Symbolic Representation

In this card can be seen the personification of The Justice, as a male figure seated on a throne with a golden crown on his head. He is carrying scales in his left hand and a raised sword in the other hand. Although the Rider-Waite deck does not show it, but in some other decks of Tarot cards, this figure can also be seen blindfolded.

Tarot Story

Sitting at cross-roads, unsure where to head, The Fool is now looking for a new way and a new inspiration in his life. It is at that moment that he notices, a sensible blind lady, sitting and listening to two men, quarrelling over a bequest. Supposedly brothers, both of them had come to the wise lady for a fair verdict. One of them has the whole inheritance under him, while the other has nothing at all.

"I ask that all of it be given to me," the poor brother demands, "Not only because I have a better right to it, but because I will not be wasteful with it, as he is!" But the rich brother protests, "It is rightfully mine and that's all that should matter, not what I do with it!" The woman, after calmly listening to the whole argument, gives her judgment in favor of both the brothers. She grants half of the whole inheritance to the rich brother, and awards the other equal half to the poor brother. Witnessing all this, The Fool secretly feels that the decision made by the blind lady was absolutely correct and fair. But, he also sees that neither of the two brothers is happy with the decision. While the richer brother is sad on losing half of his wealth, the poor one is unhappy for not getting all of it to himself alone.

After both the brothers have left, the Fool approaches the blind lady and tells her that her judgment was absolutely fair and correct. "Yes, I was," she answers back. "With only half the inheritance, the richer brother will start valuing what he has and stop being so careless. And the poor brother will now have what he needs sufficiently. And though, both of them will not realize it, this judgment was fair for both of them."

Pondering over what the wise lady said, The Fool realizes that he has spent a major portion of his life accomplishing earthly aspirations and material possessions. And while doing so, he left his spiritual self to waste away, as none of the sacrifices or fights he made were to do any justice for his spiritual self at all, but only to satisfy his worldly desires. Now, knowing the path he has never traveled, he realizes that he must walk this route to get back the balance he somewhere lost in his life.

Tarot Connotation

This card has Libra as its ruling sun sign, with Justice bringing equilibrium and stability with the help of reasons or natural powers. This is the card reminds the Seeker to maintain a healthy balance in their lives. That they can't keep eating unhealthy food without considering the damaging affect it has on their health. Also, the card advices the Seeker to make adjustments and carry out whatever is needed to get things back into harmony, be it physically, psychologically, socially or religiously.

The result of achieving this equilibrium in their lives may not be exactly what the Seeker wants, although it will be a strictly justified conclusion. It is to be noted that Justice card is not about punishment, rewards, rights or wrongs, but, about adjustments and amendments. The raised sword hints that there may be times when attaining this balance won't be pleasant, but, the real meaning of the card is to do whatever is necessary to achieve this balance, no matter how tough or displeasing it is.