The reversing geomagnetic field has been said to have virtual geomagnetic poles (VGPs) confined to a pair of longitudes close to where magnetic flux is concentrated at the core surface today, at approximately 90 ¿W and 110 ¿E. This can be explained if flux remains concentrated on the same longitudes throughout the transition. The VGP path then depends on site position, reversal sense (R→N or N→R), and sense of flux migration (pole- or equator-ward). For transitional fields which remain antisymmetric about the equator, N→R transitions with poleward flux migration give western longitude VGP paths for sites in the NE and SW quadrants and eastern longitude VGP paths for sites in the NW and SE quadrants. Sites on quadrant boundaries record rapid, variable VGP positions. Data from the last (Matuyama-Brunhes) reversal are broadly consistent with poleward flux migration. ¿ 1998 American Geophysical Union