How-to Guides · 8 min · 2026-07-18
Reading Tarot Without Reversals: Predicting On-the-Spot Visa Approval Through Two Court Cards
A traveler preparing for Southeast Asia during the Lunar New Year holds a creased USD bill. Will it be rejected at visa-on-arrival? Discover how to read tarot meaningfully when only one Major Arcana and two court cards appear—and what their actual encounter revealed.
The Question in Context
You're about to travel to Southeast Asia for the Lunar New Year holidays and plan to use cash (USD) for visa-on-arrival procedures. However, many Southeast Asian countries enforce strict standards for banknote condition: if your USD bill shows creases, folds, or wear, rejection is quite likely.
The question: Will this creased USD bill be rejected when you apply for visa-on-arrival tomorrow?
The Cards That Appeared
Without reversals: - Death (upright) — The only Major Arcana card - Queen of Swords (upright) — A court card - King of Swords (reversed) — A court card
Approaching the Reading
When a spread shows only one Major Arcana card (Death), we typically begin there, since it represents the core current, the underlying energy of the situation.
Reading the Cards Step by Step
1. Death — The Major Arcana
General meaning: Death symbolizes the ending of a state or phase — something irreversible, an inevitable trend.
In your context: What is the inevitable trend?
→ In Southeast Asian countries, though USD holds high circulating value, their standards for banknote quality are exceptionally strict. Once a bill shows a crease, the likelihood of rejection becomes very high. Death here suggests the end of this bill's usability — it will very likely be rejected.
2. Queen of Swords & King of Swords — Two Court Cards
What they share: - Both belong to the Suit of Swords = the element of Air - Air represents: logic, rules, law, work conducted by regulation - Both are figures who are mature, clear, professional in their conduct - The decision-maker relies on one single criterion: does it comply with internal regulation or not?
Applied to your situation: These two cards may represent the professional staff involved in visa procedures — a woman and an official. Importantly, the King of Swords holds higher authority, the final word.
3. Queen of Swords (Upright) — Clear Standards
Meaning: - Standards that are clear, logical, governed by law - According to official regulation, a USD bill with a light crease may still be acceptable - She has the ability to allow this bill through
→ Initial assessment: It might pass
But this is not the final verdict — she is not the one with ultimate authority!
4. King of Swords (Reversed) — The Final Decision
Meaning when reversed: - Rules applied with extreme strictness, excessive harshness - An attitude of rigidity, inflexibility, no room for negotiation - This man holds greater authority — the King always outranks the Queen
Combined with Death: The force of ending (Death) is reinforced by overly harsh application (King of Swords reversed) → Very likely to be rejected.
Further indication: The person who rejects may be a man (King of Swords).
What Actually Happened
When you went to apply for the visa: - Initially: The female officer (Queen of Swords) accepted the bill - Then: A male official (King of Swords) rejected it and returned the money, stating that the USD bill had a crease and was therefore unacceptable
The striking detail: The law itself contained no such provision — this was an excessively strict application (King of Swords reversed), not adherence to official regulation (Queen of Swords).
Lessons From This Reading
Reading With a Single Major Arcana Card
A single Major Arcana card typically represents the central current, the core trend of a situation. It forms the foundation for understanding the broader context.
Reading Court Cards Together
When two court cards appear together: - Notice the element (Air, Fire, Water, Earth) to understand the approach - Compare levels of authority (Queen versus King) - Reversals show a deviation from normal standards
When Authority Applies Rules Too Harshly
Reversals of court cards often suggest: - Standards being enforced with rigidity, without flexibility - A gap between official regulation and personal application - Decisions that may not follow official standards
Read deeper
Source: A tarot case study from zhihu.com — Traveling abroad during Lunar New Year: Will your customs crossing go smoothly?