Tarot Explained: Justice

Justice is associated with balance, equality, order and legal matters.  The Justice card features a robed figure sitting between two pillars; they hold a sword in one hand and a scale in the other.  The Egyptian Goddess Ma’at, King Solomon and Moses may correspond with the Justice card. 

 Symbols & Characteristics

Justice is represented by the cardinal Air sign Libra, which is ruled by Venus.  Green, plantains and the musical note F# are associated with the Justice card.  The body parts ruled by the Justice card are the kidneys, adrenal glands and the lower back.  Eleven is associated with the Justice card, despite it being the twelfth card in the major arcana.  The two one’s in the number eleven are reminiscent of the twin pillars of wisdom behind the seated figure, emphasizing knowledge’s importance in free will.

Traditionally Justice has been depicted as a female.  Justice raises a sword in their left hand, and a scale in their right.  The sword represents discernment; this sword has been referred to as the Sword of Justice.  The scales in Justice’s hand, represent the ability to balance the emotional body and the intellectual body. The crown resting atop Justice’s head signifies the connection to the Divine through the seventh chakra, also known as the Sahasrara, or crown chakra.  When the crown chakra is balanced, one is able to receive knowledge with clarity and ease.  Justice wears a red robe alluding to the root chakra, ruler of foundations and security; their green cape sitting on their shoulders alludes to the heart chakra, ruler of giving and receiving.  When the root chakra and the heart chakra are able to communicate, balance is created through the harmony of the material plane and the spiritual, or emotional plane.

Reading Justice Upright

The Justice card represents balance, harmony and the ability to make decisions from a centered standpoint.  This card also signifies rightful treatment, lawfulness, neutrality, impartiality, and respect for the law.  When the Justice card appears, the querent is encouraged to look at the situation from a neutral moral standpoint.  In regards to legal matters, the Justice card may speak to triumph in proceedings, reasonable decisions or rightful consequences.

Reading Justice Reversed

Justice reversed alludes to unfairness, bias, bigotry or favoritism.  Refusal to accept responsibility for one’s actions and a lack of ethics are also associated with Justice reversed.  In regards to legal matters, Justice reversed may allude to legal complications or the abuse of justice.