The Power of 3 Reversal System

Reversal Resources

People either don't read reversals, or many times have a problem reading reversals.  There are all kinds of ways to read reversals and the 'Power of 3 System' is just another way you might like to try.  The neat thing about this is that you don't have to come up with meanings for reversals.  All you need are the cards upright meanings and a little intuition and imagination.

Let's say you use reversals, or that you have been reading the upright cards for awhile and have decided to give reversals a try.  Of all the books out there I would recommend 'Tarot Plain and Simple' by Anthony Louis to learn reversals even over Mary K Greer's 'The Complete Book of Tarot Reversals', or Joan Bunning's 'Learning Tarot Reversals'.  The reason being is the book (Tarot Plain and Simple) is  simplier and easier to learn from and instead of using the tired old Rider-Waite cards for illustrations it uses the Robin Wood deck (which I love).

But let's assume you are on a tight budget and can't afford any of the books I have mentioned, or any others that might deal with reversals.  The 'Power of 3' gives you what I think is a fairly easy way to do reversals ... but it does reversals in a completely different manner.  And the best thing about the Power of 3 Reversal System is that it's .... free!

Empowerment and Cultivation

My reversal system is called the 'The Power of 3 (or Po3) System' and it's something I have been working on for awhile now and I hope you find that it's worthy of your time and effort.  If not ... that's okay too.

Instead of coming up with individual meanings for reversed cards The Power of 3 System uses upright meanings for the cards to;

1.)  Indicate what will empower the seeker and 2.)  What the seeker needs to cultivate in their life, or how to use the things indicated by the empowerment card to cultivate certain things into your (the seekers) life.

Don't stop reading yet this is actually pretty easy kids.  First let me set some ground rules.

With the Major Arcana the cards run 0-The Fool to 21-The World.

With the Minor Arcana the cards run from the Aces (Number #1) to the Kings which are number #14.  I.E. Ace (1) to 10, Pages=11, Knights=12, Queens=13, Kings=14.

Note: No numerology is needed in the Po3 system but it can add to things if you know, and use it.

Okie doke then.  You draw a reversed card, either as your daily draw card, or in a spread.  Either way the Po3 system works.  Let's say the reversed card in question is 'The Devil [Rx]'.  The Power of 3 can't be much easier.  The Devil is Trump #15 [XIV].  Simply subtract 3 from 15 to get 12, and add 3 to 15 to get 18.

Trump #12: The Hanged Man (15-3=12)
Trump #15: The Devil [Rx]
Trump #18: The Moon (15+3=18)

Or put another way;

....... Upright ............... Reversed ........ Upright ..
... Empowerment ...... Card Drawn ..... Cultivation
The Hanged Man ..... The Devil [Rx] ... The Moon

Now, you aren't drawing these cards, although that often helps, but you are using the upright meanings of the 'other two cards' to define what the seeker needs to 'empower' themselves and how to cultivate (use the qualities of) this empowerment card to define the reversed card.  The Empowerment and Cultivate cards are read using the 'best and most positive attributes possible'.

Here is what I jotted down in my notes for 'Empowerment/Cultivate' for the reversed Devil.

Empowerment: (The Hanged Man/Upright)

You must be willing to let go of, and to sacrifice that which binds you and that which keeps you from growing spiritually, and as a person.  There is light and hope at the end of the tunnel.

Qualities to Cultivate (The Moon/Upright)

You need to - recapture your dreams
You need to - stop deluding yourself
You need to - embrace your intuition and deep feelings instead of fearing them

So The Devil [Rx] would be: You must be willing to let go of, and to sacrifice that which binds you and that which keeps you from growing spiritually, and as a person.  You need to recapture your dreams, stop deluding yourself, and embrace your intuition and deep feelings instead of fearing them.  There is light, and hope at the end of the tunnel.

Using the Po3 system you will often have to wrap around, either high or low in order to find the cards three away from the reversed card.  For example;

The Magician [Rx] is Trump #1.  Three down from that is, 0, 21, 20 - or Judgment.  Three above of course is 1+3=4: The Emperor.

Empowerment: (Judgment/Upright)

You need to honestly look at your life and make some serious changes since you don't appear to be on an even keel (Judgment), especially concerning your thoughts and ideas (The Magician/Mercury/Air).

Qualities to Cultivate (The Emperor/Upright)

You need to - find stability
You need to - cultivate your own sense of personal authority
You need to - find the self-will and will-power to do what's right
You need to - see the truth of matters

So The Magician [Rx] would read: You need to honestly look at your life and make some serious changes since you don't appear to be on an even keel, especially concerning your thoughts and ideas.  You need to - find stability, cultivate your own sense of personal authority, find the self-will and will-power to do what's right, and to see the truth of matters.

Many people read The Magician [Rx] as a misuse of their skills, talents, and abilities.  The Po3 system says the same thing but in a more uplifting and positive manner (in my opinion), plus gives you things you can do to better your (the seekers) self.

With the Kings three under would be the Page of the same suit and three over would be 3's of the same suit.  Example: Page of Swords .. King of Swords [Rx] .. 3 of Swords (this ones a toughie - try it and see what you come up with).

With the Aces - three under would be the Knight of the same suit and three over would be the 4 of the same suit.  Example: Knight of Cups .. Ace of Cups [Rx] .. 4 of Cups (remember to read the 1st and 3rd cards in the most positive manner possible).

If you understood the Po3 system [grin] then give it a try and let me know how it works for you.  If you have questions - fire away.  Feel free to share this with ... whoever.

Don S.