Upside Down Isn’t Wrong: A Complete Guide to Reading Reversed Tarot Cards
A lot of readers choose not to read reversals, and that’s fine. But I really feel like you miss out on a lot when you don’t look at reversals. They add so much nuance and depth to a reading, they’re worth looking into!
Reversals can mean one of 4 things.
A lack of the energy of the card
A blockage in that card’s energy
The shadow side of that card’s energy, possibly taken to an extreme
A warning around the energy of that card
You can usually tell which that reversed card represents by the surrounding cards, intuition, and the question that the querant asks.
A lack of the energy of the card
This shows up when the energy just isn’t present. For example, the 8 of Wands usually represents movement. But if the querant is wondering why they aren’t getting things done, this card reversed could represent a lack of motion or getting stuck in a rut, being tired, not having the energy to take the proper steps towards their goal. It might show that they need more rest and self care before they are able to take those steps and make that next movement. Or they may need more support from their loved ones to encourage them to move toward their goals. The reversal here tells a story of stagnation, and if we didn’t read that reversal, we might have missed that.
A blockage in the card’s energy
Let’s use the same example. If the 8 of Wands comes up reversed, and we’re led to see it as a blockage, there could be something restricting the querant’s movement. This could be car or transportation issues, disability, or even a health issue that is keeping the querant from being able to move and take those next steps. This is usually an external force that’s working against the querant in the realm of this card’s energy.
The shadow side of the card’s energy
Perhaps the 8 of Wands is reversed because the querant is doing too much, and not focusing in on the right steps. Maybe they’re just ‘spinning their wheels’ without a strong sense of direction. Maybe they’re driving the people around them crazy with their unfocused energy so that they don’t want to help the querant. In a literal sense, this could mean that the querant is traveling so much that they’re missing out on other important things. Do you see how nuanced reversals can be?
A warning about the card’s energy
Using the 8 of Wands again, we can see warnings around travel or energy. A sudden stop of movement could be an accident. It could be a health crash, which stops all movement in the querant’s life. It’s definitely important here to look at the other cards closely and be sure before suggesting any of these options. And as always, tarot does NOT replace medical advice from a qualified, licensed professional. Just remember here that forewarned is forearmed, and you can phrase your warning in a helpful way, like ‘Hey, be careful on the road, you may see some trouble out there, so be aware!’
So as you can see with this one card, we have an abundance of possibilities for what this reversal could mean. It’s important to take into account the other cards to see the story they’re trying to tell, your intuition and what you sense or feel the reversal may mean, and the feedback you’re getting from your querant. Often times, you can say ‘This card is showing us a lack of movement’ and the querant will come forward with their interpretation, knowing exactly what it means TO THEM. Remember that ideally, a reading is a two-way communication, and you don’t have to know absolutely everything, you’re just trying to uncover the story with the querant.
Do you read reversals? What are some ways that you read reversed cards? Let me know in the comments!
