Does Justice exist?

Welcome back to The Alchemy of Tarot! The Northern hemisphere continues its journey towards the winter season, and enters into the darkest time of the year, when the days are at their shortest, and the sun's light and warmth are months away. We are reminded of the need for inner light and love, emotional maturity, wisdom, and balance. In our journey following The Fool, we now enter a realm ruled by Libra in the archetype of Justice.

Rider-Waite (Smith) Tarot

I must admit that I am finding some irony in this card, with many news stories about our questionable legal system affirming that for many, justice can be difficult to find. How does the archetype of Justice navigate through the complexities of the human condition?

Reflecting on the card, (numbered 11 in the Rider Waite Smith deck, although retaining the number 8 in some other decks) we see a red-robed figure wearing a crown (representing a connection to the upper planes), sitting upon a throne between two pillars. The countenance of the face is stoic and resolved.  These sartorial and symbolic elements are all reminiscent of The High Priestess and Hierophant cards. Another similarity is the fabric of a curtain or veil behind the throned figure. Here we understand that these cards represent some mastery over the spiritual mysteries, and moving between the worlds. As the keepers of the Mysteries, these figures hold onto symbols representing their strengths. The High Priestess holds a scroll, The Hierophant a scepter. Justice rules with a sword in one hand, and scales in the other, possibly representing physical and emotional stability. Those of you who may never have held a sword may not realize... a sword is a pretty heavy instrument, and it takes great physical strength to wield one (especially with only one arm). Likewise, there is great emotional strength needed to properly maintain the scales of Justice. One must manage emotions and develop a sense of equanimity, or mental calmness and composure. We also see (although admittedly somewhat difficult here) that the figure's right foot emerges from the many yards of fabric. This may represent a sense of movement towards resolving either internal or external issues.

When the Justice card comes up in a reading, it may be time for us to develop a sense of detachment or acceptance to our issues or environment. It can also mean that we need to listen to our intuition, and explore our personal insights and wisdom. 

As for the larger socio-economic issues that exist, the archetype of Justice can remind us of our own sense of values. The annals of history are replete with millions of individuals who have encountered oppression of one kind or another.  How do we respond when we feel that a situation is unjust? Have we had experiences where we felt we were treated unjustly? How do we choose to express ourselves during these occasions?

"Delay of Justice is injustice." - Walter Savage Landor

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