Reversals are often poetic in nature, using metaphor themes that also mirror metaphor themes we use in describing life situations in overt speech. Each reversal example will have an explanation following it, however, if you were to simply open your mind to the natural use of metaphor in language, the meanings, within moments, will become clear to you. Analysis interpretation is always a joint effort between the Analyst and the Analysand, where possible, the intepretations here have been verified by the speaker. Reversal examples consist of a large enough portion of the overt (forwards) speech to grasp the context of the conversation. It is followed by the reversal at normal speed, then to give you opportunity for closer auditory inspection and greater clarification the reversal is played 10% slower than normal, and once again at 10% slower still. It is then followed by a larger portion in reverse which allows you hear how the phrase comes out with its own tonality from the surrounding gibberish.
Examples of Reverse Speech in action.
Example 1 - 'name man's weather'
This reversal is an example of what many people want Reverse Speech Analysis to do for them, name their weather! 'Weather', a common overt metaphor theme to describe how things are going. According to the RS metaphor dictionary 'weather' describes the movement of life and lifes hazards. When life is good we have fair weather, when life is turbulent it is said to be stormy. In this example the gentleman is seeking foreknowledge of how a certain aspect in his life is going to go, what is his 'weather' going to be, either his own or possibly the gentleman's who is doing business with him. Where is this deal going? will it be smooth sailing? or stormy, hazardous weather.
Example 2 - 'in a window'
Reversals also come from different levels of the mind. This is an example of a first level reversal, one which is, or is very nearly, conscious thought unspoken. In explaining his limited ability to inspect a property he is considering buying, he states generally that he could only see from outside, in reverse he gets more specific about how he did it, by looking in a window.
Example 3 - 'it feels lousy'
Reversal analysis will clarify gut feelings or intuition for you, bringing to the forefront the feelings that require attention. We so often try to project conscious, positive spins on things, trying to justify courses of action, sometimes to please others, but we often do ourselves a grave injustice if we do not heed the deeper instincts. Though this gentleman had very positive reversals around his family members, this one shows his deeper instinct when discussing entering a business investment with them.
Example 4 - 'not sure our fires are from new york state'
This reversal clarifies another of the same gentleman's gut feeling or intuition for him. The property he is considering investing in is located near New York while he and his immediate family are not living in that area now. The word 'fire' in the Reverse Speech dictionary is around strong emotions, which can be expanded to attachment or passion for something, as in this case. Seen also in overt/forward metaphor themes, to be 'fired up' about something is to have passion for it. He is not sure how passionate he is about the area this venture is in, the suggestion here is to keep an open mind about other locations, for, as we all know, the more 'on fire' we are about something, the easier it is to manifest it into a reality.
Example 5 - 'your seasons been shared' / 'yeah, it really hit her bad'
This woman is discussing how her beloved pet passed on. The first reversal is indicative of she has grown into acceptance of the tragedy, her dog was with her for a season, and now that season is over. The second reinforces how horrific the scene was to her and for her dog.
Example 6 - 'he was still part of me'
This fellow is discussing how the death of John Lennon affected him deeply, the reversal reflects how emotionally and energetically we are linked to those that influence us in our lives.
Example 7 - 'now I'm starting to share surf'
It takes a few moments for the analyst and client to get into a rapport when taping begins, this reversal occurred within a few minutes of taping and signifies that the client is feeling safe enough to enter rapport. 'Surf' in the RS metaphor dictionary is defined as life energy; movement; activity; the process of moving through life. He is beginning to share knowledge of his life energy with me.
Example 8 - 'its a cyber hell'
How often do you feel you have lost your inner child or authentic self to all the complexities of life? This woman's reversal reflects just that. In the standard dictionary Cybernetics (from which the word 'cyber' is derived) is the comparative study of organic control and communication systems, as the brain and its neurons, and mechanical or electronic systems analogous to them, as robots or computers. The Reverse Speech dictionary defines 'hell', partially, as harmful overpowering emotions or a self-created reality of despair. With all the complex thoughts of judgement and value we place on ourselves and our performance in life we are easily lost in a despairing of who we really are. To be ourselves at our best does not necessarily require thinking, and the ensuing judgment, it requires for us to just 'be' that authentic self inside.
Example 9 - 'the wolf has to see lady journey'
Now creating the future we desire does require thought, more to the point, a vision, as this reversal demonstrates. This woman is desiring to have passion in her life but is currently seeing things as nebulous or in general terms. Her reversal is stating that for her to have the motivation she wants, she must first see it in her mind, give it substance visually. All good managers know the end result and the road there must be visualized first for it to manifest well - as planned. The Reverse Speech dictionary defines the 'wolf' metaphor as the part of the psyche responsible for drive, motivation and success.
Example 10 - 'you mustn't wish dead in the throne'
Sometimes the frustrations of life lead us to wishing for someone to just take care of us, I think we can all relate to that. This is sometimes termed 'magical thinking' and it can rob us of our own power. In this example the reversal is actually unconscious advice given by the analyst when the client indulges in this 'magical thinking', wanting the dream of a young girl, the prince for Cinderella etc. 'Dead' in the RS dictionary is something that is deactivated, in this case her power, as the 'throne' in RS is known as the internal seat of power in the psyche. We should all be sitting on our thrones, fully sovereign over our own destiny. I am encouraging her not to give up her power by deactivating her throne.
Example 11 - 'I beget moody, I beget the author'
They say that the severity of our issues is 10% what happens to us and 90% our attitude or thoughts about it. This appears to be an appropriate truism in this case. She is speaking of how hard the issue of self esteem can be in forwards while in reverse she reveals her responsibility for her emotions and her reality. She is the author of her thoughts and moods. Standard dictionary defines 'beget' as to cause; or produce as an effect. We all know we cannot control events outside of ourselves, what people may say that makes us sad, but we can control how we react to it. This reversal put things back in her hands and frees her to make other choices in her thoughts knowing that she is the author of who she is and her sense of self worth.
Example 12 - 'guards are stabbing Goddess'
Often we give what others think entirely too much power of us, and sometimes we guard ourselves against those thoughts of others, real or imagined. When we give too much energy to that 'protection' we cause ourselves to not be open to the positive possibilities we may not be seeing. The RS metaphor dictionary defines the 'Goddess' as the part of us that can see the good, see the potential; can see long term goals; and has hopes and dreams for the future. By focusing on whether people are viewing her negatively, those 'guards' she has up are stabbing, or wounding, her Goddess, her ability to view these relationships as having positive potential.
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