Justice (Major Arcana 11) appears, by and large, to be a
very welcoming Tarot Card - regardless of the deck from which you view it. In
almost every deck, Justice presents itself as a calm, balanced and trust-worthy
figure bringing reason and fairness to all interactions.
One common image of the card includes the scales of balance.
These suggest a sense of even distribution, almost a reap-what-you-sow
mentality.
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| Justice - Radiant Rider Waite |
Sometimes our figure is blindfolded, suggesting impartiality
in decisions. Other times, she possesses a knowing look – as if she has the
uncanny ability to see the truth in all situations.
Often, Justice is presented in long, flowing robes of
various colors, representing wisdom and commitment to the process of clearly
resolving an issue. On rare occasions, she appears as a lightly dressed or
partially naked woman, representing the purity and simplicity of truth.
Always Justice appears with a sword. Its double-edged
quality promises to mete out the truth and deliver a fair response impartially
and without malice.
Regardless of how she appears, lady Justice primarily
represents one thing – an understanding of right and wrong, and the
consequences that come from one’s actions.
When Justice appears in a spread, it suggests all parties
will get what they deserve – for better or worse.
Another aspect of Justice deals with the idea that the card
is synonymous with the word balance.
Besides the even-looking appearance, Justice is marked by
the number 11. In Numerology, 11 is considered a Master Number. The focus of
this particular number is spiritual enlightenment through the use of intuition,
insight and experience.
(Note, in some decks
Justice is identified as Major Arcana Card 8. There is no definitive right or
wrong number for Justice. My choice to identify with the 11 was the result of
my personal connection to the energy of the card.)
The combination of 11 with the Justice card can add a deeper
interpretation to the card’s meaning.
For instance, when Justice appears in the spread, it can
suggest the querent is developing an inner-knowing about what is right and
wrong. By following this moral compass, the individual is living a life more
aligned with their deeper personal beliefs. As a result, an inner harmony
blossoms and this balance begins to manifest itself in the person’s external
world creating greater calm in all facets of life.
This experience parallels the philosophy of: As is above so
is below, except it may be better explained: As is within, so is without.
The truth is that Justice represents attempts to create both
an inner and outer balance in the life of the individual. These two situations are
not exclusive of each other. Rather, they actually co-exist beautifully.
When Justice appears in the spread it tells us the Universe
is providing a learning opportunity for this particular individual. The card foretells
the fair resolution of a situation – according to the parameters of Universal
justice, not human justice or the ideas of the individual.
Justice tells us that the querent will reap what has been
sown. Ideally this will be considered a positive outcome by the individual –
particularly if his/her actions come from a place of genuine alignment with
their higher purpose.
However, if the person has not been making decisions that
are in the best interest of all parties involved, then it suggests he/she is
out of balance with their higher self. As a result, Justice will step in and
provide an external experience designed to assist them in their transformation
as they work to become a more highly evolved individual.
