TAROTJustice
Upright
Success through balance; weighing consequences of choices with honesty and fairness.
Do as you would be done by.
Impartiality and fairness in all dealings.
Intuition
The card denotes the relationship between balance (the scales) and a just reward for thoughtful actions (the sword).
Cause imbalance in any area of life, either good or bad, and it will return to you. So, it is a time to act with the best of intentions!
The ruins in the background are the Oracle of Delphi, representing divine wisdom.
Reversed
Imbalances in one or more sphere of life.
Emotion or other issues clouding fair judgment on a situation.
Possible retribution for past deeds, hidden agendas or deceit.
Astrologia
Good in relationships, diplomatic. Appreciation of good things and social harmony. Can be superficial and does not always take into account deeper feelings of others.
Justice
With the Justice card, we move on from the Wheel of Fortune and outcomes based on events out of your control, toward an answer based on facts and truth. Instead of providence, we rely on immutable laws.
Justice represents balance and intuition (the scales) plus rational truth and facts over emotion (the sword).
If you want better, treat others better. However, choose carefully who you keep around you; some people have played a different game for so long that they can no longer change.
The scales also represents following educated hunches. Is this person being honest? Does the situation add up? What can you reasonably expect? Weighing the likely outcome is often a good starting point.
Rational truth over emotion means just that: right or wrong should be based on logical decision-making and underlying facts. You can follow initial intuition as a starting point, but you must back it up with evidence.
The sword represents the effects of actions where justice is concerned. A sword is double-edged: it can protect and save the worthy, but it can also punish the deceitful and guilty. Justice is about fair treatment and protecting the innocent, but it is also about fair retribution. The message of Justice is 'do as you would be done by'.
One of the most well-known archetypes is the statue of Lady Justice seen on many legal buildings: a blindfolded woman with a sword in one hand and scales in the other. This design is ancient, based on the Roman goddess Justitia, who even then was treated more as a symbol than a worshipped deity. The two actual goddesses she is based on are Greek: Themis and her daughter, Dike. This deck uses the most universally recognized of the two: Themis.
Themis also fits the Tarot archetype perfectly because she is strongly associated with the Oracle of Delphi, a site famous for predicting the future.
Themis
Themis governs two domains.
First, she is the founder of the Oracle of Delphi (later given to Apollo). She was possibly the first Pythia, a priestess who could foretell the future. The site of the Oracle may have become a place of visions long before any buildings were constructed, as gases escaping from the ground (such as ethylene) are known to produce euphoria and hallucinations. This is depicted in the Justice card: a mist rises from the ground to the left of the ruins.
This link between Themis and the Oracle represents the intuitive aspect of Justice. The first step of Justice is often a hunch or a lead that is not evidence in itself, but rather a direction to follow to uncover real clues.
Second, Themis is recognized as the divine voice that introduced humanity to the basic rules of justice, morality, hospitality, governance, and assembly.
Rather than human legislation, Themis is associated with the divine laws of conduct upon which all subsequent laws are built. Her daughter, Dike, is often credited with translating Themis’s divine laws into human laws.
Description and Symbology
We see the goddess Themis with a sword in one hand and scales in the other, embodying the classic symbols of Lady Justice.
She is blindfolded, representing absolute impartiality. The blindfold bears the glowing astrological symbol of Libra (the Scales).
A red cloak (the ancient Greek himation) falls away from her shoulders. The red represents raw emotion. Its falling away symbolizes that Justice is never led by emotional arguments, but guided strictly by rational facts and deduction.
In the background stand the ruins of the Oracle of Delphi, depicted some time after the classical Greek period. Two large pillars have stood the test of time much better than the surrounding rubble, outlasting the rest of the sanctuary despite their massive size.
A civilization lasts for thousands of years not because of its bricks, paintings, or statues, but because of its sense of justice and fairness. The two pillars represent these enduring concepts.
Card symbol
The symbol is the star sign Libra, the scales.
Themis as Lady Justice
Themis holds a scale (symbolizing balance and Tarot intuition) and a sword (symbolizing the two edges of Justice; protecting the innocent and retribution against the guilty). The sword also represents the Tarot Swords suite, alluding to Justice as a rational exercise.
Blindfold
Themis is blindfolded, representing impartiality; she judges only by hearing the facts. The blindfold has an icon of balance on it; the symbol of Libra.
Red cloak
Themis allows the red cloak to fall from her. The cloak represents emotion. She casts away emotion when considering judgment.
Ruins
Behind Themis, we see the Oracle of Delphi. The two towers remain intact, as they are stronger than bricks and mortar. They are the pillars of Justice and Fairness, and represent an unshakable and everlasting concept.
Tips for Readings
The following table shows the upright and reverse meanings for general questions. The last row ('Yes/No') is useful when you are picking a single card to decide a yes or no decision.
Upright
Reversed
The relationship will thrive if both parties are honest and just with each other.
Open communications are a must.
Dishonesty or hidden agendas will have consequences. If you have hidden either, then expect to be unmasked; Lady Justice does not have favorites!
Emotion clouding fairness. Remember; justice is not an emotional argument; you may feel you are in the right, but that may be because you are selectively forgetting your obligations!
Lack of communication and hidden truths.
Possible impropriety within the relationship.
Hard work and skill will be rewarded.
Fairness in the workplace, but only if you have treated others in the same manner; balance works both ways!
Expect lack of recognition, unfair treatment by management or skewed pay scales.
Decisions based on emotion or hidden agendas rather than merit.
Seek balance in all things; mind/body, work/play and exercise/rest.
An imbalance in mind/body, work/play, exercise/rest, or an unbalanced focus on either yourself or others.
Emphasis on morals and sense of fairness.
Seek balance between furthering yourself and helping others.
Truth over emotion.
Separate wishful thinking from truth. Justice is impartial to emotional arguments.
You may also be living in the expectation of what your emotions tell you is right and fair, but it may not be the right thing to do morally or legally when all the facts are in.
You can expect fairness and openness in all dealings if you act the same, but remember Justice is balance; if you break the balance, expect others to do the same!
Potential hidden truth, inflexible rules, incorrect valuation, or adverse clause in any dealings; check the fine print, as something is amiss!
Unknown (Justice means you get what you sow, so the card won’t tell you, but you probably know the answer…).
Unknown (Justice means you get what you sow, so the card won’t tell you, but you probably know the answer…).
Reading the Card
The Upright Card
The Upright Justice card represents fairness and impartial balance in all matters.
If you are seeking justice for others, the card suggests that justice will arrive. You may be part of that process, and this card reminds you to play your part. If you have information to share, follow your conscience rather than expecting others to act for you. As a Major Arcana card, it focuses primarily on your role in the situation, not the actions of others.
If you are the one who has committed a wrong, the card suggests justice will find you. If it is a legal matter, expect justice to be served. If it is a personal or moral matter, expect it to affect your inner balance in the long run through guilt and remorse. Remember that a court of law is not the only court with power. Your own conscience can also be a prison.
The Reversal
The Reversed Justice card represents an imbalance in decisions and conclusions. It suggests a lack of impartiality or a hidden agenda. Although this can occur in a legal setting, it is more common in everyday life, such as in the workplace (a lack of recognition or being overlooked for promotion) or in partnerships where one party is not playing by the rules.
If you are the one passing judgment, the Reversed card suggests deep reflection is required. Are you looking at facts or hearsay? Are you letting emotions cloud your decisions?
Card Design Process
When discussing the Justice card, it became apparent that one of the most common areas where the word 'justice' arises is in the marital sphere. Divorce is the number one reason why most ordinary people end up in a courtroom for anything lasting more than a day.
The depiction of Themis looks modern. If you look carefully, you will notice why: she wears a decidedly modern dress, tailored for a very particular occasion (one that ideally only happens once in a lifetime). Consequently, some of the people the deck creator spoke to while researching this card may see themselves in her.
Final Words
The Justice card represents fairness, truth, and intuition. Its message is that actions will be rewarded or punished accordingly: perhaps in a court of law, but always within the person themselves.
