Tarot has been a part of Barbara Moore's personal and professional lives for nearly twenty years. Right from the start, tarot intrigued her with its marvelous blending of mythology, psychology, art, history, mystery, and magic. She has studied under...
Unlike the Wheel of Fortune, Justice's consequences are not random. This is the card of reaping what you've sown,
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for good or ill—a time of karmic accounting, so to speak. This is not necessarily a bad card. It is not saying that you did anything wrong. Like the double-edged sword (representing law) that Justice wields, it can go either way. And whichever way it goes, Justice will use her other favorite tool, the scales, to matter-of-factly measure out the results. Like the High Priestess, Justice sits between two pillars, representing a threshold. The meaning of the card isn't simply that "whatever you receive, you earned." It is also a gift of entry to another realm of understanding. It teaches us how the universe works, so we can function better within it.
The Universal Waite Justice sits before a veil that reminds us that her intricate logic and infallible understanding of the facts are far beyond our mere human comprehension. Her crown indicates her authority. The sword and scales symbolize the law and payment due. Justice is not blindfolded; she clearly sees all aspects of the matter and can ascertain the truth.
Core meaning: The consequences of your actions are at hand.
The Legacy Justice card emphasizes the two aspects of Justice by showing two figures instead of one: the interpretation of the law and the payment required in the face of that interpretation. These figures are shown blindfolded as a sign of impartiality, or seeing beyond the surface into the truth of a matter. Together, these facets of justice create perfect and natural balance in the world.
The Shadowscapes card shows a popular version of Justice: the Egyptian goddess Ma'at. When a person dies, Ma'at weighs their heart against a feather. If they balance—that is, if the heart is light—the person goes on to the afterlife. If not, the heart is eaten by a demon.
