The Penitent Archetype

Upright Meanings: boredom, feeling trapped, rebirth, confined, uncertainty, lack of direction, self-limiting, reversal, change, needing release, improvement, suspension

The Penitent understands that his position is a sacrifice that he needed to make in order to progress forward – whether as repentance for past wrongdoings, or a calculated step backward to recalculate his path onward. This time he spends here will not be wasted, he does this as part of his progression forward. His upside down state can also symbolize the feeling of those that walk a spiritual path, for they see the world differently. Where there are others that do not understand the need to sacrifice, you see it differently. This is a natural course of action for you as you walk the path alone.

Reversed Meanings: discontentment, useless sacrifice, false prophecy, unwillingness, impulsiveness, apathy, disinterest, stagnation, negative patterns

The reversal meaning of The Penitent card represents a very specific period of time during which you feel as if you are sacrificing a significant amount of time while getting nothing in return. You might have felt as if certain things are at a state of an absolute standstill without any particular resolution or movement. It’s as if you are putting your entire effort and attention into something but nothing turns out as it should.