Tarot Reading.

Here you'll find a tool to help you understand the foundation of esoteric tarot readings. We very much favour the belief that the power of tarot is based in interpretation and the art of reading and as such have steered clear of the usual format in favour of a guide which we hope you find informative and fun. The information presented here should form the basis of the reading to be performed by you. Please note this is a work in progress. If you notice a bug or if something doesn't make sense please feel free to email us at info@tarotcards.com. We would really appreciate it!

Deal the Cards
Rider Waite Smith
Blackwater Tarot
Reversed Cards

Here we have the simplest of spreads, three upright cards. Many tarot readers only read cards upright and disregard the need to shuffle reversed cards into the deck. Of course, this method is completely reasonable, making reading simpler and often less confusing for both the reader and the querent. So what is this spread telling you? There is little to complicate or second-guess here. Follow the narrative of the cards, firstly what is the nature of the problem, secondly what is the cause of the problem, and finally what is the solution to the problem.

- reversed

This should make some sense in highlighting what manner of the issue is being confronted in the reading? So as your first card is , then the reading should be to do with the associated concepts; . Consider these ideas within the context of your own life. Hopefully, something begins to take shape as to what is being discussed.


- reversed

Your second card, reveals the cause of the issue. So if the traits of are understood as , then how do these qualities relate to what is instigating your problem? With this information piece together how these connotations could be translated as the cause of an issue. Is the card describing traits within yourself? Is this card is describing something or someone in your life? Perhaps a specific place or event is being referenced (consider the imagery)?


- reversed

This card is your solution. Consider the associations of , . How do they relate to and hopefully confront, change, or challenge the second card in the spread? Does it offer advice on the nature of the problem in a more abstract sense? Link back to the other cards and try to piece together a narrative. How does this final card offer resolution? How does it help you move forward?


in conclusion

Hopefully, this reading has helped identify and offered sage advice on, an issue in your life. The three upright cards should have proved a relatively easy narrative to work with, however, if the 'nature, cause and solution' formula does not seem to make sense or is otherwise unhelpful then consider other frameworks of reading. For example, a popular alternative is to read the respective cards as past, present and future, or perhaps go as specific as to consider a relationship and read the first card as yourself, the second as the other person, and the third as the state of the relationship. It cannot be stressed enough that there is no 'right way' to read tarot and everyone does it differently, take time to find what suits you.

This spread alludes to a narrative that somehow has an unsatisfactory or unhappy ending. The resolution is possibly unrealistic, and will not or does not make sense as an option in the real world. There may be a sense that this reading will almost trail off, effectively targeting a problem and cause but offering nothing but vague musings on the steps to take for any closure.

- reversed

Your first card relates to the nature of your problem. Essentially what kind of issue are you dealing with, be it affairs of the heart, financial concerns, health problems, or any other such question? This narrows down the reading and sets the groundwork for the other cards that follow.

In this example, , is linked to . Taking this into account, decipher what kind of issue is being alluded to here. Then attempt to apply this to your life. How and where do these patterns manifest in your experience?


- reversed

How does this card, reveal the cause of the issue? will hopefully provide some form of clue towards unveiling the crux of an issue or at least clarify any ambiguity about what is causing said issue.

So if the traits of are understood as , then how do these qualities relate to what is instigating your problem? With this information piece together how these connotations could be translated as the cause of an issue. What is this card pointing towards? Think if this card is describing someone you know, a location you have been or will go to, some specific action done or words said.


- reversed

The reversed interpretation of this card presents a rough counterpoint to the same ideas, so in this case, . So ’s rotation here may imply that the situation may be resolved in a bittersweet or unsatisfactory manner.

If you take this into account, how then is the meaning present within the connotations of a frustrating or undesirable ending, and is this card warning you against it or perhaps telling you to come to terms with it?


in conclusion

This reading has probably left a little to be desired. Sometimes this happens... If the spread did throw a lot of things up in the air and failed to unpack or deconstruct them, this can be frustrating. When a reading cannot offer the solution you need, you must find your own.

This spread evokes the Wheel of Fortune, the cards are upright, reversed, and upright again. It tells us that what goes down must naturally rise up again, just as every action has an equal and opposite reaction. These patterns repeat in our lives, there will always be good times and hard times, and without this change, there would be no perspective to enjoy the good times when they come. This spread suggests that though times may be tough at the moment, the good times are coming.

- reversed

Your first card relates to the nature of your problem. Essentially what kind of issue are you dealing with, be it affairs of the heart, financial concerns, health problems, or any other such question?

In this example, , is linked to . Taking this into account, decipher what kind of issue is being alluded to here. Then attempt to apply this to your life. How and where do these patterns manifest in your experience?


- reversed

The second card reversed implies that though the problem and solution may be set out clearly, the cause is more ambiguous or conceptual than it may first appear.

In this example, Reversed, is linked to . So how is this referencing the cause of the dilemma or problem? And how is the cause somehow hidden when the nature and solution seem so straightforward? This spread advises that the querent reconsiders whether they are attributing blame in the wrong places. Though whether this card is the true cause or the misattributed cause is uncertain, but something is not as it seems.


- reversed

This is your third and final card and so should guide you to your solution. How could guide you to confronting or moving past a problem? Considering the associations of this card, , what conclusion is insinuated by the reading? Is the murkiness of the second cards meaning confronted with this solution or do we remain in the dark?


in conclusion

This spread should hopefully follow a narrative of becoming lost and then finding your own way back to the path. Consider this looking back over the cards. Sometimes it is difficult to know why things happen to us. There is not always an obvious cause or reason. However, even if you may feel like you are in the dark about the cause, there will still be a way of resolving a problem.

The makeup of this spread is slightly darker than many others. It depicts some sort of downward spiral. A descent into something. It also predicts the loss of something. This is possibly a material loss, but it seems to suggest the loss of something metaphysical. Something that seemed concrete has melted away or is soon to do so. Is it the loss of an idea? The loss of faith? Love? Perhaps even this is a narrative of losing grip on reality, of slipping away from this world, losing one's sanity.

Now, obviously, this may all come across a little morbid, take it with a grain of salt. It might be better to interpret this reading as a warning rather than a bleak prophecy.

- reversed

Your first card relates to the nature of your problem. Essentially what kind of issue are you dealing with, be it affairs of the heart, financial concerns, health problems, or any other such question? So, what is telling you? What subject is being broached?

If , is linked to . Then attempt to apply this to your life. How and where do these patterns manifest in your experience?


- reversed

Now the reading begins to take a turn. Something wrong is happening. It is implied by the reversal of the second card, that something is not as it seems. Perhaps you have possibly misdiagnosed the root of the issue. Maybe the reading is unveiling something that you have previously perceived as positive in a negative light. It advises a weariness towards this subject and suggests you at the very least reconsider it.

In this example, Reversed, is linked to . Do these associations narrow down what is being alluded to? What do you recognise here? Try to uncover what is twisted, hidden, or otherwise strange about the subject.


- reversed

Instead of thinking of this final card as a solution, take it as a warning. It is not, as said previously, a premonition of a bleak ending that will come to pass, but a warning against it. Now that a potential future has been hinted at, what can be done to avoid it?

Consider the traits of reversed, . What is this potentially painful resolution to the issue? Then strive against this. Change your path.


in conclusion

This warning urges you to seek out a better solution before it is too late. The future is not set. Do not be disheartened by this reading if it was particularly negative. It is a good chance to open your eyes to the cogs in motion, so that you may stop the cogs, change course, and avert disaster in whatever form it has manifested here.

The first impression of this spread is largely positive, it tells us that what is down ( reversed), can only be on the up and up (the two following upright cards). This reading follows a very simple method of the Nature, the Cause, and the Solution to a problem. Considering this the cause and solution should be more simple to recognise but there will be something in some way wrong about the nature of the problem. This is for you to uncover, but think over whether the nature of the issue is being misattributed, whether the real nature of the issue is being obscured or twisted somehow.

- reversed

So, as previously mentioned, something is not right about the nature of this problem, or at least there is some manner of falseness or disconnect between what is being offered as the nature of the issue and what is the actual nature of the issue. If for example, the first card had alluded to financial issues, this may resonate, but is the financial nature of the problem secondary to the true nature, is another issue causing that, perhaps familial stress impacting wealth or some other such cause?

Also, as this is card reversed, the meanings are loosely translated into their opposites. We are now shown the other side of the coin. In this example Reversed, is associated with, . So what can be inferred about the nature of the issue, and what is it possibly secondary to?


- reversed

Your second card, reveals the specific cause of the issue. The card in this position will hopefully provide some form of clue towards unveiling the core of this reading.

So if the traits of are understood as , then how do these qualities relate to what is instigating your problem? With this information piece together how these connotations could be translated as the cause of an issue. Is the card describing traits within yourself? Is it coming to light that this card is describing something or someone in your life? Perhaps a specific event is being referenced?


- reversed

How could guide you to confronting or moving past a problem? Considering the associations of this card, , what conclusion is insinuated by the reading? Hopefully, it should help cut through the misdirection or falseness of the first card to find truth, resolution and closure.


in conclusion

Ultimately this reading should have produced a narrative about confronting falseness and coming to terms with the true root of the matter to find a healthy state from which to move forward.

What can be read into this spread at a first glance? Consider the layout of cards; reversed, upright, and reversed again. What comes up must come down, and the universe is constantly in motion. Though less positive than its opposite; upright, reversed, upright, this spread is still a good sign, and though may not necessarily contain a happy ending in this narrative, it bodes well for a future wherein what follows will surely be another upward turn.

- reversed

Considering the importance the first card holds in narrowing down what type of issue is at hand. When reversed it may concern what surrounds said problem. It may be useful to consider the traumatic repercussions of the issue that arises. So considering the following card is upright and should be relatively to the point about the problem, take time to revaluate that problem. Do not discount the actual event or person being referenced in the second card by any means, but try to dissect what lead to and what was the fallout of the subject given by the reading.

As this is card reversed, the meaning is now mirrored. It manifests in the opposite. In this example Reversed, is associated with, . So, how could this help someone come to terms with navigating the aftermath of how an event was dealt with.


- reversed

So this card is the cause of the issue. This card is more specific than the first and should help clarify what, who, or when is being discussed. If, for example, the first card had suggested a romantic narrative or question, then this card should narrow down whether it is a marriage or a breakup, whether this is a new potential love interest or an ex-lover. It may be as specific to reference a specific place, time of day, or even a thing said or done.

So if the traits of are understood as , then what are these qualities painting a picture of? What here is familiar? Does something strike you as an obvious answer?

With this information piece together how these connotations could be translated as the cause of an issue. Try to conjure a memory or a person that fits this card.


- reversed

This is your third and final card and so should guide you to your solution. However, as suggested by this spreads connotations of ups and downs, there is a chance this conclusion will be somewhat unsatisfactory.

The alternate reversed interpretation of this card presents a rough counterpoint to the same ideas, so in this case, . If you take this into account, how then is the meaning present within the connotations of a frustrating or undesirable ending, and is this card warning you against it or perhaps telling you to come to terms with it?


in conclusion

As mentioned in the opening, don't forget that though this reading may be seemingly negative or otherwise undesirable, it is simply a subsection of a life undergoing constant change. Though this specific reading may have ended on a low note, what follows will surely be more high notes, and so on and so forth. The world keeps spinning and ultimately it is a good thing that no one stays at the top forever, and no one is down at the bottom forever.

First of all, it may be beneficial to look at the bigger picture and consider the first impressions of this spread, and how it is laid out. The conclusion here is tangible and realisable, and yet the path to this conclusion will not be. Two reversed cards preceding an upright solution is an interesting journey to delve into. Obviously, the reading is ultimately dependent on the cards themselves but at a first glance, this spread suggests a few narratives. The first way of reading this sequence could be understood of the effects of the imaginative and immaterial worlds on the material one. Consider how ideas, dreams, or spirituality can affect the sensory realm, and how they can begin to manifest into it. Alternatively, this could imply that a joyous ending will come from a period of pain and sorrow. Among these, there are many other interpretations to keep in mind moving forward.

- reversed

The first card (the nature of the problem), becomes slightly complicated in reverse. Instead of pinpointing an issue down to something simple, such as love or money, this concerns the more psychological line of questioning, such as: how has this affected me, has achieved success made me happy, are there traumatic repercussions to what happened?

We are now shown the other side of the coin. In this example Reversed, is associated with, . So, how could this help someone come to terms with determining what the nature of their issue is?


- reversed

It is implied by the continual reversal in the second card, that you are possibly wrong in your first assumptions about the problem. The event or person that you have been attributing blame to may not be what is really behind what is going on here. It is easy to misdiagnose one's own self and easier to retrospectively distort memories in an attempt to create a narrative so something can be made sense of. This spread is then suggesting that the narrative is simply untrue, no matter how much it helps or has helped make sense of things, it must now be acknowledged for what it is; a lie, and then discarded.

In this example, Reversed, is linked to . Is there something that strikes out linking the card to these ideas of misattribution? Perhaps what is being described is something akin to what you have perceived as a problem but isn’t? Or maybe it is becoming apparent that it refers to something else in your life you had not noticed that is actually culpable.


- reversed

After so much misdirection and misjudgement comes the sudden relief of the upright solution. From the murk and confusion, a sudden clearness overcomes and an obvious solution reveals itself. There is no second-guessing or hidden meanings in the revelations of this final card. So consider this, how do the traits of , namely, , provide a clear and ultimate conclusion to the fogginess of the elusive nature and shape of the problem alluded to in the previous two cards.


in conclusion

The makeup of this spread is understandably one of the harder ones to make sense of, which is fine to accept and the only advice to give is simply to take it slow and not worry about second-guessing yourself. Ultimately this reading should be positive in nature, the road to the conclusion may be difficult or disorientating, but the end is in sight and it will be a definite, satisfying end when it comes.

The first thing to confront here is the strange occurrence of a completely reversed spread. In effect, what is being shown here is a world in some way turned wholly upside down. This can be interpreted in several different ways, of which hopefully one will begin to make more sense after unpacking the cards themselves.

- reversed

Within this upturned spread, there is a degree of imaginative freedom when it comes to narrowing down the nature of the issue . Consider the importance of the mirror world this spread is alluding to. Think outside of the parameters of straightforward problems (financial or romantic for example) and begin to probe issues of a more abstract nature.

With this is card reversed, the meanings are loosely translated into their opposites. In this example reversed, is associated with, . Try to uncover the message here, not only what the nature of the issue is, but what is being unsaid, what is between the lines, what is implicit, and what can be inferred.


- reversed

It is implied by the reversal of the second card, that you have previously misdiagnosed the root of the issue. Perhaps you are attributing blame in the wrong places and turning a blind eye to the true subject causing the issue. In this example, reversed, is linked to . Is there something that strikes out linking the card to these ideas of misattribution?

Perhaps what is being described is something akin to what you have perceived as a problem but isn’t? Or maybe it is becoming apparent that it refers to something else in your life you had not noticed is what is actually behind the problem.


- reversed

To finish off this upturned spread, where one would have expected resolution, instead of results in something a little different. There is for some reason little closure to be found here, little to be learned, little to be pieced together. What has happened is possibly something that does not make sense, is not fair, just, or reasonable. Nonetheless what has transpired is somehow a truth that must be accepted and moved past.

Essentially, 's rotation here may imply that the situation may be resolved in a bittersweet or unsatisfactory manner. The alternate reversed interpretation of this card presents a rough counterpoint to the upright card's values, so in this case, . If you take this into account, how then is the meaning present within the connotations of a frustrating or undesirable ending, and is this card warning you against it or perhaps telling you to come to terms with it?


in conclusion

Naturally, there is a stigma to reversed cards in general, and three reversed cards in succession can easily be taken immediately as a bad omen and can come across as an intimidating nightmare-scape. Of course if this negative overhanging does seem to be what is being put forth here then, of course, that is warranted and not to be ignored. However, it is perhaps more productive, or more applicable to consider ideas of upending or untethering, perhaps there is a narrative here of things being in the air, in flux, or otherwise ungrounded.

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