Justice Tarot Card Symbolism & Meaning
Rider-Waite Tarot Justice card flanked by Selenite Rose and Candle, with wooden background by Amanda Linette Meder
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Wondering what the Justice Tarot card symbolizes when you see it in a reading? In this post, we discuss the meaning of the Justice Tarot card -
The Tarot Deck is a Divination Card Deck system consisting of 78-cards. Thought to be first developed in the 15th century, the Tarot Card System has been replicated by many talented artists over the years.
Perhaps more than any other Divination Card System in history, there are many variations of the Justice Card out there, each with their unique twist.
I believe the Tarot Deck has been replicated time and time again with new art and interpretations, for one simple reason - it works.
With the replications and variation of Tarot art out there is, I think, this is part of what makes the study of the Tarot Divination Card System so interesting.
Each new type of Tarot Deck out there, adds a different societal and cultural twist, but the 78-card system remains the same.
The Tarot is a worthwhile system of Divination to learn because you learn one style, and you can read from a variety of different decks, depending on the art you like.
The Tarot Deck includes two groups of cards, the Major Arcana, and the Minor Arcana.
In the Major Arcana, there are 22 cards, and they all represent aspects of life. Within the Minor Arcana, there are 56 cards broken out into four suits - Wands, Swords, Pentacles (sometimes called Coins) and Cups, but the suits can have other names, depending on the deck.
The Justice Tarot card finds its home within the Major Arcana, and it sits between Wheel of Fortune and the Hanged Man in the deck.
I see the Major Arcana as significant life transitions and the Minor as more everyday information. So when you see the Justice card in a reading, it usually applies to something 'big picture' that is happening.
Traditionally, the Justice Tarot card pictures a woman sitting between two pillars, wearing a red gown and gold cape. She is holding a sword in one hand and a balancing scales in the other. The colors yellow and red are behind her.
You will almost always see some throwback to this original imagery, and the scales are almost always included in any version of the Justice card.
When you see the Justice card upright in a reading
The Herbal Tarot Justice Card leaning on Selenite with green surface and wood background by Amanda Linette Meder
Justice represents a balance that is being weighed out in the current situation.
It suggests greater harmony, the scales of balance, and with the capacity for swift action, given the sword. The Justice card can signify responsibility, mercy, and healing. It usually applies to the big picture part of the reader's most significant concern, or question asked.
The Justice card can symbolize that a greater karmic force is balancing something that is out of balance.
The golden half circle behind her represents a new dawn. So when you see Justice in a reading, it can also mean that a new dawn is coming after rightness is restored.
If you are feeling like giving up hope when you get this card - don't - as this card is a strong sign, Justice is in action, and a new beginning is coming soon.
In the wild, if you receive an insect bite, use plantain like this: find and rinse off wild plantain, chew it up, and place the mash on a wound, which soothes the irritation of insect bites.
My experience has been primarily using it on fire ant bites when working down south, but you can use it on other insect bites.
If you have a freezer, you can even mince and freeze plantain into ice cubes and use them on insect bites, after a long day of yard work.
Plantain tends to restore a skin's condition after insect wounds. So like Justice, it often comes in to restore the balance of life after an injury.
In The Herbal Tarot's guidebook, Justice symbolizes adjustment, making things right, correcting allotments of time, finances, and attention.
The author of The Herbal Tarot, Michael Tierra, writes in the guidebook that comes with the deck that its presence in a reading can symbolically mean making adjustments to feel more at ease with various conditions and situations. When reversed, someone who is easily angered, inflamed or irritated, is now relaxing, and adjusting.
To me, I always see the Justice card as a sign things are currently righting themselves. If you see it, take some time to adjust to a new balance, or to allow the scales to change.
When you see the Justice card reversed in a reading
It can symbolize someone is misusing judgment, or that there's a disruption of Justice. It may also mean that it's time to pause to allow Justice or mercy to take course.
It can also be validation that Spirit is aware of an injustice, usually one created by an external force. The cards around it may identify how inequities can be righted again.
Typically, when you see Justice in reverse, it's time to evaluate how you are giving your energy to the scales of balance. Usually, it means you or the reader can re-weigh how you are contributing or if you can step back and allow things to work themselves out.
To recap
The Justice tarot cards for The Rider-Waite and the Herbal Tarot side by side with wooden background on green surface by Amanda Linette Meder
The Justice card can represent responsibility, mercy or the scales of balance working themselves out
The Justice card in reverse can symbolize that a pause for Justice or adjusting, is needed or that an injustice has occurred
When you see it, some form of balance or stability is around
This card seems to pop up when someone is concerned about the rightness of a situation.
So if this is you, know seeing the Justice card is often a confirmation that not to worry, the scales of balance are taking care of it. One can also view the Justice card as validation that a fair process of mercy and rightness is happening, and that you, or your client, are participating in it.
Natural Justice tends to work itself out in time.
Justice corresponds to Libra energy, so when you see it in a reading, it can represent a need for space, ideas, or lifting ourselves, as Libra is an air sign.
Justice is a strong card, and seeing it in reading also represents some form of security, or the perfect balance of the scales is present and acting.
I love to see this card in readings when someone is very cornered, something won't work out, or the perspective is that something isn't working out.
This card is a confirmation it is, and that some balance may be happening already.
For more on card readings and interpretation, check out the links below.
To get any of the works , visit amazon
Justice Tarot Card Symbolism & Meaning Overlaid Ride-Waite Justice Card leaning on wooden background with text overlay of above by Amanda Linette Meder
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