Reversed Cards?

[Mozelle]

Personally I leave reversed cards in when I'm reading. But I know some people take them out. Do you feel like a person is getting a accurate reading when these cards are removed or read as if they were straight up. Personally I can't see it being a reading. If I paid for a reading from someone. Then I want a True reading. I'm not saying that someone else's method isn't true. But for me If I pay for a reading I want a reading. That includes the good the bad and the ugly. I just don't understand the logic of not reading the reversed cards. Maybe someone could explain it to me. Because reverse card do not mean the same thing as a card that comes up straight. Maybe I'm missing something here.

[Celtaur]

I think that reversed cards can be important but are not necessary. However, what if all the cards are reversed - one should wonder if their entire deck is actually upside down to start with?

I think if one knows their deck and their cards, it's not about being literal about reversed or upright as reading from a book would interpret. I think that the intuition steps in and interprets the meaning of a card regardless of how it is placed. Also considering the second card of a celtic spread, it is sideways, and different readers may interpret it upright or reversed depending on how it is laid and their personal methods. I think if a card is reversed and the literal meaning read out of a book (which is often the case) is the only thing considered rather than considering the card as a whole then the reader may be missing the point of working with the tarot. Reversed cards do not mean explicitly different meanings than upright, the reversed meaning relates to the upright meaning of the card. The card is a whole.

I think that if someone is in the early stages of learning about doing tarot readings then starting with upright is the way to go, which will allow one to learn the meanings of the cards in general and have a good understanding of the tarot. Then when the upright is understood as a whole, then the reversed can be applied and understood as relating in many aspects. I think if someone is doing readings for someone else, and reads literal interpretations of a reversed card from a book, then they may want to learn the tarot in the upright first, especially if doing readings for others and especially if getting paid.

I think upright has a lot to offer on their own. 78 cards intermingling, providing meaning upon their relationships, not as individual, separate interpretations, provides for many more possibilities of consideration that a lottery could dream.

A lot of people think that reversed cards are "negative" which is not the case, many cards in their upright could be interpreted as negative, and of course it is all dependent on their relationships.

It has a lot to do with shuffling as well. A lot of people don't intentionally mix their cards so that there are upright and reversed throughout the deck on purpose. If one intentionally shuffles their deck to ensure there are reversed, I think it takes away from the natural progression of card relationships through synchronicity.

I know a lot of people don't even have a grasp of the upright positions without looking at a book, after all the tarot is complex and takes a lot of study to understand, and can be studied for decades even. I think reversed should be understood as one learns, but upright should be the focus when learning, with the reverse as a compliment to the understanding of the card as a whole. I couldn't imagine someone even considering getting paid for doing readings if the reversed meanings are literal and from a book if upright on their own haven't even been grasped at least at their minimum without the requirement of a book yet and that usually takes most people dedication to study for a long time. I think if someone is well versed in the tarot, without the requirement for book references, then reversals could be included, and understood as part of the whole. I think a solid foundation of upright should be the step prior to inclusion of reversals. It depends on where the reader is in their experience and abilities.

[dpa]

Hello Mozelle I hope all is well.

It would depend on the person who is reading for you. Some readers do discard reversed cards because they may see reversed cards holding the same meaning as right side up. Every reader has their own personal style of reading. But every deck I have seen comes with a little booklet with the basic meanings of each card upright and reversed. Reversed cards are like opposites and may have a deeper meaning especially for the person who has been doing the reading for you. Reversed cards can have a meaning that says to the reader this is a part of the clients life that needs work on or the client is unaware of, of course depending on the kind of spread and where the card falls as reversed. This question could bring up different opinions each reader has their own methods. An example of reversed cards that hold meaning would be court cards, for example the queen of wands she may be interpreted as an older mature Aries woman but when comes up as reversed this may be interpreted as a male Aries. Again it really depends on the deck that is used and the readers level of knowledge, & system. The tarot has many levels of understanding like the tree of knowledge that holds the forbidden fruit.

[Mozelle]

Thank you Celtaur for your knowledge. I just shuffle the cards. I've seen reverse card tell people what they need to work on. That Karma is at their back. Straighten up and maybe you can change this or lighten the blow. Or a card that is reversed tell that a person is plotting to do a person harm and they should not do what ever they are planning to do out of revenge.

[redbear]

Hello Mozelle
I have been using and learning tarot for less than a year and for me reversed cards are treated as if they were not reversed. When I have tried to sense what a reversal is saying to me, and I’ve only attempted this a few times, I experience a definite and firm blockage which I view as a sign to leave this for the moment.

I believe the cards reveal themselves to you in all their forms when you are ready and it would be overwhelming and even off-putting for me at present to take reversals on board.

Reading a spread as a whole rather than each card in isolation, I think the intended (reversal) message sometimes comes through even if you have read a reversed card as ‘normal’. At no time do I feel cheated or frustrated at my lack of reversed card knowledge nor that I am providing an inaccurate or incomplete reading to myself or the few people I have practiced with. On the contrary, I feel the cards are extremely generous and I try and take as much as I can from what they offer.

By the way I have seen one of your other threads where you offered to do readings for people. The feedback you have received is very positive so congratulations, you have a lovely gift

[Celtaur]

Reading a spread as a whole rather than each card in isolation, I think the intended (reversal) message sometimes comes through even if you have read a reversed card as ‘normal’.

I agree. I think that regardless, the message will get through. The universe knows what your methods of reading are, and thus will set the message out accordingly. I think reading each card in isolation is beginners method and is too "cookie cutter from the book." A good way to learn about the meanings of the cards, but not useful in a reading. I think a reading should always be read as a whole.