Upside vs. Reversed tarot cards – How to interpret them upside down?

When getting into the Tarot cards world and learning to read them, you may be overwhelmed with the number of different card meanings. If that isn’t hard enough, you will quickly learn that the cards have a different meaning when they are reversed. 

The difference between upright and reversed tarot cards is in how they are interpreted. The most common ways to read reversed tarot cards include: 

• Opposite meaning
• Weak intensity
• Internalized or private meaning
• Delays or blockages in energy
• Too extreme or Too little
• Areas to improve
• Reversed imagery

But don’t worry; reading tarot card reversals or negative meanings isn’t as hard as it first seems. The method to use depends entirely on the card reader. Let’s dive into the world of Reversed meanings, and hopefully, by the end of this, you will have a better idea of how to use them. 

What are reversed Tarot cards and how to tell they are reversed?

Reversed Tarot cards are cards that inadvertently appear upside down in a Tarot spread. They can show up in a Tarot reading when the reader has chosen a method of shuffling the card deck that allows the cards to go upside-down. 

In addition to their positioning, the difference between reversed cards and upright cards is how they are interpreted. The reversal adds another layer to tarot card meanings. There are numerous ways to interpret reversal meanings, and we will cover some of them shortly. 

Reading the reversal meanings is considered a bit of an advanced technique. So if you are entirely new to tarot reading, you might want to get a firm grip on the basics before you start applying reversed cards into your readings. 

If one of the cards appears upside down, you can simply turn the cards upright in the spread and move on with the reading.

Having to learn how to use the 78 cards is challenging enough in the beginning. But as soon as you have learned the basics, you can start experimenting with some of the methods. I have included some really ways for you to begin bringing reversed cards into your readings. 

Why should you use reversed tarot cards?

Some readers, especially those who are new to the tarot, prefer to stay away from reversed cards and completely ignore them. I used to be one of those readers.

One of the beauties of Tarot reading is that whether you choose to read reversed cards or not, it is entirely okay either way. So don’t feel pressure to start using them if you are not comfortable with them. 

There is a common misconception that the meaning is always negative with the reversed cards. This commonly turns off some readers from using them because it gives the reading a negative tone. 

Many readers also shy away from them because they think they are too difficult to use. Other arguments not to use them might include arguments that reversals create more complexity than add value to the seeker. Or that the reversed cards disrupt the flow of their reading. 

Then there are those tarot readers who will root for using reversed cards in their readings. Nowadays, I belong to this group, and after reading this article, hopefully, you will join us too! 

We believe that reversed cards give additional layers to the reading. This deepens the experience and provides more significant benefits to the seeker.    

You will soon discover that the interpretation depends on the method that the reader has chosen to follow. And also that they are not really that hard to apply to your readings. You can give them a try little by little and see if you like using them.

I hope that I will be able to demonstrate some of the benefits with the following methods. I also hope you will see that some of the techniques are not as exhausting to learn as one might think. 

Next, let’s take a look at some of the most common methods used to interpret the reversed card meanings. Some of them you will be able to implement even though you are just getting the feel to the cards’ upright meanings. 

How to interpret reversed cards? – 7 common methods

There are various methods to interpret the card meanings from reversals. Which you choose will be entirely up to you. Give these methods a try and see for yourself which works for you. 

Method 1: Opposite meaning

Opposite meaning is a standard method used due to its simplicity. It literally gives the reversed card the opposite meaning of the upright card. 

For example, if you look at the Emperor, who has a logical approach to decisions, the same card reversed could mean an emotional approach to decisions. 

This is a pretty simple way to get started with reversed meanings. However, you might find out that it is not the most suited for you, as some descriptions can be easily interpreted negatively. This is the problem many people have with this method. 

Pros: Easy to get started as it is a straightforward and logical way to begin using reversed cards

Cons: This method doesn’t bring so much depth to reading, and many cards tend to be interpreted negatively.  

Method 2 – Weak intensity 

When you are applying this method, you are looking at the upright meanings of the cards and toning the attributes from that card with a lower intensity. This is a relatively easy way to start applying and adds a nice little extra layer to your readings. One of the upsides is that this method also doesn’t set a negative tone for the texts. 

For example, let’s look at the Ace of Wands. In the upright position, there is a great burst of creative energy coming your way. In that case, the reversed meaning could suggest that you feel creative, but the rush of energy is not that intensive. 

Pros: This method is easy to apply and gives a nice extra layer to your readings

Cons: I don’t see any clear negatives with this method and encourage everyone to try 

Method 3 – Internalized or private meaning

Internalized energy or private meanings method brings depth into the readings but is a bit tricky to use. 

You will need to take a stance that the upright cards indicate something that will impact the person from the outside. The reversed will then be internal or private. 

For example, if you look at a card – the Devil. Upright it would be representing negative relationships with others and reversed it would represent that the negative relation is more with yourself. 

At first, it seems that it is pretty easy to apply by taking the upright meaning and adding “self” to the interpretation. But you need to keep in mind that you need to use this method when you think about the upright meanings as well. 

The Devil makes us desire worldly things. So in the upright, this materialistic need comes from the outside but reversed it is solidly built inside you.

This is a great technique, and it gives a lot to the one who is receiving the reading. If the person is seeing a lot of Reversed cards, it shows the issues are internal. Identifying this can help find the areas to work on internally. If the cards are mostly upright, the issues and relationships are primarily external.

Pros: Gives a lot of depth to the readings and helps the seeker find areas to work on more precisely. 

Cons: With most cards, it is very straightforward, but it can be a bit difficult to get a hold of with other cards like the Devil. Make a clear distinction that upright points to external energies and reversed signify internal energies. 

Method 4 – Delays or blockages in energy

This method takes the upright meaning of the card and interprets that the card’s energies will happen with a delay. Or alternatively, that the energies are being blocked by something, and therefore can’t be accessed at the moment. 

At its simplest, the outcome of the upright card will happen but with a little delay. All the positives will occur, but not right now. 

Now to make things a bit more complicated and if you wish to be creative, this is an excellent method to add depth and dimensions to the reading. 

You can take into account different factors like how the card is placed in the spread. Which cards are next to it and search for the reasons for the blocked energy from them. 

For example, you may have the Ace of Wands reversed show up in the reading. Next to it lays the Devil. If upright, the meaning of Ace of Wands meant that there will be a great burst of creative energy. 

When it’s reversed, and next to the Devil, it could be interpreted that the creative energy is held back because of materialistic needs or addictions.   

Pros: Pretty easy to use at its purest and gives a bit of depth to the reading. You can easily make it more complicated if you choose so.

Cons:  This method turns a bit more advanced if you start adding the positions to the meanings. It can be a bit challenging in the beginning. Still, it will keep things exciting, and practice gets you closer to perfection.

Method 5 – Too extreme or Too little 

In this method, you take the Upright meaning of the card and supersize it or alternatively diminish it to a fraction of its full potential. 

Too extreme – supersizing: it means that this person is taking the issue at hand to the extreme, and they might want to tone it down a bit.  

Too little – diminishing: it means that they are not bringing enough of them to the table on that issue. Something is causing them to hold back.

For example, if the Empress shows up in a reading. Uprightly it represents the motherly aspects of a person. 

When reversed, it could be interpreted that she is showing too much empathy and care for others so that it is hurting themselves. 

Or alternatively, if the interpretation is that there is – too little. The person might be coming off as a cold person because they are not clearly expressing their empathy to others. 

Pros: Fun way to add depth to the readings. This is one of my favorite ways to play around with the meanings. 

Cons: It’s a bit more advanced technique and can be a bit challenging in the beginning.

Method 6 – Areas to improve

In this method, we are taking the upright meaning and using the reversed meaning to signal that these are areas of self-improvement. 

This is an excellent method to give some extra insight and dimensions to the seeker. For example, suppose the reading is about the seeker’s past, present, and future. In that case, you can apply the reversed cards to point out areas of self-improvement. 

This is a relatively easy technique to apply and doesn’t add a negative tone to the reading. Still, it won’t present the whole tarot reading about positives either. 

For example, if the two of Pentacles signifies us to manage our time, energy, and resources well in order to prevent the balls from dropping. The reversed meaning with this method could signal that the seeker needs to work on this issue. Otherwise, the balls are gonna fall. 

Pros: Fairly easy to apply and gives excellent additional insight to the seeker.

Cons: It can be a bit tricky to get the hang of it, but it shouldn’t be too hard after some practice.

Method 7 – Reversed Imagery 

This is an excellent method and can be very easy to use with some cards. This method is a great way to learn to interpret the cards and also an excellent reminder that the card images tell a story for our intuition. 

In this method, you look at the reversed imagery and interpret what it is telling you. This method can be tricky with some cards, but let’s give it a try. 

While writing this sentence, I pulled a random card from the deck – The Strength. 

Upright it represents strength, passion, persuasion, and power. The card imaginary includes a woman who has tamed a lion with a gentle touch. She is in a peaceful setting in nature with mountains far in the background. 

Now reversed, the image of her taming the lion has turned upside down. It looks as if the lion is having a bit of an upper hand. It doesn’t look like it is aggressive, but the lion is not in control like it used to. 

Now we could interpret this: she needs to hold her composure, manage her strength, and have discipline. Otherwise, she might lose the grip of that lion. 

Pros: Fun and Easy to apply and reminds us that the cards hold many meanings in the imaginary.

Cons: This technique can be a bit tricky with some cards, but if you are visually creative, this could be an easy and fun technique. 

How to shuffle tarot cards so that they appear reversed?

Now that you have learned ways to interpret the tarot cards in their reversed position, it’s time to shuffle your deck and start reading reversals.

The important thing is to make sure that you choose a shuffling method that allows the cards to appear upside down. If you are just regularly shuffling or dropping them from one hand to another, the card’s top to bottom axis doesn’t change. So make sure that you allow this to happen.

The easiest way to do this is to spread your cards randomly on the table. So that it resembles a messy pile of cards. You can then choose to mix it around as long as you want. Feel free to take your time and then stop when you feel that they are mixed enough. After this, gather them together, cut the deck, and lay them on a spread of your choice. 

Another important thing is that after you have laid the cards on the spread, make sure to turn them around from the side and not from the top or bottom. This will ensure that you are not interfering with their original position. 

Knowing how to shuffle your deck rightly helps you keep your deck in good condition and prevent your cards from jumping off the table to the floor. 

What should you keep in mind when reading Reversed cards?

Finally, I want to point out some of the things that you should keep in mind when reading reversal cards. 

• Before you start your tarot reading, decide which interpretation method of reversals you are using in that reading. This way, you will be consistent and give the message that tarot wants to provide for the seeker.

• Whichever method you choose to use, get comfortable with it by repeatedly practicing with readings to yourself. As they can interrupt the flow of the reading, you want to feel comfortable with the method when applying it in your readings to others.

• If you choose to use the “Internalized or private meanings” method: You should remember to interpret both upright and reversed meanings accordingly.

• Follow the surrounding cards in the spread to give more depth to the meanings and keep the context of the reading clearly in your mind.

• Also, look at where the reversed cards are in the spread. They might bring some extra dimensions to the interpretation.

An extra tip from the tarotforum.net

I wanted to end with a final tip that I came across when researching this post. I want to give credit to a user called “Tigerlily “who had a clever way to memorize the reversals to herself as the 4 R’s: “regressed, repressed, rejected or restricted.”

Regressing is similar to the weak intensity method. The attributes of the upright card are softer when they are reversed.

Repressed stands for a meaning where the quality of the card can’t be accepted by the person. And as repression is an unconscious act, the seeker is doing this unknowingly. 

Rejected is similar to the meaning of Repressed, but the seeker does not accept the card qualities knowingly. 

Restricted is very similar to the blockage method of interpreting the reversal meaning. The qualities of the card are being blocked, or they are not accessible at the moment. 

I thought this was a clever technique, and I have to say it also much displays what a beautiful art tarot reading is. It gives the reader the freedom to choose and use their intuitive knowledge from within. 

I hope you guys enjoyed and found some new information from this article. Hopefully, you have gained the courage to try out some of these methods. And please let me know what you thought about them in the comments below. 

Happy reversal readings!