Polarity of the cards of the Tarot of Marseille

Generally speaking, the majority of cards are not solely positive or negative. 

The reversed meaning of a card softens the overall meaning of the card, that is to say that if you draw a card that seems negative when upright, its meaning will be softened when reversed.  The reversed meaning can therefore either make a positive card negative, or make a card less negative than it is when upright.

For example, with The Devil card, which often evokes the image of temptation, of prohibitions, of manipulation when it is upright, when reversed, its meaning will be minimised.

It will then be a matter of the querent’s becoming aware of their addictions and of a chance for them to finally break free from them.

Another important point: the position of the card in the spread will give you the guidance you need on the direction to take for its interpretation. 

Indeed, when you perform a spread and ask a question, each card is associated with a theme, as for example in the Celtic cross spread where position no. 2 indicates the querent’s blockages.

In this case, it is necessary to take the most negative value of the card drawn.

Here is the list of the generally positive cards in a tarot deck : 

• The Emperor, 
• The Hierophant, 
• The Chariot,
• Strength,
• The Star, 
• The Sun,
• The World.

As well as the cards with a negative tendency: 

• Justice,
• The Hanged Man, 
• The Nameless Arcanum, 
• The Devil, 
• The Tower, 
• The Moon, 
• The Fool.

Example of a Celtic cross spread :

The querent wishes to know whether she will be in a relationship within the next 3 months :

• Significator : The Magician upright, The High Priestess reversed
• Position 1 current situation : The Empress upright
• Position 2 the blockages : The Hermit reversed
• Position 3 what is coming towards the querent, outside help : Judgement upright
• Position 4 outcome : The Sun upright
• Position 5 synthesis : The Magician upright

Analysis of the significator : The Magician here indicates that the querent is ready to begin a new cycle in her life. She needs change and holds all the cards to make her dreams come true. With The High Priestess reversed, the querent nonetheless needs to find herself again and to listen to herself in order to know her needs.

Currently, the querent is experiencing a certain renewal, she is rediscovering her femininity, taking care of herself. She is giving herself time to look after herself and her desires.

The Hermit in the position of blockages and reversed may indicate that the querent is perhaps too withdrawn into herself or that she feels alone and that she needs to reconnect with others. 

In position 3, the Judgement card upright indicates that a revelation will appear to the querent. An outside element or a moment of awareness will allow the querent to shed light on this situation that weighs on her. The querent will be able to move on to a higher stage where the blockages of the past will at last be behind her.

The major arcana of The Sun and The Magician in the upright positions of outcome and synthesis are two magnificent cards announcing that there will soon be magic in the air ! The querent will shine and this positive energy may well allow her to find love. The Magician card reinforces this outcome by indicating that a transformation is about to occur. It is possible that the querent will begin a new kind of relationship with someone from the past or already known. In any case, the answer to her question is a resounding yes.

Moreover, since The Magician card was already drawn in the significator, its power is multiplied tenfold. There will therefore indeed be a great positive change in the querent’s love life within the next 3 months.

As you will have understood, to learn how to interpret a tarot spread well and to know whether the result is negative or positive, you must proceed step by step. Carry out an analysis of each card : what is its position in the deck ? What is the meaning of the card ? Did it appear in the significator ? What are the other cards around it ? What is the overall meaning of the card. 

By analysing the spread as a whole, then in its detail, you will manage to interpret your spread correctly. But remember, there are no cards that are solely positive or negative. The whole of the spread and the different levels of reading the cards will give you the final result.