“Got our sights set straight ahead
But ain’t sure what we’re after”
– from Flirtin’ with Disaster by Molly Hatchet

AUTHOR’S NOTE: When an Ace appears upright in a tarot reading, most readers of my acquaintance see it as an encouraging sign of latent potential or opportunity writ large. All that remains is to figure out the contribution of its suit and then unleash its energy.

Reversal of an Ace suggests the idiomatic expression “hanging fire,” which originally referred to damp gunpowder that smoldered before igniting and thus exposed the musketeer to an enemy’s unanswered return volley; more generally, it means “to delay taking action, to proceed slowly, or to be unresolved.” Since the Aces already refer to formative impulses that have not yet been “triggered,” the last definition makes the most sense for their reversed orientation. If there was an urgent reason for an Ace to appear in a spread as a call to action, hesitation in making good on its promise could indeed spell looming misfortune.

At most, I see the reversed condition as advice to take a half-step back from forging blindly ahead and carefully scrutinize what is really being proposed (as in “Do I really want to jump off this cliff right now?”). An Ace usually signifies a fledgling initiative that may not reveal all of its ramifications at first glance due to its embryonic nature, so reversal offers a narrow window into its inner workings, a chance to better understand what it portends in the way of “real-life” consequences. If, as I reiterated in a recent post, the Ace represents the Pythagorean “Point,” its reversal could shift the “locus of origin” for the energy, making it even more elusive. I’m reminded of the title of the self-help book Who Moved My Cheese?

The upset orientation delivers a cautionary message that counters the customary knee-jerk reaction by not automatically assuming that an Ace will be beneficial in its influence. As is typically the case with reversal, there is “more than meets the eye” to the picture that invites a subtly inflected interpretation. It’s not exhorting “Don’t do it!” but rather “Wait a minute for the crystal ball to clear before choosing to act.” The card(s) leading up to an overturned Ace can portray what brought the situation to that juncture, while that (or those) following can be instructive for describing the next step in figuring out its agenda.

More specifically, the reversed Ace of Wands can imply sidetracked ambitions; the Ace of Cups, ambivalent or unrequited feelings; the Ace of Swords, idle thoughts or impractical ideas; and the Ace of Pentacles, blunted instincts or curtailed satisfaction. In all cases, there can be a risk of floundering or flailing about with little to show for it, especially if premature “ignition” of the Aces’ fuse is attempted or the “flashpoint” is misjudged. Although frustration is the keynote, a disoriented Ace should eventually deliver on its avowal of felicity, but it can be a matter of “all good things come to those who wait,” and there is always a danger of missing the starting gun. Therein lies the opportunity to avoid a misstep with a little preemptive positioning, so we must be careful where we place our feet.