Major Arcana 20 Tarot Judgment

Description: An angel in the clouds trumpets, awakening all the people who rise from their graves.

Main meanings of the card in the upright position:

1. Rebirth, return to the spirit;
2. Pleasant events in life;
3. Good health, energy and vigor;
4. Renewed clarity of thinking;
5. New wisdom and understanding;
6. Big changes in work;
7. Successful completion of the case;
8. Freedom from drug addiction;
9. Upcoming union;
10. Important choice;
11. Change of status;
12. The End eras;
13. Rejuvenation;
14. A difficult decision;
15. Call to action;
16. Purification, regeneration;
17. Personal crisis;
18. Break with conventions;
19. Beginning/end;
20. Period of inspiration.

The main meanings of the card in the inverted position:

1. Abyss of negative emotions;
2. Attacks of shame and remorse;
3. Fear of death;
4. Neglect of the spiritual side of life;
5. Illness;
6. Personal loss;
7. Bad ending;
8. Disappointment in the past;
9. Indecision;
10. Forced completion;
11. Delay;
12. Separation from a loved one;
13. Self-pity.

The card depicts an Angel sounding a trumpet at the coming of the Day of Judgement. Below are open graves from which people rise. (That is why in the Egyptian Tarot it is called the Resurrection of the Dead) At the top is sometimes placed an image of the Almighty.

The time has come to overcome losses, break down obstacles and rise to a new life, this card says. Now we know that it can be reached only by crossing a threshold that previously seemed impregnable. The door is locked only for those burdened by the flesh, habits and attachments of the past. The shadow will easily pass through it. Become a shadow for evil, leave everything earthly, and your spirit will find freedom. The angel has already sounded the trumpet, you are called. Rise and go.

In astrology, this card is associated with the hypothetical planet Vulcan, the personification of the rational creative principle, transforming the word good, «beating swords into ploughshares»: it is not for nothing that Vulcan (Hephaestus) is the name of the divine blacksmith, the son of Jupiter and Juno.

Other names of the Arcana: The Supreme Court, the Spirit of the Ancient Fire.

SPIRITUAL EXPLANATION: However, the Last Judgement card also reminds us that, according to mystical teachings, death leads to spiritual rebirth. Here, the figures of people rising from their coffins raise their hands up to receive the power of the Holy Spirit after a triumphant resurrection from the «grave» of ignorance. Gabriel blows his trumpet to announce their spiritual awakening. This card represents rebirth — a return to the Spirit.

MEANING IN THE TAROT LAYOUT: On a metaphysical level, this card symbolizes spiritual awakening and rebirth. However, in the context of your daily affairs, it indicates the onset of pleasant events in your life. You are being called to experience something new and exciting, which may mean letting go of old thoughts and habits.

You will enjoy good health and feel energetic and alert again — now you can move forward with renewed clarity of thought and vision. You have a broader perspective on life than before.

REVERSED MEANING: You are immersed in negative emotions — you feel strong bouts of shame and remorse, and you fear death. You have turned your back on the spiritual side of life. Perhaps you are ill or have suffered a serious personal loss. On the positive side, if you listen to the advice of your inner spiritual voice, you may be able to release the negative emotions you have immersed yourself in and turn things around.

SELF-DEVELOPMENT LESSON: We die to our old selves and are reborn again. We move away from the darkness of our ignorance, embracing the light of new understanding and wisdom. We are truly reborn when we enter the realm of Spirit.

WORK: The Judgment signifies a major change in work. A certain decisive phase is coming, in practice often associated with leaving or moving to another job. In any case, we perceive these changes as liberation — and as an opportunity to look deep within ourselves, to understand what our true calling is. But even if no formal changes are foreseen in the foreseeable future, we are freed from some old problems, boring duties and other «tails». Then the card shows that under the outwardly calm surface of our everyday life a source of creative self-realization is opening up. At the event level, this can mean successfully passing exams, completing a project or assignment, finishing studies or advanced training courses.

CONSCIOUSNESS: Here the shadow sides of our personality, which we have not thought about or forgotten about until now, are revealed to us. Now we can free ourselves from them, discover their true, bright nature. Further, the Judgement card can indicate events through which we free ourselves from previous connections, habits or fixed ideas; often this is the awakening of consciousness, liberation from drug addiction or other illusions, a return to freedom, to an unbiased perception of the beauty of Creation.

PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS: We are on the verge of discovering a «treasure» in our current union or, if we are currently living alone, in an upcoming union with another person. It does not necessarily have to be a fairy-tale prince or «the woman of our dreams», but simply deep internal changes, thanks to which it will become clear to us what exactly has been preventing us from finding this treasure until now. This is the plot of many myths and fairy tales: at the end of a long journey, the hero overcomes the last barriers (including his own fear or disgust) — and a miracle happens, a terrible monster turns into a bright prince or princess. A similar story is very entertainingly and with great humor told by Heinrich Zimmer about the knight Gawain and the lady Ragnella, who was at first a witch, but when the knight clearly and irrevocably said his: «Yes, I love you», she became the most beautiful woman in the world.

Names in other languages: L'Angelo, Le Jugement, The Judgement, Die Wiedergeburt.

Astrological correspondences: Sagittarius and Capricorn, Jupiter and Saturn. Jupiter in Pisces as a symbol of liberation, or Jupiter in a harmonious aspect.

Kabalistic meaning of the arcana: immortality, eternal life.

Occult meaning of the arcana: human head, skull.

Physical meaning of the arcana: change in the course of things.

Places: deserts; monasteries of all religions; streets and squares of large cities; places we miss; places of our childhood.

Upright

Keywords and phrases: A milestone on the path of development. An important choice. The end of another stage of life and summing up. You judge someone or you are judged. Growth. Change of status. End of an era. The final phase of a situation. The route to follow. Change of profession. Promotion. Resurrection. The need to hear an assessment or to assess yourself. Rejuvenation. A phoenix rising from the ashes. A difficult decision. A call to action. Renewal. Personal crisis. Time for evaluation. New direction. New attempts at reconciliation. Transition. Awakening. Metamorphosis. Break with conventions. Big changes. Mandatory choices that will change life for the better. Cleansing. Regeneration. New life. New opportunities. Evaluation of yourself. Improving your personality characteristics. Final calculations. Transformation. Healing. Getting rid of old habits. Returning to life. Favorable legal decision. Summing up. Clarified state. Final check. Beginning. Ending. What goes around comes around.

Situation and advice: Another cycle is ending, and you should be ready for another phase of growth. You have reached a new milestone in your development. Perhaps you are faced with the need to make an important decision that will completely change the course of your life. If you make this decision with full awareness of its significance, the results will be favorable to you. Right now is the moment when you have a chance to change and improve something, perhaps it will resemble a process of rebirth. If you are thinking about changing your profession, then the decision you make promises to be successful. If your question concerned health, this card predicts healing and recovery. If you asked about a lawsuit, then all legal issues will be resolved in your favor. If you are a student, then you will successfully pass the upcoming exams. If you are worried about the upcoming medical examination, the result will be favorable.

This is the end of a cycle, a time of rebirth and awakening, a time to reap the bountiful harvest of your past actions. It is time to turn over a clean slate in your life and be ready for a positive new beginning. Now you are able to see everything much more clearly.

People:Judges. Supreme Court. Executors.

Reversed

Key words and phrases: Unwanted ending. Disappointment in a past situation. Delay in action. Indecision. Fear of change. Forced ending. Your wishes revealed. A major unwanted change. Refusal to make decisions. The phoenix does not rise. Procrastination. Remorse. Regret. Unhappy ending. Lack of purpose. Reluctance to let go. Ignoring a call to action. Rejection of a challenge or need to grow. Loneliness, Fear of death. Separation from a loved one. Disillusionment. Loss. Failure in exams. Unfavorable resolution of legal issues. Routine. Refusal to face the facts. Shame. Self-pity. Illness. Negative karma.

Situation and Advice: You are currently reaping the fruits of past bad decisions. Or you are avoiding the opportunity to make an important decision because you are afraid of the changes it may entail. Perhaps you have recently summed up another stage of your life and suddenly realized that you did not do anything worthwhile during this period. Perhaps you have already “outgrown” a certain relationship, job, situation or certain structure, but you do not dare to give it up.

Even if you feel that you are not ready yet, in any case, you need to draw a line under certain aspects of your life. Circumstances, illness or even death can separate you from a loved one. Perhaps a job or official position separates you from a person who means a lot to you. Obviously, your relationship is coming to an end, but you do not want to put an end to it. But you cannot constantly turn away from the facts. No matter how difficult it is, you will have to part with your past and move on with your life.

There may be major, unwanted changes in your life that you cannot control. Legal issues may not be resolved in your favor, or you may fail exams. Sometimes the Judgement card in a reversed position may indicate health issues, especially vision or hearing problems. If you asked about the results of a medical examination, be prepared to hear bad news. The Judgement card in a reversed position may symbolize separation or divorce. If your question concerned a legal process, the Judgement card in a reversed position indicates that the issue will not be resolved in your favor (especially if the Six of Swords is present in the reading, indicating a delay in action due to someone’s betrayal). In a reversed position, the Judgement card warns you of possible negative karma and tells you that you need to learn from your past mistakes. Perhaps you need to change your defeatist behavior and move in a more constructive direction. People: Those who experience an unwanted ending to some events or unwanted major changes in life. Those who learn from the mistakes of the past (from their negative karma). Students who failed exams. People who lost a lawsuit

The Meaning of the Judgment Card

Your life is entering something new. Life is acquiring a new dimension. You are no longer an «isolated» individual, but a part of the All-Unity, a conductor and transmitter of cosmic energy. Listen more attentively to its signals, to the voice of the heavenly trumpet: now you are a messenger of God, an instrument of higher powers. Try to understand the meaning of the task entrusted to you and fulfill it with honor.

In practical terms, for a creative person (an artist, a poet, an artist), this card in the upright position means the onset of a new period of inspiration, active work, possibly a search for new forms. In general, it often means a surge of new strength, the discovery of a «second wind», a transition to a new quality. In combination with other cards of success, it can mean the implementation of creative plans — the publication of a book, the opening of an exhibition, the completion of a project.

For people, let's say, ordinary, looking not for success or glory, but only for peace and maintaining the status quo, the Court in the upright position means annoying anxiety, a disruption of the usual course of things.

In the inverted position — a creative crisis, stagnation, failure or delay with a book, play, project. Or, for ordinary people, — the preservation of the usual state, immutability, peace («and in the cemetery everything is quiet...»).

In business, this card promises well-being to filmmakers, poets and other people who are not engaged in business in the literal sense of the word; for real businessmen, it promises rather big troubles — and gives advice to hire (sponsor) people of art so that they create an image for his business.

You have been moving blindly towards your goal, making mistakes and stumbling. Now is the time when success and understanding are guaranteed. Do not be afraid. Grab this opportunity with both hands. If you postpone the decision, if you hesitate, the rarest opportunity in your life may slip from your hands. Be sure that you are on the right path. No matter how great the doubts were. No matter that the results have been negative so far, in fact, you have already made the right choice regarding your own life and the lives of others who may be affected by your choice. Expect positive results in the very near future. Important questions will be answered, guarantees received, doubts resolved. You will be rewarded for your efforts.

Like the Death card, the Tarot Judgement symbolizes the end of your old life and the beginning of a new one. But in this case, the changes, whatever they may be, are for the better. Your questions will be answered; your doubts will be resolved. At last, you will know the truth.

These questions may concern both the spiritual and worldly sides of your life. In worldly life, you may, for example, learn what to expect from a new career, a new romance, or a change for the better in your overall lifestyle.

On a spiritual level, the answers from the Tarot Judgement are more important. Until now, you have been striving for a goal, supported only by your own belief that it must exist and that it is worth striving for.

Now you will be shown that your goal does exist, that there is nothing more valuable to strive for. The Tarot Judgement promises rewards for your faith and your aspirations. From now on, you do not have to believe blindly. You know for sure. Note that, contrary to the imagery used here, the card does not point to the Last Judgement in the sense of the end of the world. But it does point to the end of the seeker's old life, and this means an end to confusion, despair, and doubt. The Tarot Judgement is a positive card, symbolizing a new birth, a new understanding. Most importantly, you are entitled to these rewards because you have earned them by your faith and your aspiration in spite of all doubts. The judgment is on our behavior and our character.

Type of person in the upright position: an idealist who has realized his ideas; one who strongly believes in everything he does; one who has reached the pinnacle of spiritual development.

Type of person in the inverted position: a madman; a drugged person; a fanatic; a person who imposes his views and beliefs.

Psychological meaning of the Judgment Arcana: something new is emerging in your life again and you are beginning to see everything in a completely different light. What seemed difficult to resolve and problematic has suddenly lost its former drama. Now you look at things more broadly. You have already outgrown your own «I» and think more globally. You know that you have made your contribution to the existence of humanity, and when you leave this world, having undergone another transformation, your trace will remain on the earth. You are no longer a speck of dust that could be blown off her face by the slightest breath of wind. You have become part of a great whole, a conductor and transmitter of cosmic energy. Look closely at the signs of fate, listen to the voice of God, who now abides in you. Now you are His messenger, an instrument of the Higher Power. Try to understand the significance and meaning of the message given to you, try to fulfill it with honor and dignity. Remember also that «falling from a height hurts more».

It is easy to make a mistake in interpreting the Judgment card if you rely only on the name. Judgment in general, and the «judgment» that is meant here, that is, the Last Judgment in particular, is usually associated with punishment, retribution, and thus with hopelessness and fear. Meanwhile, the meaning of the card is based, first of all, on the drawing, which includes very specific cultural and mythological images. The Judgment card depicts the Resurrection, that is, the moment of rebirth and liberation of something that has long been suppressed or hidden; this is the release of the true, Divine principle from prison into the light. Thus, the meaning of this card is very favorable. It personifies an important, decisive step on the path to the formation of personality, the successful completion of the next stage of its alchemical transformation, that is, the transformation of lower matter into higher. On a mundane level, this card also means liberation — from some worries or from a harmful person, from «extra» qualities like shyness, timidity, etc. And it can also indicate that the matter we are asking about is where the «treasure» we are looking for is hidden.

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