ORA›The 78 cards›Rider-Waite-Smith›Justice
Justice, Rider-Waite-Smith
Major arcana

Justice

Justice examines the facts and the responsibilities before deciding. It asks you to look at a situation without favouring what suits you.

Rider-Waite-Smith Fire/Leo See in Tarot de Marseille →

What the card shows

Justice sits facing forward, sword raised in one hand and scales in the other, crown on her head. Behind her, a veil is stretched between two columns.

Its light

Starting from the facts makes the decision solid. What is named can be discussed, what stays implicit gets settled by force, and the same demand brings back a clear base.

Its shadow

Fairness freezes when it forgets circumstances. Judging without looking at context produces a decision that looks just, and one-way rigour throws the rest off balance.

Keywords

balancetruthdecisionresponsibilitydiscernment

Notes on the symbolism

RWS. Arcana XI. Justice holds a bare blade, sign of a judgement given in the open, and Waite swaps its number with that of Strength.

What this card invites you to do

Separate the facts, the interpretations and your preferences. Look first at your share of responsibility, then decide by the rule you apply to yourself.

A card does not decide for you.
It shows you where to look.

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