Judgment

Judgment

The Basic Meaning of the Card (Rider-Waite)

Judgment is the twentieth card in the Tarot’s Major Arcana and symbolizes awakening, renewal and a feeling of calling. The card’s image shows an angel blowing a trumpet, and people rising from their graves. It represents that when we confront and accept our inner truth and forgive ourselves and others, we can experience a feeling of spiritual awakening and renewal.

Upright Meaning

When Judgment appears upright in a Tarot reading it means that it is a time of awakening, personal growth and following your inner calling. The card urges you to be honest with yourself about your actions, feelings and desires, and to seek forgiveness and reconciliation where needed. It is a time to embrace change and to work towards achieving your highest goals and ideals.

Reversed Meaning

If Judgment is reversed in a reading it can indicate that you are having difficulty confronting and accepting your inner truth or that you are avoiding taking responsibility for your actions and decisions. It can also mean that you feel uncertain of your calling or that you are not listening to your inner promptings. The card urges you to be honest with yourself, to seek forgiveness and reconciliation, and to be open to your inner guidance and calling.

Example of an Interpretation

If Judgment appears in a reading along with Eight of Cups and Three of Swords it could be interpreted as that by confronting and accepting your inner truth and seeking forgiveness (Judgment) you will be able to leave behind old patterns, feelings and situations that no longer serve you (Eight of Cups). This process may involve going through a period of grief and heartache (Three of Swords) in order to heal and renew, but it will lead to a deeper feeling of awakening and personal growth in the long run.

Psychological Interpretation

Archetypal Meanings

The tarot card Judgment is a powerful archetype that represents a moment of awakening, transformation, and rebirth. It is often associated with the concept of judgment day, where all actions and decisions are evaluated and the consequences revealed. This card also represents a call to action, a time to reflect on one’s past choices and to make necessary changes in order to move forward towards a higher state of being.

Behavioral Patterns

When the Judgment card appears in a reading, it may indicate that the individual is going through a period of self-reflection and evaluation. They may be questioning their past decisions and actions, and may feel a sense of guilt or regret. This card can also represent a need for forgiveness, either towards oneself or towards others. The individual may be experiencing a sense of awakening or realization, and may feel compelled to make changes in their life in order to align with their true purpose.

Integration and Shadow Work

Psychologically, the Judgment card can be seen as a call to integrate and work with one’s shadow self. This is the part of the psyche that holds repressed or hidden aspects of our personality and often manifests as negative behaviors or patterns. Through introspection and self-evaluation, the individual can identify and acknowledge these shadow aspects and begin the process of integrating them into their conscious self. This can lead to a sense of wholeness and alignment with one’s true self.


More Tarot Cards In "Major Arcana"

Strength

Strength is a tarot card that symbolizes self-control, strength and courage. It also represents the ability to overcome obstacles and to handle adversity. It is a sign that the person has the necessary strength and power to achieve their goals.

Strength

Temperance

The Tarot card Temperance symbolizes balance and harmony. It depicts an angel holding two vessels, one vessel of water and one vessel of wine, and mixing the two to create a perfect balance between the two. The card also symbolizes that one must find a good balance between different aspects of their life in order to achieve happiness and satisfaction.

Temperance

The Chariot

The Chariot tarot card symbolizes a journey or a quest that is facing a person. It stands for power, victory and success that can be achieved by balancing opposing forces and finding a way to unite them to create unity. It also represents the will to take control of one's own life and to realize one's dreams.

The Chariot

The Devil

The Devil tarot card symbolizes feelings of being trapped in a destructive pattern or situation. The card also symbolizes a call to take responsibility for one's actions and overcome limiting behaviors. It can also indicate that one should avoid allowing oneself to get caught in traps created by others.

The Devil

The Emperor

The Emperor is a tarot card that symbolizes authority and leadership. It stands for control, structure, and regulation. It also represents a fatherly figure who has the necessary experience and knowledge to lead others. It can also mean that one should be responsible, enterprising, and have a will to take control of their actions.

The Emperor

The Empress

The Tarot card The Empress symbolizes creation, possibilities, and refinement. It also represents female strength and courage, parenting and creativity. It stands for an abundance of energy, kindness and goodwill. It also strengthens the ability to create new situations and to fulfill dreams.

The Empress

The Fool

The Fool is a tarot card that symbolizes a new beginning, an adventure and unknown potential. It also represents a person who is willing to take risks and trust their intuition. It is a card that advocates for change, growth and new opportunities.

The Fool

The Hanged Man

The Hanged Man tarot card symbolizes a moment of stillness and surrender. It depicts a person hanging upside down from a tree branch, indicating that one must let go of control and allow things to happen. It can also mean that one must take a step back and look at the situation from a different perspective.

The Hanged Man

The Hermit

The Hermit tarot card symbolizes a person seeking self-reflection, after going within and searching for the answers that lie within. It stands for solitude and inner journey, and represents a person who is about to step out of their comfort zone and bravely take a step into unknown territory.

The Hermit

The Hierophant

The Hierophant tarot card symbolizes traditional teaching and religious instruction. It also represents a mentor who helps guide us to a better life. It can also represent a role model that we can look up to and learn from. The card stands for the transfer of knowledge, guidance, power, and authority.

The Hierophant

The High Priestess

The High Priestess tarot card symbolizes intuition, mystery and spirituality. It also represents the ability to seek out deeper meaning and knowledge. It symbolizes knowledge, secrets and the possibility of finding answers within oneself. It is a sign to trust one's intuition and follow it to find the right path.

The High Priestess

The Lovers

The Tarot card The Lovers symbolizes love, determination, and choice. It represents a powerful moment of infatuation and emotional closeness between two people who are facing an important decision. It reminds us that we all have the power to choose our own happiness.

The Lovers

The Magician

The Magician tarot card symbolizes the ability to transform and create something new. It stands for creativity, intuition and power. It also represents a person who has the ability to handle different elements to create something new. The card stands for the rebirth of ideas, solutions and changes.

The Magician

The Moon

The Moon tarot card symbolizes mystery, intuition, and dreams. It depicts a moon illuminating a forest-like landscape, with two dogs standing along the path and a turtle shell floating in the water. It represents uncertainty and that we may not always be able to see the whole picture. It can also warn of dangers that may be lurking in the darkness. It can mean it is time to listen to your intuition and follow your dreams.

The Moon

The Star

The Tarot card The Star symbolizes hope, optimism and renewal. It represents comfort and support after a difficult period, and encourages us to follow our dreams and never give up. It is a sign that we are protected on our journey and that we can trust that the way forward is bright.

The Star

The Sun

The Tarot card The Sun symbolizes the light, joy, and hope. It represents love, harmony, and success. It stands for enlightenment and positive energy and means that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. It can also mean that you have reached a stage of personal growth where you are ready to take new steps.

The Sun

The Tower

The Tarot card The Tower often symbolizes a feeling of chaos and change which can be very frightening. It is a sign that there are big changes coming that will shake up our lives and make us look at things from a different perspective. It can also be a sign that we must leave behind what is familiar and comfortable to make room for new possibilities.

The Tower

The World

The Tarot card The World symbolizes the end of a cycle and is a sign of perfection, balance and realization. It represents feelings of joy, fulfillment and an emotional goal that has been achieved. It also symbolizes a new beginning and is a sign that one has overcome all obstacles and is ready to start anew.

The World

Wheel of Fortune

The Tarot card Wheel of Fortune often symbolizes a fate that follows a cycle of fortune and chance. It typically depicts a wheel-shaped circle with a number of symbols representing different aspects of life. The card can represent the constant change that occurs in life, that everything is ephemeral and that nothing is permanent. Wheel of Fortune can also symbolize the power to create one's own luck and to take responsibility for one's actions.

Wheel of Fortune

Death

The Tarot card Death symbolizes a change or a new beginning. It stands for transformation and renewal, and is a sign that it is time to let go of the old and welcome the new. It can also mean that it is time to leave old habits and patterns behind and create new ones.

Death

Justice

The Tarot card Justice symbolizes justice, balance and order. It represents the distribution of justice and the consequences of our actions. It can also symbolize that one must take responsibility for one's own life and stand by their actions and face the consequences.

Justice