Sometimes I feel like the key to happiness is to learn to be less judgmental. Value judgements inevitably come back to bite me. The negative that I see around me eventually reveals itself to be a reflection of my own shortcomings. Positive judgments feel vapid and dishonest, like so much spin. How much angst could […]
Sometimes I feel like the key to happiness is to learn to be less judgmental. Value judgements inevitably come back to bite me. The negative that I see around me eventually reveals itself to be a reflection of my own shortcomings. Positive judgments feel vapid and dishonest, like so much spin. How much angst could be avoided by releasing the need to judge!
However, the tarot deck makes ample space for judgments of all kinds. It is, in fact, the main purpose of a tarot reading to help us weigh, discern, evaluate, and yes, judge ourselves and the world around us.
Recently, my Meetup group took a deep dive into the Judgement Card. The religiosity of the scene, the image of people rising from the grave, and the off-putting title frequently make this a trigger card for tarot students. Would a closer look help us make peace with the idea of judgment? Could we then embrace the card more fully when it turns up in our readings?
In order to understand the Judgment Card (Major Arcana #20), it is satisfying to look at the entire Constellation of Twos. This group of cards is related numerologically by virtue of their digits adding up to the number two. In her book, Tarot Constellations (1987*), author Mary Greer refers to this grouping as representing “the principle of balanced judgment through intuitive awareness” (p.77). Here’s how I see it in the Tarot:
Key #2: The High Priestess
“I am judgy”
The High Priestess is sensitive, perceptive, and opinionated. Her judgment comes from within. She looks down on those who don’t share her degree of insight or abide by her high moral standards. Her judgment is a form of protection that lets her her stay emotionally distant from everyone else.
Key #11 (1+1=2): Justice
“I am The Judge!”
The Justice figure weighs facts and imposes sentences on others. Unlike the High Priestess, these judgments come from the external world. But like the Priestess, this figure is also heavily protected — in this case by stone surroundings, elegant robes, and a hefty sword.
Key #20 (2+0=2): Judgement
“I am Judgment, itself”
It’s Judgment Day, the time to separate sinners from saints. But in this tarot card, everyone looks to be heaven-bound! Unlike the High Priestess and the Justice figure, the people here are naked and vulnerable. They seem to welcome and accept the judgments made on high.
In this context, the Judgement Card is suddenly the most approachable of the three. Tarot’s Last Judgment seems to be more about freedom from judgment. It’s the relief that comes from releasing both internal and external measures of worth, and letting the truth simply be.
Tarot Constellations include pip cards, too. The Major Arcana cards are thematic, while the Minor Arcana (“pip” cards) show us how those themes play out in our daily lives. Each of the twos in the deck show figures in the process of making a judgment call. They say…
Intentions matter.
When we are looking to improve something in our lives, the 2 of Wands tells us to hold onto our fire for a moment, until we are certain that our intentions are sound.
Choices matter.
In the suit of Air, judgment is placed on our logical thoughts. The 2 of Swords reminds us to do the internal work of weighing options carefully before acting on them.
Presence matters.
The 2 of Cups refers to the company we keep and our ability to stay energetically present with others. Resting with this fluid energy helps us keep in touch with the judgmental wisdom of our emotions.
Follow-through matters.
In the 2 of Pentacles, judgment is ongoing. We put one step forward, and then shift our weight to make sure the second step is well-placed. As an Earth sign card, this asks for a commitment to maintain integrity as our dreams develop in physical form.
The four pips related to judgment show us where there is room to assess our actions in terms of the internal, external, and higher judgments of the Major Arcana.
With the deep dive complete, I sit with my feelings about the role of judgment in my own life.
Maybe the key to happiness has more to do with the ability to accept judgment as neutral information, both internal and external. Maybe it helps to recognize when and how I protect myself from the potential sting of judgment. Maybe it ultimately entails accepting judgment for the truth it reveals, and then releasing it to the heavens.
* Tarot Constellations is out of print and available online only for exorbitant prices. Look in your used bookstores, or find a copy of The Tarot Handbook by Angeles Arrien, who also writes about tarot constellations.
The first image in this essay is from the Ancient Italian Tarot deck distributed by Lo Scarabeo. I chose this image because it is one of the very few that depict the Judgment Day with all its Biblical harshness. This is rare in Tarot. Even the earliest decks tend to look more peaceful than damning.
The other images are, of course, from the Waite~Smith deck.
Yetta Snow is a professional tarot reader and educator based in Seattle, Washington. Her business, Present Day Tarot, approaches the Tarot as a way to bring meaning into every moment of every day.
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