REVERSALS AND RECTIFICATION

By Judy Jennings © Copyright 2014 

                

 

“RECTIFY THIS MESS”     (Line borrowed from the song “Rectify” by Amber Norgaard)

A reversed card indicates an opportunity to set things right.  Reversed cards open a window into the soul, delving into matters that are hidden or denied, and into areas where energy is blocked.  In doing so, Tarot does what it always does; points in the best direction for going forward.  Reversals offer insight into what needs to be amended, sorted out and repaired.  Remedies for situations blown off course or of out of balance are illuminated by a reversed card.


Tarot authority Mary Greer takes exception to the commonly held belief that upside-down cards are negative, writing “A new age of reversals is upon us”.  Reversed cards, according to Greer, are Tarot’s way of pointing out areas in need of attention, and of offering advice on what she calls the rectification of deep-seated issues.

SHOULD EVERYONE USE REVERSALS? 

 

A lot of people don’t, and that’s fine.  Reversals aren’t a requirement.  The most importanconsideration is whether you, the interpreter, are comfortable working with them.   

 

Reversed cards tend to poke into matters that usually go unnoticed and to suggest that the normal state of affairs is no longer in operation.  In this condition ordinary values are turned upside-down and traditional wisdom no longer applies.


Whether or not to use reversals in your readings is a matter of personal preference and often, experience.  Reversed meanings aren’t simply opposites of traditional interpretations, they’re a conglomerate of possibilities that have to do with issues lying beneath the surface.  It is essential to have an understanding of the full range of possible meanings for each card in the upright position before moving on to reversals.  Some people take years before incorporating reversals into readings, and many don’t use them at all.


If you do choose to use reversals, it’s important to ground your interpretations in your own world view.  The potential number of meanings for an upset card is extensive, and without some kind of rudder to help steer through them, this can be more confusing than helpful.  Let your own attitude and philosophy be your guide.  Every person must develop her own unique method for interpreting reversed cards.


Are you a philosophical person who turns to Tarot for spiritual guidance?  Or are you someone who prefers a pragmatic approach to the cards that focuses on daily life?  What are your values?  How do you feel about the subconscious? What things in your life do you over or under-emphasize?  Asking yourself these kinds of questions can help you get oriented as you learn to navigate through reversals.

 

WHAT IF THERE’S A MAJORITY OF REVERSED CARDS IN A READING?

Should you proceed with the reading anyway?  Good question.  Sometimes an excess of reversals reveals a lack of focus, and a few deep breaths and another shuffle are all that are called for.  On the other hand, extreme reversals might indicate it’s not the right time for that particular question.  There is also the possibility that the seeker is being confronted with issues he is reluctant to address.  The bottom line is to determine what’s best for the seeker.  Will it be helpful to continue the reading?  Is the querant likely to be more distressed if you stop, or if you continue?  Can you see a hopeful thread?  If you cannot find a positive pattern in the cards, try rephrasing the question and starting over.  Sometimes, though, it’s best to state that the cards aren’t responding at the moment, and try again another time.

RANGE OF EXTREMES

Before you attempt to define a reversed card, give some thought to its full range of extremes in the upright.  The reversed meanings will lean into the shadows, away from the obvious and toward that which is less understood.  Reversal doesn’t actually change the meaning of a card, but rather emphasizes one extreme of the card’s already existing polarities.

Can reversals ever be positive?  Definitely!  Consider the Hanged One.  Upside-down, the figure hanging by his feet becomes right-side up in a position that suggests Yogic mastery and an almost supernatural state of self-control.  Reversals address not only blockages, but hidden potential as well.

 

POSSIBLE MEANINGS

Here are some examples of other types of issues that may be indicated by a reversed card:
Delay, procrastination.
Opposition, resistance, noncompliance.
Hostility, antagonism.
Things that are secret, private, unrecognized.
Non-acceptance, dissent, turning away.
Unreliable person or undependable situation.
Change in direction.
Risk.
Under or over-compensation.
Lessening or increase in importance.
Release of blocked energy.
Unconventional wisdom.
Questioning of authority.

 

METAPHORICALLY

People turn to Tarot out of a desire to connect. A person’s emotional reaction to a card is a powerful guide for an interpreter.  Encouraging someone to talk about how the images on the cards make her feel can transform a reading from purely analytical to intensely personal.  This is essential in interpreting reversals.

 Consider the High Priestess, for example.  In the regular position the water that originates in her robes, symbolizing the subconscious, flows away from her and continues on throughout the rest of the cards.  Upside-down, however, all that water is about to pour down onto her in a torrent.  Is this a positive state for the querant, or not?  Emotional reaction is your guide here.

Reversed cards are Tarot’s way of offering guidance as the soul journeys through the underworld, the land of what is not yet known.  The method for deciding whether to employ reversals is actually the same as the one for deciding which deck to use.  You simply need to ask yourself one question.

Are these cards speaking to me?

26 GRATEFUL CARDS

By Judy Jennings © Copyright 2014 

 

 

Tarot is filled with images and symbols that speak to the essence of what it means to be human.  The triumphs embody states of mind that are shared by all of us; some of these may be more enlightened states than others, but all allude to the universal human condition.  A good example of this is Strength, which addresses the human potential to direct instinct into a positive creative direction. 

Where does gratitude appear in Tarot?  Is there one card in particular that focuses on the quality of gratitude as its theme?  Actually, I don't think there is.  Last year at this time when I looked for cards that represented gratitude, I picked just one.  The one that spoke to me then was the Six of Pentacles, with its egalitarian philanthropist giving to other characters in need of help.  This year I flipped through the deck, picking out card after card that demonstrates gratitude to me from one angle or another.  When I was done there were 26 on the table, each on talking about a different aspect of thankfulness.

“Well, I didn’t want to be excessive,” someone else said, eyeing my enormous spread next to her tidy stack of three cards.  I wondered what that meant.  Is it possible to have too much gratitude?  And, more importantly, what does it mean that gratitude doesn’t have its own card? 

 

My thought is that it’s because gratitude is a personal decision, rather than a human condition.  Gratitude seems to be an ingredient, one essential component that opens the door to many greater things.  Gratitude appears to be, much like love and happiness, a choice.

 

 So when I sit down these days and look through the cards for an expression of gratitude and see a wide spectrum that was invisible to me this time last year, I think maybe I’ve grown.  For that, I’m grateful.

 

 

THE FIVE OF CUPS ON AGING

By Judy Jennings © Copyright 2014

Today the Five of Cups is speaking to me of aging.  Today, this card is a reminder that to live into later years is to reside in a world full of lessons about loss.  When a person retires, she separates from a former way of life.  Moving up in years, our hero begins to see friends and loved ones die around her in a variety of ways; illness, overwork, accident, war.  Eventually there comes an understanding that some bridges really do have to be crossed alone. 

 

One grieves, one regroups, one stands in the face of the inevitable and grasps at possibilities.  But while the Five of Cups promises loss, it also offers a possibility:  We the living have the opportunity to honor the memories of those who have left this world before us.

 

As this season turns into Autumn and moves towards Hallowmas, the Five of Cups is a reminder to each of us to turn back to our remaining Cups.  Right now is our moment to pick them up and raise them high in honor of our fallen heroes!

 

Rest In Peace, Dave Ramsey.

MAKING A GAME OUT OF “DIFFICULT” CARDS

By Judy Jennings © Copyright 2014

Have you ever gotten a card that stuck with you long after your reading, and not necessarily in a good way?  Most of us do at one point or another.  How do you respond when you turn up a card that leaves you feeling anxious?

It’s helpful in that situation to bear in mind one of the most basic functions of Tarot: The cards act like a compass and point in the best direction for going forward.  Without the cards that show difficulties and conflicts Tarot would be less powerful, unable to offer much more than a metaphysical “Have a nice day”.  Challenging energies are described in the cards in order to help us thread our way through them when they occur around us.  Think of these messages as advice from a good friend who always tells you the truth, no matter what.

What cards are we talking about?  Remember that Tarot speaks in archetypes, so there are certain cards that speak to fears residing in the collective human subconscious.  Helplessness and loss of control are at the root of many of these, such as Death and The Tower.  The Devil can touch on things people don’t really want to talk about.  Some people perceive The Moon as a call to madness.  Not all of the cards that speak to our fears are major arcana however; many of the swords and the fives of all four suits frequently elicit strong emotional responses.   

People will surprise you, though.  One person’s bliss can be another’s disquiet.  In the following game people list one or two cards that make them wince when they appear in a reading for themselves.  One man recently indicated The Sun, which typically represents a state of grace, as his most dreaded card; to him, it represented excessive expectations from other people.  This is a good example of how universal archetypes have the potential to express in different ways within the personality.

The object of the game is to illustrate the way people have certain doubts in common, which isn’t as negative as it sounds.  To acknowledge that our fears are shared opens the door to the idea that we aren’t alone with them, and to the knowledge that these feelings are simply part of the human condition rather than a flaw buried within the personality.  The ultimate goal of the game is to provoke discussion about constructive ways to respond when you feel uneasy about a card in a reading, including the consideration of different interpretations.  Play this game with lots of people, or just a few.

 

THE “WHAT CARDS MAKE YOU NERVOUS?” GAME:

Each player gets two blank slips of paper.  On each slip, write down the name of a card that generally causes you to have a negative emotional reaction when you get it in a reading.  Put your slips into a basket with everyone else’s.

Pass the basket around, with each player removing one slip at random.  Tell the group what the card on your slip is, and talk about your own reaction to it.  Your feelings aren’t necessarily the same as those of the person who wrote the slip in the first place.  In fact, the card might not represent anything negative to you at all.  Or maybe it does, but in either case your perspective is valuable because it offers the other person connection, and new ways of thinking about the card.  After you’ve given your take on the card, ask the originator if they’d like to add anything.

Typically, certain cards will repeat as the basket is passed around.  As this happens, keep talking if anyone has more to say.  Continue until all of the slips have been pulled, keeping a tally so you can see what kinds of issues people have most in common at the end.  Sometimes the cards that don’t show up are as telling as the ones that do.  For instance, if no one in your group is fearful of The Hanged One it’s likely you’re among people with a high degree of spiritual awareness. 

Here are a few thoughts to help spark discussion:

Describe your immediate EMOTIONAL reaction to the cards.  Try not to over-think.

Blurt out any clichés that come to mind when you look at a card.  Don’t worry about being right, that doesn’t matter in this exercise.  If you use a metaphor that’s off the mark, emotional reaction makes that clear and offers as much information as one that hits home.

Offer examples of positive interpretations when you can.

Give an example of a time the card has impacted you personally, if you have one.

Talk about techniques you use to deal with anxiety in general.  Do you deal with Tarot in the same way, or differently?

Have you ever felt like you didn’t understand what the cards were saying? What do you do when the cards just don’t seem to be speaking to you?

Were you surprised by any of the cards that were selected in your game?

 

 

 

 

 

 

LEARNING THE FOUR SUITS

By Judy Jennings © Copyright 2014

Tarot is an extremely practical oracle with an affinity for getting down and dirty in your personal business.  This is no stuffy, stand-offish medium stuck out in the ether.  Tarot is an oracle that dives into the trenches of your daily life to act like a compass, constantly shifting according to your situation and pointing continually in the best direction for moving forward.

The cards of the four suits play a major role in giving Tarot that ability.  While the major arcana may speak in metaphysical tones, the intricacies of the everyday are the life-blood of the four suits. 

To understand the meanings of cards Ace through ten of the four suits, one must first gain a basic knowledge of two subjects; the occult meanings of numbers 1-10, and the qualities of the four elements of astrology.  Fire, Earth, Air and Water are each associated with one of the four suits of Tarot, and the nature of its element is reflected in the story told by each suit.  In this group of cards, designed to address the realities of everyday life, interpretation is found in the combination of the number and the suit. 

Try this simple exercise for a better understanding of the elemental nature of the suits:  Close your eyes and clear your mind for a moment.  When you are relaxed, imagine a flame burning brightly right in front of you.  Let this fire-associated with the suit of wands- take any form it wants, whether a single flame or a raging bonfire.  Hold this image in your mind for about 30 seconds.

How did you feel as you looked over that flame?  What kind of qualities made an impression on you?  Did it seem impulsive, excited, impatient?  This intuitive, emotional connection with these elements will teach you much of what you need to know about the potential of each suit.  Try this exercise with all four.  The element associated with a suit divulges the aspects of daily life that suit will address in a reading.  Suits and elements are aligned as follows:  Wands/Fire, Pentacles/Earth, Swords/Air, Cups/Water.

While learning about the elements is in great part an intuitive process, learning the meanings of numbers is not.  Rote memorization is called for, but in the meantime, there’s a cheat sheet at the end of this article that can serve as a handy reference.  That’s not really cheating.
          The quality of the suit and the meaning of the number of the card are two ways in which cards deliver information.  Intuition, often stimulated by artwork, is the other major player.  With hundreds, maybe thousands, of decks in circulation these days that’s what the selection of a Tarot pack most often narrows down to:  You choose the deck with the artwork that best stimulates your imagination and intuition.  It’s a matter of resonance.

That’s also a very personal choice, and not our subject for today.  Let’s get back to suits and numbers.  Better yet, let’s move on to a different technique altogether.  Storytelling is another wonderful way to get to know this group.

The tricky part about Tarot storytelling is avoiding the temptation to revert to interpretation.  Storytelling is not the same thing as doing a reading.  Tarot storytelling is fictional.  The purpose of this exercise is engage the creative capacity of your right brain in order to create an intuitive bond with the cards in the story.  

For this exercise, lay out cards Ace through 10 of one suit, and make up a story about what is happening to the character as you put down each card.  Use two guidelines for your stories:  Give your character a name right away, and end on a positive note.  You can use what you’ve learned about the meaning of numbers and the qualities of the suits to give direction to your story, but it is your emotional connection with the cards that will breathe life into it.  It’s probably best to start with a suit other than Swords, which can really test your ability to come up with that happy ending.  Cups are nice.

Have fun with this exercise!  Remember, the purpose is to develop a feel for the “personality” of the cards, so to speak, not to do a reading.  You can also play this as a group, with a different person adding to the story as each card is set down.  Look for details in the cards to add to your story:  Backgrounds, animals, weather, and facial expressions are clues to the energy being expressed in each one.  The meanings of the numbers of the cards and the qualities of the suits should define the general direction of your tale, but the details added from your imagination will offer the most intimate understanding of the cards!

 “TAROT CHEAT SHEET”

 

THE MEANING OF NUMBERS 1-10

 

0.                Infinity, superconsciousness, unlimited potential.

1.                  Conscious self-awareness. 

2.                Duality, reflection, alternation.

3.                Growth, development, expression.  Networking of  1 and 2.

4.                Calculating intelligence, order, measurement, classification, beneficence.

5.                 Adaptation, versatility.  Midpoint between beginning and completion.

6.                Harmony of opposites, reciprocity, equilibrium, love.

7.                 Synthesis of preceding numbers.  In relation to Tarot specifically, 7 represents the unfinished Great Work.

8.                Like 0, 8 can be written continuously without lifting pen from paper, suggesting infinity.  Double circles indicate alternating cycles and the idea that opposites are actually the effect of the same cause.

9.                Completion, attainment, fulfillment.  The end of a cycle.

10.            A balance of self-awareness and universal consciousness.  10 is the number of transition.

 

 

MEANINGS OF THE FOUR SUITS

 

WANDS:  The suit of Fire.  Wands represent the world of Spirit and the realm of pure ideas.  Wands have everything to do with motivation, inspiration and passion.

 

CUPS:  The suit of Water.  Cups hold all of the meanings of the High Priestess herself.  This is the suit of creativity and emotional depth.  The subconscious mind and hidden wisdom are represented here.

 

SWORDS:  The suit of Air.  Mental and psychological activity is shown in Swords.  Matters involving communication and/or conflict are strong aspects of this suit.  Issues that can arise throughout the process of making a decision are emphasized.  Swords also represent the realm where the ideas generated in Wands are actually pressed into reality.

 

PENTACLES:  The suit of Earth.  Pentacles have to do with all matters of health and well-being in the material world.  Career, residence, and a connecton to the natural world are all demonstrated in Pentacles.

THE PAGE OF CUPS

By Judy Jennings © Copyright 2014

The Page  of Cups is a very idealistic individual.  Loving and highly respectful of others, he has the ability to channel his own emotions into positive directions.  Pages sometimes-but not always-represent a young person, but regardless of age, this is a kind and softhearted person filled with good intentions.  People generally find his playful, creative disposition to be quite charming.

It’s a cause to be hopeful when the Page of Cups appears in a reading.  It advises the seeker to be open to the unexpected and suggests that a fresh approach to a difficult matter may be helpful.  A romantic crush might be indicated.  In some cases this Page encourages you to follow your intuition or act on a hunch.

When the Page of Cups appears in the past it’s a sign that the emotional foundation of your current situation is healthy and loving.  In the present, there might be the suggestion of inexperience in a matter involving the emotions.  Encouragement to express your feelings could also be indicated.  Seeing the Page of Cups in the future is a happy sight; there lies the possibility of a new love or a new close friend, or maybe there’s a very enjoyable activity waiting for you up ahead.  

The Page of Cups speaks to the sensitive, emotional side in each of us.  Above all, this Page is a reminder to keep our eyes and our hearts firmly set on our dreams.

Unrealized Potential:  This Page can be emotionally vulnerable and easily hurt.  Others may prey on his gullibility.  Inability to focus makes him appear lazy and unproductive, and attempts to communicate are often misunderstood.  He is given to emotional extremes.

THE PAGE OF SWORDS

By Judy Jennings © Copyright 2014

The Page of Swords, like all Pages, is concerned with everyday activities.  A highly vigilant youth might be indicated, or the card could address the beginning stage of a project that’s being watched very closely.  If representing a person, this is someone with the utmost integrity and an unfaltering love for the truth.  Mental proficiency, truth and justice are the values the Page of Swords lives by.  

 Highly idealistic, this Page is every bit as perceptive as the Queen of Swords, but lacks her experience.  In some cases a prodigy might be suggested.  It’s a good idea to be mindful of your privacy when dealing with this Page, because the Page of Swords LOVES to talk and sometimes indiscriminately repeats what she’s heard. This is an excited person, full of energy and eager to push out into the world.

A roaring wind assails the Page of Swords, similar to the windstorm shown in the Knight.  Energy in both of these cards is turbulent, suggesting that they speak directly to challenges. When appearing in the present, for example, the Page of Swords might suggest it advisable to investigate the legitimacy of an offer.  The integrity of former actions is brought to mind when this card shows in the past.  Another person is most likely to be represented by the Page of Swords when it appears in the future.  When this Page mingles with multiple royals of Cups in a reading, it’s a sign that telling the truth about something is likely to bring great relief.  

Unrealized Potential:  This Page can signify an immature person who challenges authority at every turn.  She is a tattletale, a gossip, and an annoying know-it-all.  She lies compulsively.  Hyper-vigilance may be indicated.

THE PAGE OF PENTACLES

By Judy Jennings © Copyright 2014

The Page of Pentacles is traditionally thought of as a young person ready to take on more responsibility.  This might be a student or apprentice, or in any case, someone eager to attain new levels of skill and knowledge.  This is a person with a developing understanding of material needs and the importance of good health.  A dedication to doing the right thing is one of his strongest values.  

This Page may be also be regarded to represent the initial stage of the development of a project.  In a reading, when the Page of Pentacles appears in the past it suggests the process of maturation.  In the present it might indicate a person who is acquiring new skills or starting in a new position.  Inexperience could be a factor in a business matter.  When this Page appears in the future, a budding opportunity is often on the horizon.  

As with all of the royals of Pentacles, a fondness for the outdoors is indicated.   The mountain in the background behind this Page is noteworthy because of the importance of that symbol in the Rider-Waite deck.  First appearing in The Lovers, the mountain represents the Great Work of a personality whose actions are  connected to a meaningful purpose.  That symbolism holds true every time the mountain appears, and in this case, makes clear that the down-to-earth Page of Pentacles is connected to higher meaning through his work ethic and dedication.

Unrealized Potential:  The Page of Pentacles can represent an irresponsible person given to excessive spending, gambling, or drug and alcohol abuse,  Boredom might be suggested. 

THE PAGE OF WANDS

By Judy Jennings © Copyright 2014

The Page of Wands represents a person of brilliance.  All Pages have to do with the realm of daily activities and frequently suggest a young person crossing the path of the seeker.  They can at times refer to  the temperament of the querant, as well, suggesting optimism and high energy.  The Page of Wands is healthy, vigorous, courageous and excited. 

The appearance of this Page in the present can indicate a person who is highly idealistic and enthusiastic, but lacking in experience.  The beginning stages of an inspired project might also be suggested.  In the past, the Page of Wands represents a surge of energy and optimism that has helped create the current situation.  In a future position, this Page is encouraging, showing high energy and vitality.  An upcoming project promises to be very exciting.

The Salamanders decorating her coat associate the Page of Wands with all of the attributes of the Fire Lizard described under the King of Wands.

Unrealized Potential:  Lack of experience results in impractical ideas.  Energy is squandered on pointless endeavors.  Fatigue may be a problem.

THE KNIGHT OF CUPS

By Judy Jennings © Copyright 2014

The Knight  of Cups represents the coming and going of emotional matters.  Like all Knights, this card can refer either to a person on some sort of a mission, or to a changing circumstance.  

A person who is symbolized by this Knight is strongly in touch with her emotions and ruled by the heart.  Optimistic and idealistic, she makes decisions based on feelings and intuition rather than logic.  In keeping with all of the other royals of Cups, the Knight is deeply romantic, but on a quest of seduction that is uniquely her own.  

The arrival of good news is often signaled by the Knight of Cups, and it’s a VERY good card to get when asking about love.  The appearance of this Knight in almost any position is a strong encouragement to explore your feelings about a matter.  You may receive an important message through your dreams.

The activity of the horses reveals much about the intentions of their Knights.  The pair shown in the Knight of Cups is in steady motion, perpetually drawn toward the water, the source of emotions.  When it appears in the past. there has likely been an emotional matter that is still affecting the present.  Seen in the present, she offers a joyous and hopeful view of the future.  When the Knight of Cups presents in the future, it’s a sign that events already in motion will lead to great happiness.

Unrealized Potential:  This Knight can be lost in daydreams and become completely unproductive.  Her moods may be variable and unpredictable, and she often becomes defensive.  Sexual promiscuity might be indicated.

THE KNIGHT OF SWORDS

By Judy Jennings © Copyright 2014

The Knight of Swords is an agitator; he likes to keep things stirred up, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.  That depends on context.  On the one hand, this Knight shows great ambition and determination.  He approaches life from an intellectual perspective and has a talent for communicating well with other people.  Everything about this card suggests high energy and swift action. On the other hand, trouble often trails along behind him.  

Knights seem to represent circumstances in readings as often as they do people.  All Knights refer to some kind of delivery, and the Knight of Swords suggests the arrival of new thoughts and ideas, or perhaps foretells an unexpected conversation.  He can also bring surprising messages.

The Knight of Swords is extremely interactive with other royals.  All of the Queens work well with this Knight, for he is their champion.  He can be volatile with Kings, however.  Notice that the Knight of Swords and the Knight of Wands are facing the same direction, while the other two Knights face the opposite way.  When two Knights who are looking in the same direction appear together in a reading, they suggest two people working towards a common goal.  

The direction of the gaze has an important connection with the position of this Knight in a layout, as well.  In the past, he looks away from the seeker, suggesting that conflict has passed.  In the present he can bring unexpected or even unwelcome news.  In the future, the Knight of Swords is looking directly at the seeker, indicating that something unsettling is about to happen.  

Unrealized Potential:  A person who cuts corners and acts before thinking might be suggested.  Lack of caution is indicated.  In this state the personality is adversarial and confrontational.