturally come out upside down. Some readers include this aspect in their interpretations; others don’t, and likely turn them right side up for the reading.
Some sources suggest reversed meanings as the opposite of the upright meaning, which is a simple but problematic solution. There are alternative interpretations for Tarot reversals that offer a more nuanced approach, and that’s what we use here.
Do you have to read Tarot reversals?
No. You don’t ever have to read a reversed card in your life if you don’t want to.
The cards are enough on their own. Every card is inherently neutral, with positive and negative possibilities of meaning. They cover all stages of life and consciousness, with opposites among themselves.
So no, you don’t need to read reversed cards, and we recommend not using them at all in the beginning of your Tarot journey. State that to yourself and be clear. If you change your mind at some point, be clear about that, too.
But once you’re comfortable reading Tarot, you might want to give reversals a shot. They offer a deeper look at the situation and yourself, revealing not just what’s happening, but what might be blocking you, where your energy is waning, or what still needs time to develop.
How to read Tarot reversals
Ready to give it a try? We’ve put together a simple four-step method to help you explore reversals and discover what they might have to teach you.
The rules of reading Tarot reversals the Open Tarot way
So, you know we don’t like that opposite-meaning thing. We believe that, generally, reversals mean the energy of the card isn’t flowing fully. What does that mean? Well, it’s present, but for better or worse, it’s being lessened, blocked, or not fully manifested. Maybe it doesn’t want to be. Maybe it doesn’t need to be. But it’s there, nevertheless. Just… constrained.
But first, here are two basic rules to follow:
- Reversals should ADD meaning to the card, never take it away.
- Upright/reversed is NOT the same as positive/negative.
The reversal shouldn’t change the meaning of the card. You can’t prove a negative, and Tarot doesn’t speak in negatives; it speaks in forces. The card was pulled from the deck in the first place for a reason, and if this card’s energy is weak or even absent, it’s only because it’s blocked, diminished, fading or incomplete. All of that is far more logical and helpful information.
Which brings me to rule #2. Try to forget any notion of positive or negative in the cards. Tarot, in my experience, does not adhere to such human judgments. If reversals are optional, then every card holds positive and negative within it. What’s more interesting—and more helpful—is what you can do with the circumstances you see in front of you, and that is what I hope to offer with this method.
Let’s dive in.
1. Recognize: How does the upright meaning fit your situation?
Pretend that little card is looking at you all sweet and innocent and upright. Turn it right side up to let it sink in. Feel the meaning of that card. Let it speak to you. Don’t think too hard, and listen.
- Is this something happening in my situation?
- Is it something I want or don’t want in my situation?
- Would this card help or hinder the situation?
- Does this card remind me of anything in the situation?
How does this feel when you try it on?
2. Investigate: How does that energy change when the card is reversed?
With this card reversed, that energy is incomplete. It is present in some way, but:
- Emerging or Fading
- Blocked or Forced
- Internalized or Externalized
What is happening to the energy of the card in your situation?
Emerging or Fading
This occurs when the energy of the card is arriving or receding. If the upright energy gives you a feeling like, “Yes, duh, this has been the case for some time now,” then a reversal might mean that the energy will be fading and less important. If it’s something you’re aiming or preparing for, then it might mean it’s on the horizon. The issue in this category is time. When is this energy happening?
Blocked or Forced
If the energy of the card is blocked or forced, then there are other energies at work. Often it’s your own, but it might be someone or something else. Perhaps you’ve been hoping for something, but are blocking it with limiting beliefs. Or perhaps it’s already happening, but the energy is unstable because it’s being pushed into action before it’s ready or fully developed. Maybe everything is lined up, but red tape is slowing it down. In any case, the issue in this category is alignment. How is this energy functioning?
Internalized or Externalized
Sometimes the card is fully present, but only inside ourselves. Maybe we privately hit a milestone and feel proud, but it’s not a big celebration. Internalized cards are incomplete only in the sense that it’s not present from the outside looking in. On the contrary, some things are present from the outside, but not on the inside. Maybe there is a big ceremony but you feel sad, empty or angry about it. The issue in this category is expression. Where is this energy showing up?
How does this reversed card fit your situation?
Looking at all the ways the upright meaning could be incomplete, which one seems to fit you and your situation? Here are some questions you can ask yourself.
Look at the upright energy of the card.
- Is that energy present now in some way?
- If so, when? Past, present or future?
- If so, where? From the outside looking in, or the inside looking out?
- Do I want this (or not want it)?
- If you do want it, are you pushing it through? Are you blocking it somehow with a limiting belief? Is someone else blocking it?
- If you don’t want this, are you afraid of it? Are you actively avoiding it?
- Would this card’s energy help or hinder the situation?
- Should we aim to turn the card right side up?
- Should we keep it reversed?
Feel through the possibilities.
If you need further help, go down the list and see which energy fits. Use a combination of intuition and insight. You might want to tune into your heart center and close your eyes as you do. The best answers usually feel easy, without strain. Like recognizing a friend’s voice in a crowded room.
Is this energy:
- Fading
- Emerging
- Blocked
- Forced
- Internalized, or
- Externalized
It can also be a combination of any of these. Externalized energy can be forced, though it isn’t always. Emerging energy can be blocked. Internalized energy can be emerging as well. Feel your way through it.
3. Re-experience: What feels different when you turn the card upright again?
Yes, we’re going back to the upright meaning. Turn that card right side up for a moment.
After feeling through the reversal, feel the upright energy again. If this energy were fully available to you, what would it look like? How does it feel now that we’ve just explored the reversal? Does it feel scary? Does it feel glorious? Does it feel different than it did in Step 1?
Is this energy something you want to invite into your life? If so, what’s getting in the way?
4. Choose: What do you want to do with this information?
Now what? Is there a course of action here? A simple lesson? Maybe it’s just a warning or a reminder to be kind to yourself. Whatever the takeaway, think about how you can carry this new understanding into your life.
You don’t have to do anything dramatic. Sometimes, simply seeing a situation more clearly is enough.
Putting It All Together
A little cheat sheet. Some of these steps will blend together as you become more proficient. Use this as a starting place. Eventually, you might understand immediately what the reversal means without any of these questions at all.
- Recognize: How does the upright meaning fit your situation?
- Investigate: How does that energy change when the card is reversed?
- Re-experience: What feels different when you turn the card upright again?
- Choose: What do you want to do with this information?
An example of reading Tarot reversals
Eight of Cups, reversed
- The upright meaning of this card is about seeking deeper meaning, a quest. Leaving behind something once desired or loved for something more meaningful. Maybe this fits my situation because I’m feeling stuck in my current job. I want to leave, but I feel like I can’t.
- Let’s look at the Eight of Cups reversed now.
- Is that energy present now in some way? I’d say no, not really. But it gives me hope that it could be on the horizon.Do I want this (or not want it)? I want it. I almost wish it were something happening to me rather than a choice I need to make. But it feels refreshing to think about starting anew. This feels like something I’m blocking from within. I really want to leave the safety of this job, but I don’t believe I can make it without a traditional nine-to-five.Would this card’s energy help or hinder the situation? It would help. I know it wouldn’t be easy, but I can’t keep going in this position. I’m already thinking about leaving my job for something more meaningful. I look into courses, new degrees, and different fields.
- If this card were fully upright, I’d make a plan, sell my belongings, and start that pottery business. Maybe I’d take a short course in writing a business plan.
- What I want to do with this information is take steps toward making my dream a reality. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Maybe I can get my pottery business up and running while still working.
The Sun, reversed
- The upright meaning of this card is happiness, joy, family, success. All the good feels. This energy fits my situation because I have a big show opening coming up. I’m really excited about it, and it’s going well so far. But I really want it to be a success.
- Looking at the Sun reversed:
- Is that energy present now in some way? Yes, absolutely. I’d say the energy is present right now, but not as fully as I’d like. Everyone I talk to congratulates me on my upcoming show, but I’m scared sick about it.
- Do I want this (or not want it)? Oh, I want it. I want it so badly I can’t relax. But on top of that, it feels almost like a burden. While it’s an exciting time, it’s not exactly a free and joyful experience right now. I really want it to be, but it’s much more complicated.
- Would this card’s energy help or hinder the situation? Both, kind of. I mean, true success and happiness would absolutely help the situation, but I also feel like I’m not allowed to be anxious or afraid, or to tell anyone how I really feel.
- If this energy were flowing freely, I’d be able to sleep at night. I’d be able to enjoy this success as it’s happening rather than worrying about every little thing.
- What I want to do with this information is be a little more honest with myself about how I feel. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and it doesn’t feel great every moment. That’s okay. I should give myself a break.
Of course, these are just examples. This is less math homework and more an English essay, but the beauty in that is that there are nooks and crannies left to explore. Have fun with it.
What if all the cards in the reading are reversed?
Okay, you do your reading and they are all reversed. Well, you have a few options.
- You do the darn thing.
Hey, the Universe just showed you what’s up. It’s your job to put in the work.
- You turn those things around.
Look, in the same vein as “if everything is important, nothing is important,” then “if everything is reversed, nothing is reversed.” Reversed from what? You’re telling me all these energies are present and incomplete? Or is it that the collection of cards as a whole is incomplete?
- You turn those things around… and treat the entire reading as one reversal.
So, they’re reversed, but as a unit. Do your reading with the cards upright, distill the meaning down and do the reversed cards process on that entire reading. Is it messy? Sure. But it’s fun to get your hands dirty.
Whichever you do, it’s usually good to do the same one each time. But try a couple different ones out sometime; you may find that an alternative method brings new light to your situation.
What if the opposite meaning makes sense though?
Yeah, it might. I mean, a broken clock is correct twice a day. But even so, this method will still give you more context. I mean, wouldn’t you rather learn that the Ten of Pentacles reversed means your financial abundance is blocked or emerging, rather than ill-fated? Or that your divorce is just an opportunity to learn more about yourself rather than your failure?
The opposite-only meanings can feel unhelpful and negative if we don’t look deeper. This way, you can take a little of your power back
A word about our reversed Tarot meanings
We’ve published reversed meanings for all 78 cards on this site, because they can be helpful at a glance. But they only scratch the surface. This method can take you much deeper.
Should you ignore our reversed meanings? Maybe! If one doesn’t resonate with you, don’t force it. Try the four-step method first, then come back and compare your own insights with ours. You might find something useful, something you disagree with, or something you hadn’t considered before.
You Don’t Have to Get It Right
What’s more helpful in any situation is to make a choice.
Any choice is better than no choice. Or a half-assed one. Because being brave is more valuable than being safe. (Unless you’re in a lion’s den, or being chased by a crocodile, or… you get the picture.)
Tarot is a journey. You will make mistakes; you will get it wrong. But every mistake is an opportunity for a better reading next time—just like reading the reversals as an extra layer is an opportunity to seize autonomy over our lives where we can.
Try it!
Give yourself a one card reading here, and pick reversals. Try it out!