What Does “Reversed Tarot” Mean?

Reversed Tarot cards are cards that appear upside down in a Tarot spread, which can change the meaning of a reading. These cards are the classic Tarot cards, but in an upside-down position. When drawn and arranged, they can be in this position. When a reversed card is pulled, it can either be intentionally flipped upside down and selected or happen by chance.

The reversed meaning of a Tarot card refers to the interpretation of the card when it is drawn upside down during a reading. This reversed position often signifies a different interpretation than its upright position, such as a delay. The appearance of a fully reversed deck of Tarot cards can lead to several conclusions, including external energy, struggle, disconnection, and not the way we expected life to turn out.

Reversed cards are just regular tarot cards turned upside down. To draw a fully reversed deck of Tarot cards, take some of the cards from your deck, turn them upside down, and shuffle them in. If you don’t draw any reversed cards, experiment with turning one upside down to see how it changes the meaning for you.

Often, reversed Tarot cards deliver good news or strengthen, weaken, or redirect the primary message of the upright card. Flipping the card up means it will be right side up, which you might interpret as a right-side-up card. Some people take reversals very seriously, and if a card appears in the reversed position, look at the imagery of that upside-down card and see what comes to you intuitively.