Reading Tarot Reversals: Are Reversed Tarot Cards Bad?

What are reversed tarot cards?

Let’s begin with the basics: a reversed tarot card is a card that, when you flip it over, appears upside down. Some readers purposely read with reversals, seeing them as adding another layer of nuance to the cards’ meanings. Other readers prefer not to read with reversals. There is certainly significant stigma around reversed cards, which is why many readers choose not to read reversals, and also why I want to address reversals in a constructive, expansive way. I believe that the way we see reversals informs our entire ethic of reading tarot, and when we release labels of “good” or “bad” from reversals, we can liberate ourselves and our readings from those same moral dichotomies.

Are reversed cards always bad?

In summary, no. Most tarot websites and books interpret reversed cards as the "bad" version of the card. This is largely inaccurate, lacks nuance, is inherently judgmental, and is potentially harmful to readers and their clients. We’ll explore the implications of this uncompromising view of reversals later in the article.

What do reversed cards mean?

When I see a reversed card, I will view it in one of three ways:

Blockage: the energy of the card is obstructed. For example, the reversed Empress may indicate a creative blockage.

Opposite: sometimes a reversal does indicate the opposite of the card's constructive energy. For example, an opposing Empress energy might indicate stress and burnout.

Internalization: an internal expression of the card, as opposed to an external manifestation. Internalized Empress energy may look like a solo vacation or creative writing for your eyes only, as opposed to theater or a group trip.

The interpretation of the reversed card is largely, if not entirely, dependent on the feeling you receive from it. This is why the psychic aspect of tarot is imperative for nuanced, accurate readings. Before you turn the card over, see what type of energy you feel from it: does it feel inspiring, cautionary, exciting, concerning, etc? The psychic interpretation of the card will indicate the way you interpret the reversal. If you feel good about the card and it comes up reversed, that does not mean that your intuition was "wrong" or that the card is actually "bad."

What are the implications of always reading reversals as “bad?”

Have you ever noticed how reversed interpretations of feminine-coded tarot cards usually defer to misogynist stereotypes?

If you scan the top tarot websites and books for reversed meanings of cards like the Empress or the Queens, you'll see descriptors like "needy," "dependent on others," "envious," "smothering" etc. All of these descriptions correlate with the patriarchal idea of the "bad" femme: one who disobeys her assigned gender role as a "good" mother, daughter, and woman.

These descriptors originate from archaic, victim-blaming, and gender-essentialist ideas of women and femininity, which in turn contribute to misogyny. Through repeated exposure of these gender tropes, we're are taught to believe that traits like "envious," "smothering," "tempting," and "deceptive" are intrinsic to womens' identities, which, over time, contribute to everything from low self-esteem to gender-based violence. 

We can, and need to, do better than that. Let's expand beyond misogynist assumptions and stereotypes, and dig a little deeper to understand these reversed meanings.

Dr. Amir Levine, medical doctor and author of Attached, says that "most people are only as needy as their unmet needs." So why do we assume that the reversed Empress is intrinsically high-strung and smothering? Perhaps she's been made to act that way due to unmet needs of emotional safety, community support, and/or a sense of belonging.

Sometimes a card does indicate envy, codependency, etc. But instead of deferring to patriarchal, misogynist, and victim-blaming language, let's explore the "why" and the circumstances that contextualize the card. When we respond with curiosity instead of foreclosing on these reversed cards, we'll often find that the reversal comes from the circumstance, not the person's identity.

How do I read reversals in an expansive way?

As you continue on your tarot journey, develop an understanding of what reversals mean to you. Feel free to take inspiration from my list (blockage, opposition, internalization), and/or create your own. Consider what a reversed card could mean in a “good,” “bad,” and morally-neutral way.

As you are doing a reading, practice psychic tarot reading by feeling in to the messages and energies you receive from the cards before you turn them over. 

As you turn the cards over, take note of which, if any, are reversed. Remember how you felt about the reversed card(s): did they feel relieving, cautionary, inspiring, energizing, calming, etc? Merge the psychic message of the card with the classical interpretation of the card. For example, if you felt a refreshed and relived energy from a card, and it turned out to be the Queen of Pentacles reversed, that doesn’t mean the card is “actually bad” or that your intuition was wrong. It might indicate that, instead of being lazy or envious, the reversal indicates that you’re taking a much-needed break from providing for others, and instead directing that nurturing energy toward yourself.

To learn how to read tarot both psychically and classically, enroll in Tarot from the Heart, my premiere course for learning how to read tarot personally and professionally. If you have any questions about Tarot from the Heart, feel free to email me at gwen@gwenwalsh.com.