What Are Reversed Tarot Cards?

Reversed cards are those that, after shuffling, turn up upside down when drawn, with the card’s top pointing toward the reader. Historically, traditional tarot did not use reversals; cards were interpreted as upright regardless of orientation. Over time, some readers developed meanings for reversals, and that practice became part of many traditions. As a result, most modern tarot approaches include an understanding of reversed meanings.

For beginners, it’s perfectly fine to ignore reversals and read everything as upright. Factoring in reversals effectively doubles the interpretive load, which can be challenging at first. It’s simpler to start by reading all cards upright.

Still, here are some tips for interpreting reversed cards:

You can approach reversals from two perspectives, each with two angles.

First, from the perspective of time flow

A reversal can indicate that the upright card’s situation has potential but hasn’t happened yet (the start of the timeline). Conversely, it can suggest that the positive phase has already ended (the end of the timeline). Take the Lovers as an example.

The Lovers typically signifies romantic developments or the joy of being in love. When it appears reversed (i.e., upside down), consider two angles.

First, it may mean the Lovers’ promise has already played out; from where you stand now, the sweetness is in the past—possibly a breakup.

Second, it may suggest the romantic development hasn’t occurred yet but is latent—for instance, someone nearby may like you, but you haven’t noticed. In this sense, the reversed Lovers reflects that the upright event hasn’t yet come to pass.

Simply put, from a time-flow perspective, a reversal can mean one of two things: the upright situation has either already happened or hasn’t happened yet.

Second, from a psychological perspective

A reversal can indicate unrealistic expectations or resistance to the upright card’s energy. Consider the Death card:

Upright, Death signifies profound psychological or environmental change. Reversed, you can think about it in two ways.

One scenario is unrealistic fantasy about “the ending” Death represents. For example, someone under heavy work stress might draw Death reversed because they long to drop everything and rest, yet that wish isn’t feasible right now—hence the reversal.

The other scenario is resisting a necessary change. For instance, after a breakup, one partner might cling to the relationship and refuse to accept that it’s over. Death reversed can appear when someone won’t acknowledge the transformation that’s already taken place.

To emphasize: using reversals is just one reading method. You can absolutely choose to read only upright meanings if that’s your preference.

This article focuses on how to think about reversals, but their full meaning benefits from personal reflection. A reversal often shows a departure from the upright situation, or a more negative, hidden, unclear, incomplete, or unfulfilled expression of the upright energy.

For example, a couple asking about their unborn child pulled the Empress reversed. I told them there might be obstacles but that things would ultimately be fine—and that proved true. The Empress still symbolizes motherhood and pregnancy, but reversed she can suggest delays or complications, as if the motherly energy isn’t fully ready. Even so, the exact meaning of a reversal depends on the question.

The Three of Swords reversed can indicate sadness while moving away from the situation (reversed—leaving it behind) or simply a touch of loneliness. It’s a bit lighter than the upright, yet a note of sorrow remains. Sometimes reversals ask us to see the situation from a higher vantage point or a different angle.

The Seven of Wands reversed can point to having to deal with things you’d rather avoid. Because the Seven of Wands can carry a defensive, combative tone, the reversal suggests dialing back the intensity and approaching the issue differently.

Exceptions: Some reversals show distorted or inverted energy—think of a King toppled by the very system he built. The Ten of Wands reversed, for instance, can signal the need to put down heavy burdens. In short, reversals may reflect different needs, and some can be read as the opposite of the upright. For example, the Sun upright signifies clarity and inspiration, while the Sun reversed—much like the Moon upright—can point to anxiety or confusion, though the Sun still retains an underlying brightness.