From: bear@sybase.com (Bear)
Subject: Re: Tarot reversals...
Date: 19 Mar 93 16:03:24 GMT

Melissa,

	First a book suggestion: Dictionary of the Tarot by Bill Butler

	It's pluses:
		1) For the major arcana, it lists the descriptions and
		   meanings from around 12 decks for each card.  Sometimes
		   these descriptions help in figuring out what the cards
		   are really trying to say.
		2) For the minor arcana, it lists fewer descriptions and
		   definitions, but still very useful.
		3) With this setup, it shows how interpretations vary.

	It's minus:
		*) You may wind up marking pages with the suit and card numbers
		   to make book navigation a little easier.

	Now on reading reversals (or not!)

	As the others have stated, you must pick up a cards context
from it position in the spread.  Depending on the spread style you
use, some cards may have an inherently reversed meaning.

	I tend to not read the cards as reversals, unless the context
and situation imply.

	Also, pick up what the card might mean from the symbols in
them - some decks have some very sophisticated meanings in the imagry
they present.

	With this stuff as stated by many people, there is no one true
way.  You have to go with what feels right/is comfortable.

	You didn't state which deck you are using and which deck it is
has some bearing on how to read the cards.  A good artist will kind of
imprint their style on the deck.  Also, a medieval deck will read
differently then a modern deck like the New York City Tarot which will
read differently from the Native American decks.

	Since this seems to be degenerating into a general talk on
Tarot, I'll continue for the benefit of others who may be interested:

	There are three decks that have been called 'Beginners Decks'
These are the Morgan-Greer, The Aquarian and The Rider-Waite.  They
are all good for begginers and they are relativly easy to read.  The
main thing about picking a deck is to pick one that looks good to you
and also 'feels' right to you.  There are other decks that may be
considered beginners decks as well.  There are some that are very hard
for beginners to use as well.