Tarot reversals are one of those topics that confuse people way more than they need to.

Some readers swear by them. Some readers refuse to use them. And beginners usually sit in the middle wondering if they’re “doing it wrong” either way.

This article isn’t here to convince you that you must read reversals, or that you should avoid them.

It’s here to explain, in plain language:

• What reversals actually are
• Why people use them (and why many don’t)
• The simple, practical ways to interpret them without memorising hundreds of extra meanings

By the end, you’ll understand what reversed cards are trying to show, how to approach them in a grounded way, and how to decide whether reversals even belong in your reading style.

Because tarot works best when it feels clear, flexible, and useful, not when it feels like there’s one hundred rules.

What Tarot Reversals Are

When people talk about “reversals,” they just mean a card that is drawn upside down. Some readers like to shuffle their deck so half the cards are upright and half are reversed on purpose. Not for effect, but because reversals can give you a slightly different angle on the card you already know.

It’s important to remember that a reversed card doesn’t replace the upright meaning completely. It just shows that the theme of the card is still there, but it isn’t playing out in a straightforward way.

Think of it like this:

The upright meaning is the clear version of the situation, While a reversal can mean the opposite, sometimes it just shows something getting in the way, or happening more quietly, or taking longer than expected.

That’s really all a reversal is, a sign that the card’s usual pattern is still relevant, but not as direct or clean as normal.

Some people love using reversals because they add nuance. Some people skip them because they prefer to keep things simple. It’s important to remember both ways work. And if you’re just starting out you don’t need to feel like you have to use them.

Why Reversals Matter (Or Don’t)

Reversals aren’t essential. Plenty of readers never use them and still give clear, accurate readings. So you don’t need to feel pressured into adding them just because other people do.

That said, reversals can be useful.

People use reversals because they add detail. They help you see when a situation isn’t as simple or direct as the upright card makes it look. Sometimes the upright meaning is technically correct, but it doesn’t explain why things aren’t moving, or why someone’s acting a certain way. That’s where a reversal can help, it shows you there’s more going on than the surface-level version of the card.

At the same time, if reversals just make your readings feel harder or overwhelming, you don’t need them. Upright cards already give you plenty to work with, and card positions often tell the story on their own.

So if you’re just starting out, remember, reversals matter if they make things clearer and easier for you. They don’t matter if they make things harder. There’s no “better reader” badge for using them. It’s just a tool you pick up when it actually helps.

The Different Ways People Read Reversals

Reversals don’t have one fixed meaning. Readers use them in different ways depending on how they read, what the question is, and how much detail they want in the spread. Once you understand the main approaches, the whole topic gets a lot easier, because you’re no longer trying to memorise 78 “extra meanings.” You’re just choosing the angle that makes the most sense for the situation.

Here are the four main systems people actually use in real readings.

1. The “Opposite Meaning” Approach

This is the method most people hear about first because it’s easy to wrap your head around. If the upright card shows something moving forward, the reversed card says it isn’t. If upright looks hopeful, reversed looks doubtful. It’s basically a literal reversal of the usual tone.

People like this approach because it’s quick and straightforward. You don’t need to overthink anything, upright says one thing, reversed says the other.

Where it starts to fall apart is with cards that already have mixed messages or cards that sit in a grey area. Not everything in tarot works as a neat “good vs. bad” pair, in fact, the beauty of tarot is that it’s not black and white. But for simple yes/no style questions or beginners trying to build confidence, this method can still be really helpful.

2. The “Something’s Not Happening Normally” Approach

This is the most common system among everyday readers. The upright meaning still applies, but something about it isn’t playing out smoothly.

This can look like:

• the situation not moving
• someone hesitating
• things taking longer than expected
• a plan not landing the way someone hoped

The card’s topic stays the same. The reversal just points out there’s a hold-up or complication around it. People like this method because it keeps the core meaning intact while adding realism. Life doesn’t always unfold in a neat upright way, and reversals help show that.

3. The “Too Much or Not Enough” Approach

You can also use reversals to show when the card’s usual behaviour is out of balance.
The idea is simple: the upright meaning is still correct, but the volume is either turned way up or way down.

Here’s what that looks like with real cards:

• Queen of Wands upright: confident, warm, sociable
• Queen of Wands reversed (too much): performing, dominating the room, needing attention
• Queen of Wands reversed (not enough): avoiding the spotlight, hiding their personality, second-guessing themselves

Or another one:

• Four of Pentacles upright: being sensible with money
• Four of Pentacles reversed (too much): clinging too tightly, being controlling
• Four of Pentacles reversed (not enough): letting go too quickly, not thinking things through

This method works really well for cards that already have a strong “personality” especially the court cards, because you can immediately spot when the behaviour is exaggerated or has pulled back completely.

Instead of turning the meaning into the opposite, you’re just noticing how far it’s moving from the middle ground.

4. The “Internal vs. External” Approach

This is a subtler, more introspective way to read reversals. The upright card describes what’s happening out in the open. The reversed card describes what’s happening inside someone.

So instead of seeing action or visible results, you’re seeing:

• private thoughts
• unspoken feelings
• someone processing something quietly
• a shift happening inward before it shows up outward

This method is useful when the spread is focused on personal growth, emotions, or “what someone’s really thinking.”

5. The “Something Has Ended or Burned Out” Approach

A reversal can also be a sign that the upright meaning has run its course.
It’s not blocked. It’s not internal. It’s just finished.

Examples:

• Three of Cups reversed → the fun has faded, the excitement isn’t there anymore
• Ten of Wands reversed → someone is finally dropping what’s been weighing them down
• Knight of Wands reversed → the rush of enthusiasm that was there before has fizzled out

This approach is great when you’re looking at patterns that have clearly been exhausted.

5. The “This Chapter Is Closing” Approach

When I read reversals, one of the things I look for is whether the upright meaning has already played out. Sometimes a reversed card is just showing the moment where things naturally move into a new phase. Instead of being a negative, it could just be that the situation isn’t running on the same rhythm anymore.

It often shows up when the upright version describes how things used to feel, but not how they feel now.

For example:

• Three of Cups reversed → the “everyone’s on the same page” feeling has faded
• Ten of Wands reversed → you’ve reached the point where you physically can’t carry everything alone anymore
• Knight of Wands reversed → the early excitement that got this moving isn’t what’s driving the situation now

When I see this type of reversal, it usually reads like: “Okay, that phase is done, let’s pay attention to where things are actually heading.”

6. The “Weak Signal” Approach

Another thing I’ll look for with reversals is whether the upright meaning is still there, but only in a small way. Almost like the person wants to show up in that upright version, but they’re not fully behind it yet.

It’s not that things are blocked
It’s not the opposite.
It’s just… faint.

You can usually feel this in situations where someone sort of feels something, or sort of wants something, but they’re not acting like they’re all-in.

Examples:

• Strength reversed: you do have courage, you just don’t trust it yet
• Two of Pentacles reversed: you’re trying to juggle everything, but you’re at the edge of dropping a ball
• Two of Cups reversed: the connection is still there, but it’s inconsistent or needs working on a little bit.

When I see this kind of reversal, the tone is usually:
“The right idea is here, it just needs reinforcement or support.”

It’s gentle. It’s honest. And it gives you a really useful read on situations where someone is halfway in, halfway out.

7. The “Shadow Side of the Card”

Sometimes a reversal isn’t showing a new meaning at all, it’s just bringing forward the part of the card people don’t usually talk about. Every card has the obvious meaning you see in books, and then it has the real-life angle most people gloss over because it’s less comfortable or less flattering. A reversal can highlight that part.

It’s not the opposite meaning.It’s the part we tend to avoid saying out loud.

This is really useful when someone is doing all the “right” things on the surface, but underneath, something else is going on.

A few examples:

• The Empress reversed: you’re taking care of everyone else, but you’re exhausted and not looking after yourself at all
• The Magician reversed: you’ve got the ability, but self-doubt or procrastination is stopping you using it
• Six of Wands reversed: you want support or recognition, but you’re acting like you don’t need anything from anyone

When I read reversals this way, the message usually sounds like: “Here’s the part of this card you haven’t been paying attention to.”

What I Wish Someone Told Me When I Started Reading Reversals

When you’re new to tarot, reversals can feel like this big complicated extra layer you’re supposed to master before you’re “doing it properly.” I used to feel like that too. And honestly? Most of the guides out there make it worse. They pile on extra meanings, extra rules, and an extra 78 cards you apparently need to memorise.

In real life, it’s not like that at all. There are a few things I wish someone had just told me straight, because they would’ve saved a lot of stress and second-guessing.

1. You don’t need to memorise 156 meanings

A reversal isn’t asking you to learn a second set of meanings for every card. You’re still working with the upright meaning. The difference is you’re asking, “How is this showing up in real life?”

Because real life rarely looks like the textbook version.

Someone can want love and still avoid dating.
Someone can want change and still stay where they are.
Someone can care deeply and still say nothing.

That’s what reversals are picking up on. So instead of thinking, “Okay, what’s the reversed meaning of this card?” It’s usually more helpful to think,“Why isn’t this card playing out in the obvious way?”

That question alone will take you further than memorising lists.

2. A reversed card isn’t automatically bad

When I first started, I’d see a reversed card and immediately tense up, like it was guaranteed bad news. It really isn’t.

Most of the time, a reversal is describing normal stuff people deal with all the time, like:

• liking someone but being cautious
• wanting to say something, then overthinking it
• being interested in an opportunity but dragging your feet
• caring about something, but not showing it clearly

So instead of treating every reversed card as “oh no,” it’s more useful to read it as, “Okay, this is there… but the person isn’t fully acting on it yet.”

That’s it. Just a more honest picture of how someone is actually behaving.

3. You’re allowed to experiment

You don’t have to decide right now whether you’re “a reversals reader” or not. Try using reversals for a bit. Then try reading with everything upright.

See which one feels easier. See which one gives you clearer answers. And most importantly, find out what one feels the most intuitive to you.

Some people realise they don’t need reversals at all. Some people feel like reversals add an extra layer they enjoy. Neither choice makes you more or less of a reader. If something isn’t helping your readings, you’re allowed to drop it.

4. Reversals should fit the story you’re already seeing

A reversed card shouldn’t make you throw out everything else you’re seeing.

If most of the spread is showing progress, effort, or two people trying to meet in the middle, and one card comes out reversed and seems to scream the opposite.

Do this instead:

• Look at what the upright version of that card would say.
• Look back at the question you’re actually answering.
• Look at what the other cards are already describing.

Then ask yourself:
“Does this need to be read as a full reversal, or is the upright meaning a better fit for what’s going on?”

Remember, sometimes the card is reversed because it’s a much more dulled down or quiet version of the upright card.

If treating it as reversed helps the whole spread make more sense, use it. If it just makes everything messier, don’t force it. You’re allowed to choose the version that actually tells the truth of the situation.

How I Actually Read Reversals in a Spread

By now you’ve seen all the different ways people can read reversals. But theory is one thing. Sitting there with an upside-down card in front of you is another.

So here’s how I handle reversals in my own readings, step by step. This is just what I’ve found the easiest and most reliable over time.

I always ask myself in the upright meaning first

When a card comes out reversed, I don’t jump straight into what the reversal means.

I ask myself:

“If this were upright, what would this be talking about?”

And I answer that in plain terms:

• “This is about hard work and focus.”
• “This is about two people connecting.”
• “This is about wanting a fresh start.”
• “This is about carrying too much on your own.”

Until I’ve named that clearly, I don’t touch the reversal. Because if you don’t know what the upright is saying, the reversed version will just feel like guessing.

Then I ask: what’s off about this?

Once I know the upright message, I look at the question and the other cards and ask:

“Okay, so what isn’t straightforward here?”

And that’s where the reversal comes in. Depending on the spread, it might look like:

• The person wants what the card shows, but they’re hesitating.
• The card’s theme is here, but it’s overdone or underdone.
• This matches what’s going on inside their head, not what they’re actually doing yet.
• The upright version fits the past more than the present, the situation is changing or moving forward.
• The “less flattering” side of the card fits better than the nice, neat upright version.

I don’t try to cram in all possibilities. I pick the one that actually matches the situation. If nothing fits, I don’t force it. I just read the card upright and move on.

I check it against the rest of the spread

I don’t let one reversed card overpower everything else. I look at the whole spread and ask:

• “Does this reading of the reversal actually fit the story the other cards are telling?”
• “Does it feel like the missing detail, or like it’s fighting the rest of the message?”

If it feels like it’s fighting for no good reason, I either soften it (e.g. treat it as a toned-down version of upright) or just go with the upright meaning. I’d rather give a reading that makes sense and genuinely helps than stick to “but it’s reversed so it must be read as reversed.”

When I Actually Find Reversals Useful

To be honest, I don’t always use reversals. There are plenty of readings where I leave them out completely. But there are certain types of questions and situations where reversals genuinely help, and I reach for them on purpose.

Here’s when they earn their place in the spread for me.

1. When someone’s words and actions don’t match

This is one of the big ones. Any time the question is basically:

“They’re saying one thing, but it feels like something else is going on. What’s the truth?”

…reversals are really handy.

For example:

• They say they’re “over it”, but you pull Six of Cups reversed and Two of Cups reversed.
• They say they “don’t care”, but you’re getting reversed Cups and Swords all over the place.

In those readings, reversals let you talk about the gap between:

• what they’re showing on the outside
• and what’s still going on underneath

You can say things like:

“They’re trying to act detached, but there are still feelings here they haven’t really dealt with.”

That’s where reversals do a good job.

2. When the whole situation is “yes… but”

A lot of real-life questions are basically:

• “I want this… but I’m scared.”
• “I like them… but I don’t trust it yet.”
• “I want to leave… but I feel stuck.”

Upright-only readings can sometimes make that look very black-and-white. Reversals help you show the half-in, half-out stuff.

For example:

• Eight of Cups reversed in a job reading:
  “You know you’re done, but you haven’t walked away yet.”
• Two of Wands reversed in a “Should I move?” reading:
  “You’re thinking about it constantly, but not making a concrete plan, or any moves to decisions to make it happen.”

It lets you be honest and say:

“You’re not imagining it. You do want change. You’re just not fully acting on it yet.”

3. When someone is trying to “move on”

Any time the question is about:

• getting over an ex
• closing a chapter
• finally being done with something

…reversals are very blunt.

Things like:

• Death reversed: you can feel that you’re trying to make a change, but you’re still clinging to the old story
• Six of Cups reversed: memories, habits, or old feelings are still controlling the present
• Nine of Wands reversed: you’re more worn out or defensive than you realise, because of what’s already happened

Those cards make it easier to say:

“A big part of you wants to move forward, but you’re still carrying this with you.”

That’s usually more helpful than pretending everything is “clean” and finished when it isn’t.

4. When the upright card feels too good for what the person is living

Sometimes you pull a really positive upright card, and your first thought is:

“Okay… but that’s not how this feels at all.”

That’s often a reversal moment for me.

For example:

• Ten of Pentacles reversed in a family question:
  “From the outside, this looks stable. Inside, it doesn’t feel that stable at all.”
• The Sun reversed in a mental health question:
  “Things are getting better, but you’re still having low days and moments where it all feels too much.”
• Two of Cups reversed in a relationship:
  “There is a connection here, but it’s not sitting comfortably. There’s tension, or effort isn’t being matched”

Reversals help you talk about the “almost”:

• almost happy
• almost ready
• almost settled

…which is where most people actually are.

5. When you know the past is still affecting the present

Reversals also show up clearly when the past isn’t finished yet, even if someone wants it to be. For example:

• Six of Cups reversed in a new relationship spread:
  “Some of your reactions here are really about an old relationship, not this one.”
• Five of Pentacles reversed in a money spread:
  “You’re doing better on paper, but there’s still a fear of ‘losing it all again’ sitting in the background.”

In those readings, reversals give you permission to say:

“This isn’t just about what’s happening now. This is also about what you’ve already been through.”

Which is usually what the person is feeling anyway.

So… Should You Use Reversals?

Here’s my honest take: you don’t need reversals to read tarot well, but they can be really useful once you’ve really got a handle on the basics. If you’re still getting comfortable with:

• what each card means upright
• how spreads work
• how to actually talk through a reading out loud

…then it’s completely fine to keep your deck upright for a while.

You’re not “cheating.” You’re not missing a secret layer. You’re just learning to walk before you sprint, which makes sense.

Once you know the upright meanings well enough that you’re not clinging to the book every time, that’s when reversals start to feel more natural. You’ll pull a card and think, “Okay, I know what this usually means. Now let’s look at how it’s slightly off here.”

If you’re not sure yet, you can literally test it:

• Do a week of readings with reversals.
• Do a week without them.

Which readings felt clearer?
Which ones felt easier to talk through?
Where did you feel less stuck?

Go with that.

There’s no prize for using reversals. There’s also no prize for avoiding them. The only thing that matters is whether the reading actually helps the person sitting in front of you (even if that person is you). And if you want to learn tarot the easiest way possible then you should definitely check out the Star And Strength Tarot Deck For Beginners!