A reversed tarot card is a card that turns up upside down. Readers who use reversals read it as the card’s energy being blocked, delayed, turned inward or overdone. Using reversals is optional, and many beginners start without them.
Four ways to read a reversal
| Approach | Meaning | Example: Three of Cups reversed |
|---|---|---|
| Blocked or delayed | The upright meaning is held back | A celebration is postponed |
| Inward | The meaning plays out privately | Quiet joy on your own |
| Too much or too little | The energy is out of balance | Too much socializing, or too little |
| Opposite | The reverse of the upright meaning | Feeling left out |
Choose one approach and use it consistently, at least while you learn.
Should you use reversals?
| Use them if | Skip them if |
|---|---|
| You know the 78 upright meanings fairly well | You are in your first months |
| You want more nuance | Reversals make readings feel negative to you |
| You read larger spreads | You mostly draw a daily card |
The upright cards already cover the full range of experience. Skipping reversals is a legitimate way to read.
How reversals get into a deck
Cards only reverse if you turn some of them while shuffling. Spread the cards face down, swirl them and gather them, or cut the deck and turn one half around. To read without reversals, simply turn any upside-down card upright.
Decide before you shuffle
State to yourself whether this reading uses reversals. Changing the rule after you see the cards muddies the reading.
Our tarot card draw has a switch for reversed cards, so you can try both ways. Keywords for reversed major arcana are on the tarot cheat sheet.
Cards are a tool for reflection. They do not predict the future, and the decision is always your own.
Is a reversed card bad?
No. A difficult card reversed can even be gentler, for example The Tower reversed as upheaval avoided.
What if most cards in a spread are reversed?
Some readers take it as a sign of general blockage. Others reshuffle. Decide your own rule in advance.