What Do Upside Down Cards Mean

If you’re new to tarot and a card turns up upside down during a reading, you might find yourself thinking: “Is that bad? Am I supposed to read it differently?”

This is what’s known as a reversed tarot card — and whether or not to use them is one of the biggest ongoing debates in the tarot world. Ask five experienced readers, and you’ll probably get five different answers.

So let’s talk about it properly.

What Are Reversed Cards?

A reversed tarot card is simply one that appears upside down when drawn. Some readers treat this as a sign that the card’s meaning shifts — showing a block, delay, or inner struggle, or even flipping into its opposite.

Let’s say you draw the Empress upright. That’s creative energy, nurturing, abundance. But reversed? She might be warning you of burnout, stifled growth, or smothering someone with good intentions.

That might sound helpful — and for some readers, it absolutely is.

Why Some Readers Use Reversals

Reversals have been around for a long time. A.E. Waite included reversed meanings in the original Rider-Waite Tarot deck, so it’s no surprise that many readers feel reversals should be used. Some believe they add important nuance, especially when exploring hidden blocks or deeper layers of a situation.

That’s a fair perspective.

But here’s the thing: they’re optional.

Why I Don’t Use Reversals (And Why That’s Okay)

I’ve been reading tarot professionally for over 30 years. In all that time, I’ve never used reversals — and I’ve never felt anything was missing.

There are two reasons I keep my deck upright:

1. The cards already speak clearly.
Tarot doesn’t pull punches. If someone feels stuck, confused, or off-track, the message shows up — no reversals needed. The Swords suit alone tells you everything about mental tension, overthinking, and pressure. Add in cards like the Tower, the Devil, and the Five of Pentacles, and you’ve got plenty of clarity without turning anything upside down.

2. I shuffle to keep the deck tidy.
I deliberately shuffle my cards to stay upright. It’s partly habit and partly preference. Honestly, if half the deck flipped upside down mid-reading, I’d spend more time sorting the pack than tuning into the message. (What can I say? Tidy deck, tidy mind.)

But more than that — reversals interrupt the flow. I find that when one appears, it forces a pause. Instead of intuitively moving through the spread, I have to stop, tilt my head, adjust my focus, and work out what it might mean in reverse. For me, that split second breaks the rhythm of a reading, and I’d rather keep that connection fluid and clear.

That doesn’t make me “less of a tarot reader.” And it doesn’t make someone who does use reversals better than me either. It’s just a different style — one that works for me and still gives powerful results.

Should You Use Reversals?

Here’s my honest advice:

If you’re new to tarot, skip reversals for now.
You already have 78 cards to learn. That’s a full symbolic language, and learning upright meanings is a challenge in itself. Doubling that workload by learning reversed meanings from the start often leads to overwhelm.

Focus on the foundations first. Get comfortable with your cards, practise reading upright, and learn how they speak to one another. Once you’ve built that confidence, you can decide whether reversals feel right for you.

There’s no rush — and no pressure.

What Do Reversals Mean?

Reversed cards don’t always mean the opposite of their upright version. Often, they point to:

  • Internal processing

  • Delays or stuck energy

  • A weakened or distorted version of the upright meaning

  • A need to pay closer attention

For example, the Sun reversed doesn’t mean darkness. It might mean joy is still there but hard to access right now. The Fool reversed doesn’t stop you from stepping forward — but it may ask you to be more cautious.

These are interpretations — not rules. You get to decide what makes sense in your reading.

The Bottom Line

Tarot is a personal practice. Your deck should work with you, not against you.

Reversals are a tool — not a requirement. If they deepen your understanding, explore them. If they cause more stress than insight, you’re not missing out by leaving them aside. There are more than enough ways to read a situation with an upright deck alone.

Start simple. Be curious. Trust your instincts. And remember: the real wisdom of tarot comes through your connection with the cards — not whether they’re right way up or upside down.