In tarot notes, “Rx” usually means “reversed”: the card’s picture appeared upside down relative to the reader. “The Tower Rx” therefore means the Tower reversed. The notation describes orientation; it does not automatically mean “no,” bad luck or the opposite of the upright meaning.
Readers also write “rev,” “R” or the full word “reversed.” A publisher or app may use its own labels, so check its instructions. This guide shows how to record and interpret Rx consistently; for the wider topic, see our guide to reversed tarot cards.
How an Rx card gets into a reading
A reversal changes top-to-bottom orientation, not whether a card is face up or face down. It can happen when you rotate part of the deck, mix cards in different directions on a table, or turn a card while laying it down. Shuffling does not inevitably create reversals: an overhand shuffle can preserve orientation.
If you want to include reversals, decide how to introduce and lay out cards before drawing. For a shared reading, agree whose viewpoint determines orientation. An accidental rotation is a handling event; it does not require treating the card as a new supernatural message.
Do you have to read reversals?
No. You can keep the deck upright or turn an inverted card upright if that is the method you chose in advance. Upright-only readings still contain difficult themes: the Devil and Tower do not need a reversal to raise challenging questions.
Some readers find Rx useful for distinguishing how a theme is expressed. Others use the question, imagery and spread position for that distinction. Reversals add an optional convention; they do not establish that a reading is more accurate. Joan Bunning’s lesson on reversed cards is one author’s approach and recommends choosing a consistent method.
Ways to interpret Rx
Use these as possible interpretive lenses, not a list of facts the card has established. Begin with your deck’s guidebook and choose a lens that fits the question and position.
| Lens | Question to ask | Illustrative card |
|---|---|---|
| Blocked or delayed | What makes this quality difficult to express? | The Sun Rx: difficulty recognizing or sharing enjoyment. |
| Private or internal | Is this happening inwardly rather than visibly? | Strength Rx: a question about private confidence or self-doubt. |
| Excess or shortage | Is there too much control, or too little structure? | The Emperor Rx: examine how authority is being used. |
| Release or revision | What needs changing, ending or reconsidering? | Death Rx: examine resistance to a transition. |
An opposite meaning is another convention used by some readers, but it is easy to overapply. An Ace of Cups Rx does not prove that love will end. Describe the reasoning and leave room for a different explanation.
A worked Rx example
This is a fictional practice example. The question is “What could help me finish this presentation?” and the Ace of Swords Rx falls in the advice position. Its upright themes include clarity and a new idea.
- Record the position: advice concerns a possible response, not a forecast.
- Use one lens: with “blocked clarity,” ask whether the presentation has too many competing points.
- Check the circumstances: review the actual outline. If the problem is missing information instead, the first interpretation may not fit.
- Choose a small action: write one sentence stating the main point, then decide which slides support it.
The reversed card does not prove you are confused or that the presentation will fail. Its usefulness here comes from a specific question, an explained association and an action you can assess.
Rx by card group
These examples introduce study questions. Court cards can describe a role or approach; they do not identify someone’s hidden character.
- Major Arcana: the Fool Rx may raise a question about haste or reluctance; the Magician Rx about unused skills or how they are applied; the High Priestess Rx about neglected reflection or assumptions presented as knowledge.
- Cups: examine how feelings are acknowledged or expressed.
- Wands: examine motivation, pace and the direction of effort.
- Swords: examine reasoning, communication and unresolved disagreement.
- Pentacles: examine resources, routines and follow-through.
Record reversals consistently
Write the card name plus Rx, the question, spread position, method and interpretation. When using a Celtic Cross, keep the crossing card’s special placement separate from its upright or reversed status; follow the layout instructions you chose.
Review what fitted and what did not. A message that feels reassuring is not evidence of a prediction. Avoid changing methods or redrawing repeatedly to obtain a preferred answer.
Frequently asked questions about Rx
Does Rx mean “prescription” in tarot?
In medical notation Rx refers to a prescription, but alongside a tarot card name it usually labels a reversal. The meaning depends on context. A medical meaning does not establish the historical origin of the tarot shorthand.
Does Rx mean a negative card or a “no”?
No universal rule makes every Rx card negative or a no. A yes-or-no method needs its own stated convention. In a reflective reading, begin with the card, question and position.
Can beginners use Rx?
Yes, with the guidebook open if needed. You can also begin upright-only and add reversals later. Knowing all meanings by memory is not a prerequisite.
Do oracle cards use Rx too?
Some creators include reversed meanings and others do not. Check the specific guidebook. The labels used for tarot decks, oracle cards or different oracle deck themes do not establish a universal reversal method.
What if reversals conflict with my beliefs?
You can decline the practice. If your question is religious, our Bible and tarot guide distinguishes scripture from interpretations of a specific use.
