One of the most discussed and contested topics in the tarot community is that of reversals. Should reversed cards be used or not? If they are, how so? If not, how are positive and negative meanings distinguished from each other?

I don’t believe in a single fixed way to read reversals; individual preferences vary, and it is simply easier to read reversal with decks depicting scenic Minor Arcana (e.g.: Rider-Smith-Waite) than those with pip-based Minor Arcana (e.g.: Marseille, Thoth). 

Generally, readers who do not take reversals into account shuffle cards in their preferred way; if the shuffling method rotates the cards, they are rearranged after being drawn. Their meaning is derived entirely from their symbols and in relation to other cards in the spread. 

When using organic reversals, cards are usually shuffled in ways that rotate the cards (e.g. wash shuffle, rotated riffle shuffle, rotated piles etc.) and are then laid down in the same position they are drawn. The cards are still interpreted symbolically alongside each other, but the positive or negative aspects of each card are brought forward based on their orientation, with upright cards usually taking on a more positive meaning, and reversed cards being more negative.

I personally like using reversals since they are a clear indicator of the positive or negative aspects of the cards, and are a direct result of the intersection between the reading process and randomness. 

The problem is, I mostly use the Marseille tarot for personal and cultural reasons, which makes reversals pretty difficult to use. I have therefore developed what I call the Psykeon Chaotic Tarot Reversal Technique to help me bridge the gap between my conflicting preferences. 

The Psykeon Chaotic Tarot Reversal Technique

The goal of this technique is to use an external source of chaos (randomness) as an indicator of the positive or negative aspects of any tarot card, no matter the style or format of the deck. This method is divided into two main parts:

Part 1 – The Draw

Tarot readings are a process that brings together, via chaos and randomness, the symbols of the cards and the container that is the spread. So shuffle your deck using your favorite shuffling method to add some randomness, and draw the required number of cards for the spread that you are using.

Re-adjust the cards until they are all upright, and log each card in your tarot journal using the Psykeon Tarot Notation System.

Part 2 – Chaos Injection

Now is the time to introduce even more chaos/randomness into your reading to discover reversals. There are two ways to do this:

1. Using a coin

The easiest way to do this is by flipping a coin for each card. 

Heads correspond to upright/positive aspects, whereas Tails correspond to reversals/negatives. 

In your journal, add a downward arrow over the cards indicated as reversed (i.e.: for those you drew Tails), according to the Psykeon Tarot Notation System.

This is what it looks like in practice:

This has the benefit of being the most accessible, easy and fast approach, but its randomness is limited to a single factor, increasing its predictability. 

It is to address this issue that the next method comes in.

2. Using a dice (set)

Although flipping a coin is quick and easy, my favorite approach is to throw dice. 

Numerology enthusiasts will have fun with this one.

You can use a d6 (regular cubic 6-faced dice), or any single or combinations of dies. I personally use a whole Dungeons & Dragons dice set (d4, d6, d8, d10x2, d12, d20), because, well, I’m a wizard!

Depending on your choice, you will deduce reversals in two very similar ways:

1. If using a die or combination of dies with a maximum cumulative number of 8 or lower (a d4, d6, d8 or d4x2), simply take the number that you rolled into account, or sum up the two d4. Odd numbers (1, 3, 5, 7) correspond to upright/positives, whereas Even numbers (2, 4, 6, 8) correspond to reversed/negative meanings.

2. If using any other die or combination of dies with a maximum cumulative number of 9 or higher, simply sum up the numbers of all dies (e.g.: 5+6+2 = 13) and then reduce the resulting number to its digital root (e.g.: 13 = 1+3 = 4). Odd numbers (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) correspond to upright/positives, whereas Even numbers (2, 4, 6, 8) correspond to reversed/negative meanings. As you have most likely already noticed, there is a slightly higher chance of getting odd numbers, so I suggest dismissing and re-rolling when getting either the 1 or the 9, just to even out the cumulative chances of getting each outcome.

Similarly to the coin flip, add a downward arrow over the reversed cards in your journal (i.e.: for those you drew Even numbers).

This is what it looks like in practice:

Whereas it is a bit more complex and time-consuming than flipping a coin, this approach addresses the cons of the coin method by introducing additional variable factors and “data” points, which increases the randomness and unpredictability of the results (results are much less predictable when using 7 dies of varying numbers of facets and finding their digital root, than when using a single 2-faced coin, or even a single 6-faced die).

Conclusion

That’s it. In case your deck’s tradition doesn’t use reversals, or if you want new ways to gauge the positive or negative aspects of your cards, a coin or a dice set is all you need to introduce additional chaos or randomness into your reading, and get as unbiased an answer as possible. Whether you read reversals or not, I hope that this post can either validate you in your approach, or give you an additional tool to play with and adapt to your liking and needs.

Safe travels