Customer Reviews

The Complete Book of Tarot Reversals

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Mary Greer pioneered the psychological, experiential methods of reading tarot that have now become the norm. Her earlier books, especially Tarot for Your Self, are full of exercises to help beginning readers develop a personal relationship with their cards. I thus expected Tarot Reversals to follow this same pattern...a sort of workbook for getting comfortable interpreting reversed cards.

Although there are some very valuable exercises in this book, nearly 70% of it is devoted to card-by-card interpretation, typically a page or so describing the upright meanings of the card, then a somewhat lengthier description of the reversed meanings. These descriptions are an incredible resource for any tarot reader, especially if you use reversals in your readings. There is nothing even remotely comparable anywhere else. (Other tarot books explain the meaning of the upright card, but limit reversed meanings to a few keywords.) Besides the welcome in-depth look at reversed meanings, these card interpretations are just plain good, reflecting Greer's decades of experience as a tarot reader and teacher. A welcome inclusion is shamanic/magical meanings for each card, and healing/disease implications as well. This section of the book holds its own against any of the card-by-card interpretation guides on the market today. Although this book is part of Llewellyn's series on "advanced topics in tarot", a complete beginner could learn how to interpret cards very well by using this book.

The remainder of the book consists of general advice on using and interpreting reversals. Greer goes far beyond "reversals as opposites", describing twelve different senses a reversed card can have. The book includes a lengthy listing of words that can be used to modify the upright meanings of the cards. This is very useful, especially if your own deck is a little too far removed from conventional meanings to make use of the card-by-card descriptions.

There are a number of excursions into various tarot topics, such as elemental dignities, and some really interesting spreads. I could hardly read a page in this book without coming on something new I wanted to try out.

Although this book is not intended to be a substitute for a basic tarot book, it could probably be used as such without much difficulty. And as a resource for working with reversed cards, it is unique and indispensible.

With "Tarot Reversals", Mary K. Greer (author of, "Essence of Magic", "Tarot Mirrors", "Tarot For Yourself") has created possibly one of the best Tarot resources for the serious student of Tarot divination. I don't want to repeat much of what other reviewers have said thus far, as they have covered the material well. Instead, I will try to add to their insights.

Many Tarot professionals don't use reversed interpretations. This is all well and good. But the numerous books out there that do deal with the concept of interpreting Tarot cards reversed, usually fall short in interpreting reversals. This could leave one to draw the conclusion that reversals are of minor importance in a spread, which is absolutely not true.

Greer corrects this inequity with a book that, not only focuses on the concept of reversals, but equally weights the upright and reversed interpretations of the cards. So you not only get the flip-side interpretation of the Tarot, you get an indepth analysis of the cards in both upright and reversed positions, making this a highly valuable resource for professional and novice alike. Along with this indepth analysis, Greer also offers a very brief, "traditional" interpretation of the cards, both upright and reversed.

The interpretations are the meat of the text. The introduction and the first two chapters set the stage, discussing the book's concept, providing specialized terms used in the text, viewing Tarot from a different perspective (reversals are more than just negative interpretations) and how to go about using reversals.

There are a number of wonderful spreads provided at the back of the book, some of which require you to use all reversed cards, an incredibly innovative concept. The Hanged Man spread is visionary, having you read the cards in each positions as both upright and reversed; upright indicating an outer perspective on the issue, and, reversed being the inner perspective of the issue.

Thankfully, Greer doesn't waste a lot of space on sample readings. Instead, she provides one in significant detail, and even gives readers exercises they can do in conjunction with that sample reading, for further learning adventures.

For greater historical background and Tarot overview, novices may wish to supplement this text with one other well-rounded introduction to the Tarot, such as, Joan Bunning's, "Learning the Tarot" (included in Greer's bibliography), or, Cassandra Eason's, "Complete Guide to the Tarot". But this is, by far, one of the best indepth book of Tarot interpretations out there today. There's a wealth of information here for the advanced practitioner as well.

Llewellyn should be commended for the nice layout and design of this book and for exploring these less-covered aspects of working with the Tarot. I hope this first book in the "Special Topics in Tarot Series", is indicative of the quality of books yet to come. I see that one of Greer's forthcoming titles is one entitled, "Tarot Court", which I hope will be covering yet another often misunderstood element of the Tarot, the Minor Arcana Court cards. Let's hope we can look forward to more quality publications like these on the Tarot.

The Complete Book of Tarot Reversals by Mary K. Greer

The inaugural book in Llewellyn's new Special Topics in Tarot series is unlike any of Greer's earlier books.
In addition to expanded information on the upright and reversed meanings for each card, the book also contains an explanation of elemental dignities, a list of the elemental correspondences for the Major Arcana, general suit and number keywords, Internet addresses and resources, and an innovating presentation of reversed cards as representing the heroine's journey.
For the brave of heart, Greer also presents the idea of doing basic one-card and three-card readings with all reversed cards (be brave, dear hearts). For her Hanged Man spread, each card is read first as a problem, and then as an inner response to Spirit. Her Hidden Influences spread is extensive and complicated, but not to be missed as a detailed experience in examining major life concerns and how they are influenced.
The example reading for Sarah demonstrates the way Mary can "work" a Celtic Cross spread. You'll never belittle the Celtic Cross spread after reading this chapter.
The reversed card illustrations force you to look at the cards in a new way (if you haven't before) and her ideas about reversed cards includes new meanings for projections, health issues, and the shamanistic and magical levels of the cards. Congratulations Mary and Llewellyn.

The first in the new "Special topics in the Tarot" series, "Tarot reversals" is the great new book by the author of the classic "Tarot for your self". There's a big wealth of information on choosing your personal approach towards reversed cards (critical, as some of this approaches are in fact opposite), suggested meanings for both upright and reversed cards, considerations on what a majority of reversed cards stand for, spreads, examples, bibliography, resources and a very interesting essay on the heroine's journey, as opposed to the traditional hero's journey suposedly portrayed in normal position cards. Although this book isn't nearly as exercise heavy as "Tarot for your self", I still feel it merits five stars. It already would only because many aficionados have been waiting for one such for a long time, but the fact it's written by Ms Greer makes it a sure winner. It is a good addition for the intermediate/advanced tarot student's library.

After reading the glowing reviews for this book, above, I had to wonder, did I miss something. Are we talking about the same book. So I went back and read it again.

Honestly I found nothing, new, or particularly interesting in the book. The interpretations of reversed cards in say Janina Renee's: "Tarot for a New Generation" is at least as good. I also found the text rather stilted. Each card has notes concerning Traditional, Health, and Shamanistic interpretation. Sounds like a gold mine, no? Unfortunately the authors attempt to crowbar the presentation of each card into the same mold does not come off, and only serves to hamstring what could have been a wonderful book with a text that has no flow. As a reference, this book may have some value, but I found it impossible to simply kick back and read.

If you have never read with reversals I would recommend Joan Bunnings book on the subject. Joan's voice as an author is clear, smooth and informative making her book a wonderful vehicle for increasing your confidence and adding reversals to your Tarot Toolbox.

If however you are an intermediate, or advanced reader, and looking for the depth implied by the special subjects in Tarot, series label, you just wont find it here. Still If you just must have this book, you may still be able to find my copy for half off at the used book store.

I've always understood Tarot card reversals as energy "blocks," or signs of delay and difficulty in getting projects or inner changes "off the ground." After reading this book, I realize how much I had been limiting myself with these two interpretations.

Mary K. Greer does an excellent job of providing 12 different ways of understanding reversals in a reading. Depending on how in-depth you want your reading to be, you can try looking a the Rx cards from one or more perspectives. She includes meanings that are traditional, psycho-spiritual and everything in between.

The book includes several spreads for helping you work with reversals effectively. The one I found to be most helpful was the "Hanged Man." Though it only requires the use of six cards, each card is read twice, telling the "story" of your question from both Outer and Inner perspectives...and giving you twice as much information.

I appreciate the fact that the book gets to the heart of its topic without the reader having to wade through the same beginning information found in general books on the Tarot. This book is a great resource, and I believe the entire "Special Topics in Tarot" fills an important need in advanced Tarot studies.

This book, in my humble opinion, is one of the best books on tarot reversals ever writen.I have been reading the tarot for well over twenty five years, and all of the books on the market tend to concentrate primairly on the upright meanings with little or no comment on the reversed positions.Frequently when reversed meanings are mentioned, they are of a rather dark description. I have found over the years that much insight can be gained into the interior world of those that I read for DUE TO the reversals. With the reversed cards,I read as much with the idea that there are inner processes going on that can be brought to light with that cards READ only in the upright position just do not give. This is a great book.Probably for the more advanced, but the beginner can also benefit from having this book in their position. Thank you Mary Greer. I have refered to this book many times and consider it an answer to a readers prayer. It has proven to be a valuable assit. I highly recommend it!

I received this book last week and started using it with the readings immediately. The style of writing is clear and precise. Although the book describes the reversed meanings of cards, each card is first described with its upright original meaning. The book is illustrated with Rider Waite deck pictures which might annoy some people but for beginners and those in love with all things medieval this is a plus.

The upright descriptions are really useful but the book will help you in using reversals even if you used them before buying this book, like myself.

I do not agree with some psychological interpretations of the author which is the only reason this book gets 4 stars. Otherwise if you are looking to explore Tarot in depth, besides the usual quick interpretations, get it!

This book deals with reversals as being much more complex than a "negative" of the upright card. I had refused to read reversed cards for a long time because it added so much "negativity" to the deck. Greer gives workable options for reading reversals that add texture, not doom, to the cards.

I do a lot of Tarot readings and quite often reversed cards come up. I do not think they pop up for no reason. This book does give a good place to start really learning the reversed meanings of the cards. It has been an easy read for me which is really important because I am dyslexic. This book does combine Traditional meanings, shamanistic/magical meanings, health issues and "psychological" meanings. In my experience, it has added an extra depth and accuracy to my readings. I have found most people are put off by reading reversed meanings but I was taught to use both meanings. It is a great place to start but no book takes the place of intuition.