Justice is the twelfth card in the Tarot Deck. It is given the number 11 because the very first card (The Fool) is given the number 0.
Justice represents Balance, Justice, Decision, Cause and Effect, Ethics, Legal Concerns, Divine Balance.
Let’s look at the picture below of Justice. The picture is from the Rider Waite Tarot deck which was first published in 1909. It is a great deck for beginners because every card has a picture describing its meaning. Today the majority of Tarot decks are based on the Rider Waite deck. It is also a ‘deep’ deck because the creators of it put multi layered meanings inside it.
We see a woman dressed in a red robe and green mantle sitting on a stone throne. She holds in her right hand a sword and in her left hand a set of scales. She sits between two pillars and behind her is a purple veil.
SYMBOLS
Woman
The women represents Justice. The Goddess traditionally represented Justice and was often seen as blindfolded (meaning her emotions was not the primary decision maker).
Facial Expression
Her expression is stern and unemotional. She will make decisions based on evidence and facts and not on passion and emotion.
Body Posture
She sits, back straight on a stone throne. We get the sense she will impart justice as best as she can. One foot is extended – she is ready to make a decision.
Red Robe
The red robe represents the planet Mars and Passion. We need to be passionate about Justice – to seek it out and make it part of our society. If we are lazy and have an attitude of not caring, the world becomes a chaotic place.
Green Mantle
The green mantle represents Venus and Love. We must make decisions from a place of love (not overwhelming emotion) and compassion. The justice delivered should match the crime or wrong deed.
Crown
The crown has three turrets (3) and a four sided square (4). Together they add up to 7 which is the number of Venus. Again reminding us that the logical head must also have compassion and love when making decisions. You can imagine a parent that must punish a child in order for them to learn, even though the parent deeply loves them.
Scales
The scales represent balance, harmony and equality. In ancient Egypt after a person died they went to the underworld and met the Goddess of justice, Maat. Maat would take their soul and put on one pan and a feather on the other. If the soul weighed more than a feather, the person was punished. If the soul weighed less than a feather, the soul was allowed into the next life.
Sword
The sword represents truth and making decisions clearly. ‘Cut to the chase’ is the expression that means to decide and do it clearly and sharply. It is the sword of ‘righteousness’.
Stone Throne
There are no fluffy pillows to sit on here (like the Empress card). Stone is cold and in order to make a rational decision based on presenting facts, strong emotions cannot get in the way.
Two Pillars
The two pillars reflect the pillars of the High Priestess and the Hierophant. Justice sits in the middle, between the two pillars, indicating that she follows the middle path.
The Veil
The veil is purple representing wisdom and authority. We do not know what is behind the veil and can only guess. The suggestion is that there is a deeper, higher reason for Justice. Perhaps by practicing justice and recognizing karma and retribution for bad deeds, we become more God/Goddess like?
The Yellow Background
The yellow background represents the mental force and intellectual mind needed to make decisions from a Justice point of view. Yellow traditionally represents the element of Air which in Tarot is the element that rules the mind.
Gods / Goddesses
Justice is ruled by all the Gods and Goddesses that rule justice.
Female: Maat, Mafdet, Themis, Justita, Atheme, Nemesis, Adrasteia, Nanshe
Male: Zeus, Marduk, Ninsusinak, Shamash, Shiva, Forseti
Number
The number of Justice is 11. 11 represents a new beginning as it is the first of the higher series of numbers.
In Numerology the number is added to create 2.
However in Tarot we add birth and year dates until we come to a number between 1 and 21 so we can find the Major Arcana card to match the person.
1 + 1 becomes 2 which is the High Priestess. These cards have a lot in common. Both sit on stone thrones, between two pillars with a veil behind them. Both have power to make decisions and choices – The High Priestess from a deep knowing inside and Justice from a rational point of view.
Astrology
The astrological sign represented in Justice is Libra, the astrological sign that has the scales as its symbol.
Libra rules the kidneys, adrenal glands and lower back. The kidneys are an organ of elimination which discards that which is not essential to the body. So too Justice disregards all those areas that impede good decision making and Justice.
Venus rules Libra which is all about fairness and harmony. Libra has these values as highest in their lives.
Kabbalah
The creators of the Rider Waite Tarot deck were members of the Golden Dawn, a group that had many teachings based on the mystical Kabbalah of the Jewish nation. When I say Kabbalah forget about monotheism, Judaism, God, and religion for a moment. Kabbalists are mystics in a sense. They believe God is neither male nor female and in fact has many aspects. Their systems are all about learning why we are here, the mystery of the universe and what the big plan is.
Inside the Rider Waite deck is a multitude of Kabbalistic meanings. I will briefly explain a few of the Kabbalistic meanings within The Emperor card. Believe me when I say you could learn for the rest of your life about Tarot and Kabbalah and still only scratch the surface. I’m keeping it superficial but easy to understand. I am also using on purpose the word Kabbalah rather than Cabala.
Justice is represented by the letter Lamed. Lamed is the first letter in the word -לומד – Lomed – which means to learn. By applying Justice in our lives, we learn more about ourselves, other people, the world in which we live in and the Creator.
Justice on The Tree of Life sits on the path between Tifereth to Gevurah.
In Kabbalah the number 11 is seen as representing a higher level of awareness and is the first number of the second level.
The name of this card is “Faithfull Intelligence”. It teaches us to be faithful to the meaning of truth and not to allow corruption or bias to set us off track.
KEYWORDS / KEY PHRASES
Justice / Seeking Justice / Fighting for Justice / Injustice / Finding the balance within / Making a decision based on rational facts / Karma / Ethics / Fairness / Cause and Effect / Legal Concerns / Maturity and Wisdom to allow Justice
MESSAGE FROM JUSTICE
Justice asks you to reflect on Justice in your life. Where is the Justice and Injustice in your life? Can you change it or understand it better?
Ask yourself these questions:
Do I understand the universal law of cause and effect?
Is there Justice in my life right now?
Am I getting what I deserve?
Am I weighing up all factors when I make a decision?
What is the middle path in a situation I am involved in?
What injustice might I be struggling with right now?
Is there a law/court case that you are/will be involved with?
Allow yourself to focus on the fact that in order for Justice to happen, we must make decisions based on facts, logic and truth. Emotions can sometimes blind us and make decision making irrational. We should never ignore our feelings but sometimes we must look at actual facts when making decisions.
JUSTICE REVERSED
When I see a reversed card I simply see the energy blocked or inhibited in some way.
How would Justice be inhibited?
Justice can be inhibited when we do not stand back and look at a situation rationally. When we are totally obsessed about a situation we cannot see clearly. We have experienced injustice and we are angry and hurt about it. Then the reaction and actions we take are not balanced. For example your husband has an affair. You file for divorce. In the divorce proceedings you push to get as much as you can. Your hurt makes you bitter, angry and resentful. You lose balance and perspective.
If you get Justice reversed for yourself or someone else some questions to ask might be…
Am I feeling injustice has happened?
What do I need to do when I feel Injustice?
Is it hard for me to balance emotion and thought?
Where am I avoiding responsibility right now?
Am I now reaping the results of a decision that was wrong or not thought out properly?
Am I codependent on someone elses decision making, thus handing my power away?
Is there a hidden agenda behind your decisions?
Am I having problems with the law / court?
If you get Justice reversed you are being advised to stand back and look at the bigger picture.
Injustice has occurred to you or a loved one.
How did you get into the situation that you did?
What actions and decisions did you make that put you here right now?
Recently I saw a woman make a decision based on anger, hate and projection. Her decision was done to hurt one person and yet her decision will impact the whole community around her. Karma will some day come to her door and demand Justice.
It is the nature of how the world works.
TO SUM IT ALL UP…
Justice has similar themes to the Wheel of Fortune card. The Wheel of Fortune talks about Karma and Cause and Effect. Justice is understanding how our decisions affect every part of our lives and that of others.
Everyday we see injustice in the world around us when we switch on the news. It can be debilitating to see so much crime, murder, terrorism etc in the world. Rather than feel defeated however we should stand up and fight for our rights. We should say, ‘No’. We should say, ‘Enough’.
It starts with us, every single one of us, fighting for what is RIGHT and JUST.
Justice invites you to understand that to live in society there must be Justice to keep the balance.
Without Justice, society moves towards chaos and anarchy.
EVERY single decision we make should be made from an AWARE place.
What decisions can you make today AS A WOMAN to bring more JUSTICE into the world?
Watch the short 2 minute inspirational video below about women and justice…