Reversed Card

What is Reversed Card?

A reversed card is a tarot card that appears upside down in a spread. Because some cards turn around during shuffling, a few face the reader the wrong way up. The idea that reversals carry their own meanings appears in Etteilla's cartomancy work in the late 18th century; it is common practice today, though not a fixed rule. A reversal is usually read in one of several ways: the card's energy may be blocked or delayed, turned inward, overdone, or working against its upright meaning. Some readers skip reversals entirely and read every card upright, adjusting for its neighbours, which is also an accepted method. A common misconception is that a reversed card is always negative. A reversed Tower can describe a shake-up that passes lightly, and a reversed Death a chapter that drags on because it has not been released. You can see how cards are read for your question and their position with a tarot reading on Faltastik.

• Pip Cards

  The numbered cards from Ace through 10 in each suit. They carry numerological meanings: the Ace represents beginnings, 10 represents completion.

• Significator

  A card chosen to represent the querent or the topic of the reading. Typically selected from court cards or a meaningful Major Arcana card.

• Court Cards

  The Page, Knight, Queen, and King cards in each suit. They typically represent people or personality traits. The 16 court cards can reflect those around you or aspects of yourself.

• Suit of Pentacles

  The suit representing the Earth element. Deals with the material world, finances, career, health, and physical security. Provides guidance on practical success and material abundance.

• Suit of Swords

  The suit representing the Air element. Associated with mental processes, communication, conflict, decision-making, and intellectual challenges. Symbolizes sharp truths and logical thinking.

• Suit of Cups

  The suit representing the Water element. Connected to emotions, relationships, intuition, imagination, and spiritual depth. Provides insight about love and emotional states.