The Complete Book of Tarot Reversals

Special Topics in Tarot

by Mary K. Greer

What do you do with the "other half" of the Tarot the reversed cards? Experienced and beginning Tarot readers alike often struggle with interpreting cards when they're upside down.

Struggle in the dark no more. Respected Tarot scholar and author Mary K. Greer sheds light on the subject in The Complete Book of Tarot Reversals, the first book in Llewellyn's new Special Topics in Tarot series. This series was created in response to an increasing demand for more Tarot books on advanced and specialized topics.

Reversals are not black and white―there is more than one way to interpret them. Explore these shades of grey with the twelve different methods for reading upside down cards. Upright and reversed interpretations for each of the 78 Tarot cards offer inner support, positive advice, and descriptions of the learning opportunities available, yet with a twist that is uniquely their own. Stimulate your intuition and deepen your connection to the cards as you explore the flip side of the Tarot.

Genres: Tarot, Nonfiction, Reference, Occult, Divination, Spirituality, Paganism

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2002

About the author

Mary K. Greer is a scholar, writer, teacher and professional tarot consultant. With more than forty years experience in tarot as an author and teacher, she advocates a revolutionary approach to learning and using the cards that emphasizes personal insight and creativity. As an expert tarot reader, she works as a ‘midwife of the soul,’ using techniques that are interactive, transformational and empowering.

Mary is the founder of Tools and Rites of Transformation (T.A.R.O.T.) and is a member of many international tarot organizations. She is a featured speaker at tarot conferences and symposia around the world.

The author of nine books on tarot and a biography of four female magicians, Mary’s latest book is Who Are You in the Tarot? (RedWheel/Weiser, 2011). Her previous book, 21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card (Llewellyn, 2008) won the COVR award for best divination book.

Mary is the proud recipient of the 2007 International Tarot Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2006 Mercury Award from the Mary Redman Foundation for “excellence in communication in the metaphysical field.”

With an M.A. in English literature, Mary was a faculty member and administrator of a college in San Francisco for eleven years. She is an Arch-Priestess/Hierophant in the Fellowship of Isis. As a world traveler, she has lived in Japan, Germany, England, Mexico, six states in the U.S., and currently resides in Northern California.

Reviews

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written by Mary K. Greer who is one of the heavyweights of the tarot world, this entire book is devoted to reversals, i.e. the cards that appear upside down in a reading. Reversals are a complex topic. There is no universal agreement on how they should be read, and some readers chose to ignore them entirely and read all cards as upright.

The author provides information on the twelve main ways to interpret reversals (both traditional and contemporary):
1. blocked or resisted
2. projected
3. delayed, difficult, unavailable
4. inner, unconscious, private (as opposed to outer, conscious, public)
5. new or dark moon (round deck variations)
6. breaking through, overturning, refusing, changing directions
7. no or not [the upright meaning]; lacking
8. excessive over- or overcompensating
9. misused or misdirected
10. "re-" words: retried, retracted, reviewed, reconsidered, et cetera ...
11. rectification: disease into remedy
12. unconventional, shamanic, magical, humorous

There are also a number of bonus additional techniques included following the twelve main ones. The sheer number of options for reading reversals can be overwhelming, and the author suggests that readers begin by trying two to four and see what works for them individually. Appendix A is a list of "reversed keywords" that can also be used to find a term that best modifies a reversed card.

The book contains an impressive amount of research with endnotes concluding each section. The definitions in the introductory chapter are very helpful. There is also a fantastic bibliography. The appendices provide even more in-depth information on a particular topic or exercise. The chapter devoted to card interpretations gives both upright and reversed meanings, so standard meaning is a bonus. There is also a chapter about tarot spreads/layouts that work particularly well with reversals, including a yes-not spread and the Hanged Man spread.

I really appreciated the author's suggestion in Chapter 1 that if a spread contains an excess of reversed cards, then the reader may want to start over with a different spread, using the question "What will help the querent more at this time?" rather than risk overwhelming or distressing the client.

This book is aimed at the intermediate and advanced practitioners. So. if you're a tarot beginner, you will want to wait until you've mastered the basics and feel comfortable with the cards before tackling reversals. The author advises in chapter 1, "Rule number one is Know the basic meanings for each card ranging from its most helpful to most problematic possibilities." Until you have accomplished this, you cannot move on to more advanced techniques.

Another caveat is that this book is also written from the perspective of someone who believes tarot is a tool to communicate with the divine realm, or Spirit. So, if you are in the camp that views tarot as a psycho-analytic tool and don't believe the universe wants you to be be a certain path, then you might find some content in this book a bit off-putting. But, on the other hand, if you view tarot as a receptacle for messages from godhead and are interested in shamanic magical perspective for tarot reading, then this book may really speak to you.

[Yvonne · Rating 3 out of 5]

[3.5 stars]

I've been using this for a couple months now to help with my understanding of reversals. I've been using tarot cards on and off since 2018, though it's been fairly consistently on throughout 2020, and I only started trying to interpret reversals after I felt confident in my ability to interpret the cards upright. Like most books on tarot it relies heavily on RWS imagery, which I have mixed feelings about bc I think it can be useful for the traditional meanings and most of the decks I own are based on the RWS tradition, but I don't vibe with the actual RWS deck itself. I have never felt drawn to it and in fact feel more off-put by it than anything. So books that are based on it are at best usually a mixed bag for me. I understand that there has to be some universal standard for books like this to even exist, so I digress.

I will say I do like that the author gives very detailed descriptions of each card both upright and reversed, though there is so much information (and much of it self-contradictory, but that's nothing new with tarot) that I think it would be easy to just become more confused, especially for beginners, which makes me glad that I pulled back on reading reversals until I was ready for them. Her explanations have been more helpful than not for me and occasionally something that she mentions as just an aside like, "It could also be x or y," has given me an Aha! moment.

I would not recommend this to people just getting started in tarot or to use as a main guidebook on its own, but for people who are somewhat practiced and starting to include reversals, but struggling a bit with them, I think it's a good tool to add to your collection.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really excited about this book and kept wanting to like it, but I just didn't connect with it. There are parts I like - for instance, her listed suggestions on the different ways to interpret reversed cards in the intro, the guide in the back where you can intuitively point to a suggested way to interpret, and her shamanic/magical meanings under each card. But I think the thing that didn't resonate with me was that in the intro of the book she says reversed cards meanings aren't necessarily the opposite of upright card meanings, and they aren't inherently negative... but overall I found a lot of her reversed descriptions of the cards to be along those lines? For a while I'd consult this book, again - wanting to like it - but ALWAYS found myself following up with other books I like better.

[Tabitha Chamberlain · Rating 5 out of 5]

i admit that there are a few places that it gets a touch dry while reading, but if you can only afford to get one book to help you learn and understand tarot this is the only book you need. excellent resource and information to help beginners or to get advanced readers to look beyond the typical.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply ingenious. May be more meaningful to more advanced readers, but her reversals can add layers to any level reader's knowledge.

[Jaina Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I use this book all the time. Every day. This would be my desert island tarot book.

[Fannie Poirier · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a well-known traditionalist, Mary K. Greer's interpretations will read as somewhat archaic to the queer or postmodern seeker (hello, gender binaries!). However, if you are looking for a solid, classic resource to deepen your understanding of reversals, this is a great reference. I recommend keeping your critical thinking close by and cross-referencing with other resources as you learn to use the book. Great new addition to my tarot toolbox!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far the most detailed information on tarot reversals I have come across. It also includes upright meanings for each card. This is a great resource.

[Catherine Rowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent so far.

[DaCane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of course, I did not just read this book…I studied it…for years…in an OCD methodical manner…this book has been invaluable to my practice. I first purchased this book in 2020…referred to a few cards and found it incorrectly misleading and another load of tripe…so I tossed it in a corner angrily to be untouched for something akin to 6-8 months…then one day I got over it and referenced it and boy did I find that my reading style had adjusted in such a way that this book seemed to be providing everything I needed for the part of my tarot journey I was on…there are few cards in here that I find to mean different for my connection to my cards…specifically from the 6 of cups to the 9 of cups (including the 6 & the 9) seemed to not fit for me along with the Empress Rx…however I am hard pressed to say there are any others that are not exquisitely well written and apt for the way the card is trying to communicate to me…I am so grateful for this work it is not even funny…I have written and highlighted every single card both upright and reversed and am quite worried of misplacing this copy without making copies of my notes….it is invaluable…I told myself when I finally did every single card I would mark myself as having read it twice and I would only mark it on having an experience with that card…hence why it took two years to fulfill this ambitious goal….making this book leave me with invaluable experience and causing the book to become an invaluable asset to my collection…not every book is worth this level of studying…in fact very few are…

I find breaking down the use of the words and applying the actual function of the card rather than being so literal is what was the difference in connecting with the spirit of MKG’s writing. However, MKG’s take on the cards is often also quite accurately literal, but for those times when it is not pay attention to her use of words and choice of words and the keywords and then let the cards speak for themselves as to what is or is not accurate.

Do not leave this one out of your collection your mastery will suffer…

[Crystal Ratcliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reversal never stuck with me, but this book solved that. I highly recommend to anyone wanting to seriously work with tarot

[Electric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't go wrong with MKG

[Elisefur · Rating 4 out of 5]

so much synchronicity. i'll be using this book a lot <3

[Nur Büyükyılmaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good tarot book has meanings for upright cards as well.

[Flying Off The Shelves · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mary Greer did a good job with this book. I like how she covered this topic because most of the time tarot reversals are like the ugly stepchild, no one wants to say anything about them. When reading this book I noticed I got the most out of the first couple of chapters than the rest of the book. I think this is mainly because of my approach to tarot and my experience. I believe that you can refer to books but it is your job to make the final verdict and if that is really what the cards are saying.

What is good about this book is that Mary Greer really broke down many of the most popular ways to read reversals. Her list seems to be a nice clear list that a reader will have no problem understanding. However, this is still not really what I took away from this book no matter how interesting this may be.

What I took away from this is two things. One being the following quote:
"The Hanged Man epitomizes the nature of reversed cards. As Mary writes, this card is about "total surrender to an opposing point of view, reversing your consciousness, and imagining differently." I am reminded of a scene from the movie, The Dead Poets Society. Actor Robin Williams plays a teacher who urges his students to stand on their desks, simply to see the room from a different point of view. That's what reversals can do. Sometimes that's what we need."
-Barbara Moore, October 2001

I simply loved The Dead Poets Society and Robin Williams (he is my favorite comedian). I think Barbara Moore must be on my wavelength because I have used this example to explain the Hanged Man many, many times so its nice to see it in a book.

The second being the ideas behind illness, reversals, and remedies.
"Traditional interpretations of reversals usually include illness. This makes sense because reversals suggest that an adjustment needs to be made, and stress is the body's response to adjustment and change... [and that]* sickness is thought to be a positive messenger that says you need to rebalance..."

Thus turning illness or reversals into remedies, a positive thing instead of a negative is an amazing concept. For many readers be they beginners or experienced sometimes having negative news is really hard but the ability to change the wording and turn it into a positive thing is great. I know that when I do readings many of my clients gasp when they see a reversal and the obvious major arcana cards maybe this will help in a way that requires less explanation and more thorough understanding.

In this way Mary Greer did a great job on this book but, it is more for beginners once you get passed the two sections I mentioned. So if you are first coming to tarot and have made the time and figured out the upright meanings but have great difficulty with reversals this book is for you! Beginners remember all the books in the world can not tell you everything about Tarot it is a life long study with much introspection. This book I say deserves at three. A relatively decent book for the experienced and a good book for beginners.

* brackets mean I added my own words.

See more reviews at http://flyingofftheshelves.blogspot.c...

[Leigh Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first lady of Tarot tackles advanced technique.

Interpreting reversed cards in a Tarot layout is tricky, and many people aren't quite sure what to do with them. If you're ready to move beyond think of reversals as "bad" cards, you'll appreciate Greer's in-depth study of how to travel in the upside-down, which can actually be a pretty cool place if you're open to the experience.

After discussing several options for generating reversed cards and considering the various interpretive lenses a reader can use to work with them, Greer jumps into the cards themselves. Each card is thoroughly described in terms of its upright and reversed possibilities, with special attention to the magical/shamanic implications of reversed cards: Greer holds to the thesis that reversals are cards of deep inner work, and deserve careful consideration. There's an entire chapter dedicated to various spreads, including the Hanged Man, or Ecstasy, spread, which is based on the concept that "every adversity is an opportunity for wisdom and understanding" (220). An extended sample reading follows, in which Greer lays out the cards for one of her clients and walks the reader through the spread itself, as well as how she worked with the client to discern which of the many possible card interpretations were most helpful in addressing her question.

As if all of that weren't enough, each chapter is footnoted, and there are multiple appendices that cover various types of keywords, the elemental dignities (for those who choose to use them), and The Heroine's Journey, a framework in which the Major Arcana reversed tell a tale parallel to, but different from, the archetypal hero's journey. A detailed bibliography closes out what is almost an overwhelming, but joyfully so, trip through this particular area of study.

Damn. This isn't for everybody, so smaller collections may want to take a pass unless there is significant community interest in Tarot. If you're serious about being a reader, you'll want this in your own collection, but be warned: while it's definitely readable, it's still a very deep book, and you'll need to work with it a lot to get the most from it. Recommended for large collections and where demand warrants.

[Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary K. Greer is indeed my favorite tarot author. She's a pleasure to read and so full of knowledge and know-how. I haven't read this book from cover to cover, as it is more a reference work. That being said, I've been using this book as a reference since 2012 and must say it is my go-to when struggling with a card interpretation, even when reading upright cards (she includes briefer interpretations for those as well).

I enjoy how she breaks down the reversed meanings so you can apply them to a variety of different contexts to fit the type of reading or question you are doing. For example: work, relationships, and even magical associations. She does a good job also breaking down the symbolism of the Rider-Waite tarot deck.

This book has been my favorite tarot reference book for years and will continue to be. I have always used reversed cards in my readings, even though they are challenging. This book helps readers break the habit of constantly reading reversed cards as negative or mal-adaptive *why reversed cards get a bad rap.* The depth and further meanings and interpretations are well-worth learning how to use reversed cards in your readings. This book has changed my reading style and practice for the better and I still reference her interpretations from time-t0-time, when I'm feeling stuck or in need of further insight, whether reading for myself or others. Also, I must add that her interpretations are useful for any deck based (even loosely) off of the Rider-Waite, not solely the Rider-Waite itself. Highly recommended for any reader who struggles with reversed cards, is looking to add reversed interpretations to their tarot practice, or anyone looking to gleen deeper meaning from the cards, whether upright or reversed.

[Marcello Tarot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eccellente!

Nonostante il titolo, questo libro non riguarda solo le carte rovesciate, anzi! La Greer inizialmente illustra quali sono le varie possibilità di lettura delle carte che appaiono rovesciate durante un consulto, poi spiega i significati carta per carta AL DRITTO e, successivamente, AL ROVESCIO tenendo conto di tutte le varie possibilità illustrate nell’apparato teorico precedente.
È un libro che merita di essere consultato ripetutamente, perché è una miniera di informazioni relativamente all’interpretazione dei Tarocchi. E contiene anche una stesa complessa, di indubbia utilità.
Recensione originariamente pubblicata su http://www.libreriauniversitaria.it/ nell’estate del 2010.

[Jean-Pierre Vidrine · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the most part, this book is a pretty standard guide to Tarot cards and their meanings. Though, true to its title, it does elaborate on interpreting reversed cards far more than most books. The later chapters on card spreads are what really make this book stand out. The author offers up some insights on different and creative ways to read cards that are eye-opening even for a well-practiced card reader like myself. The chapter on the Heroine's Journey is also fascinating.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hello Tarot Enthusiasts. :) This is my go-to book for tarot reversals, but I also use it for the upright meanings and have been doing so for the past few months. Mary K. Greer is also the author of several of my personal library keepers: Tarot for Yourself; Tarot Constellations; and this gem. Namaste.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the better tarot reference books I have found. I really like this one!

[Tif · Rating 5 out of 5]

I still have a difficult time wrapping my head around reversals sometimes...this book has been a lifesaver!

[SmarterLilac · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite Tarot book.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I use this book in my classes! Very informative, clear and useful.

[Luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I frickin LOVE this book... I use it often...

[Rusty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting book. Useful, if you use Tarot Cards.

[Alia Makki · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Thou shall not read a book on divination in a linear fashion. For the fates move in the ways they see fit and all in good times come."

[Daniela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicely layed out. Must get a copy for my shelf.