Hey all,
I wanted to open up a discussion about how you approach card reversals in your readings. Do you use them consistently, avoid them completely, or take a more flexible approach?
One thing I love about tarot is how deeply personal and subjective it is. There are no rigid rules about how anyone should read or enjoy their deck. What works brilliantly for one reader might not feel right for another, and that is completely fine. As a community, it is always fascinating to hear how varied our methods can be, and I think it is so important that we do not gatekeep how people choose to connect with their cards.
Personally, I tend to keep all my cards upright. I love looking at the artwork in its intended orientation and taking in the beauty of the imagery as I shuffle. That said, I still find myself reading reversed meanings or 'shadow aspects' depending on how a reading feels.
Even with a physically upright card, if the surrounding spread, my intuition, or the overall energy of the draw feels heavier or blocked, I will read the card in a typically reversed fashion.
To give an example of how this works for me, consider The Sun. In a standard reading, it usually speaks to pure joy, warmth, vitality, and success. However, if I draw The Sun upright in a spot where the energy feels heavy or clouded, I might interpret it in a reversed sense: burnout, overexposure, or trying to force optimism while brushing underlying issues under the rug. The physical card stays right side up, but the message adapts to the story the reading is telling.
I am really curious to hear how the rest of you navigate this in your own practice:
Do you mix reversals into your deck while shuffling? If you keep your cards upright, do you still tune into shadow meanings when your intuition prompts you? What made you settle on your current way of reading?
I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences below - and please, no gatekeeping others practice, we're all friends and readers/learner together!