Justice is represented by a formidable robed figure sitting authoritatively upon a throne with a sword held in her one hand and the scales in the other. She can easily be compared to the Greek Warrior Goddess of Wisdom, Athena, or to the American Statue of Liberty. She stands ready to defend and fight for truth, justice and liberty for all. She governs legal rights that may take form in contracts relating to citizenship, marriage, or business. The card is favorable when accompanied by supportive cards such as the Ace of Swords, The Hermit, or the Sun where truth is illuminated and otherwise challenging when accompanied by ones such as the 7 of Swords, The Devil, or 3 of swords where the truth may be evaded or kept hidden.
For a more in-depth understanding of the Libran/Air elements of Justice, look to Genevieve’s beautifully written blog on Libra found in the in left hand column archive of this site. You can gain further insight into how this card has either swept you off your feet in relationship or swept you out of relationship by calculating your annual year cards as set out by Mary K. Greer in her Tarot for Yourself workbook. Essentially, you get the same Major Arcana every 10 years and each time you get it you become a little closer to understanding and mastering its lessons.
In my case, Justice repeatedly has marked the breaking-up of my commitments and ultimately has increased my awareness about myinability to get the balance right in my relationships. I first got the Justice card in 1976 when I had broken up with a best girlfriend and entered a new school; in 1985 when Justice appeared again, I had just broken up with my first love and began college; in 1994 Justice signified yet another break-up from a serious 9 year relationship and graduation from my Masters program. So interestingly in these first 3 decades of my life, just when I realized I could not keep a commitment in relationship, I concurrently was able to commit to my own education and pursuit of personal truth. Accordingly, Justice is also about our commitment to our own truth. Most recently, in 2003 I got the balance right with Justice. Firstly, I made a separation from my eldest daughter’s father official and since have been able to co-parent with him amiably and fairly. At the end of that year, I also became involved with the man who demonstrated that he was willing to be equal partners with me. I was later to marry him in 2006, which was my Temperance card year (signifying a true alchemy and blessing in relationship as I will write about in December). I won’t speculate about what my next experience of Justice will be in 2012, but as the Mayan calendar comes to a close and we begin the Aquarian Age, I expect to reckon with my own truth in amazing new ways.
The truth of Justice is you can’t be true to another until you are completely true to yourself.