The centerpiece of the card is a depiction of a woman crouching on one knee, which is, I think, unusual in Egyptian art. Rather than the feather of truth, she is holding a short sword. She gazes at a set of scales suspended before her, evaluating whether or not her life is in balance.
On her head is an elaborate Egyptian crown that appears to include two enormous feathers and a Uraeus serpent. A jeweled wig frames her face. Rather than being bare breasted, the upper half of her body is covered and a long skirt reaches her ankles. She is raised above the viewer on a pedestal of three steps. Adorning the pedestal, a serpent encircles a solar disk, mirroring the radiant symbol at the top of the card, bestowing an aura of holiness upon the sacred space where the woman contemplates the meaning of justice.
Above the central image, four symbols engage us. They deviate from the pattern we’ve learned to expect, but as this is a Major Arcana card, they should be unique. The double crown of Egypt is portrayed encircling the sun, reminding Ancient Egypt’s power and mastery. To the right of the crown, an intriguing letter, perhaps from an “angelic” language, whispers secrets from modern occult knowledge. Above the crown are two diagonal lines proceeding from the end of a horizontal line. At the left, is a circle, perhaps symbolizing the cyclical nature of justice: wrongdoing followed by correction, and hopefully a lesson learned.
The title, Justice, is augmented with two astrological symbols, the Hebrew letter Chet, and the number Eight. I recognize one astrological symbol as Capricorn, representing discipline and responsibility. The Hebrew letter Chet, is the first letter of the word, Chayyim, life, and is the eighth letter of the Hebrew alef bet; the letter may have its origin in the Egyptian hieroglyph for ‘courtyard,’ and perhaps is the place where the woman on the pedestal meditates. The Deuteronomical concept of “Justice, justice shalt thou pursue,” is mirrored in the number Eight, “Choose life.”
Kaplan clarifies what the symbols on the card actually are. The other astrological symbol represents Saturn, the planet of karmic justice. The letter or glyph that I could not identify is also unknown to him. He mentions that at the top center of the card, is Hathor’s horned solar disk with two ostrich plumes above it; in her earliest forms, Hathor punished any who mocked her father Ra. The snake biting, his tail is a more peaceful depiction of the Uraeus serpent, usually portrayed spitting fire at the those who disobeyed the laws of gods or pharaohs.
According to Kaplan, the figure on the card is a follower of Ma’at, Ancient Egyptian goddess of truth. Two ostrich feathers grace her head, representing the balance of duality and the essence of justice. The dagger in her hand, a symbol of the god Anubis, reminds us that death and final judgment are nearer than we know and we must ensure that we are walking a path of righteousness.
Kaplan teaches that Ma’at, daughter of Ra and wife of Thoth, played a pivotal role in creation. As chaos was withdrawn, Ma’at emerged to bring order and balance to the world. She is the eternal guardian of truth and embraces the dualities recognized by Ancient Egyptian culture: good and evil, the crowns of upper and lower Egypt, the desert and the fertile land on either side of the Nile.
This card unveils the mysteries of harmony, righteousness, and virtue. It beckons us to embrace our good inclinations, speak with sincerity, act with good intentions, and cultivate a commitment to fairness. Through the upright meanings noted by Kaplan, we are reminded of our ability to perceive temptation and avoid evil, to respond favorably to the goodness in others, to judge impartially, to live with harmony and poise.
Kaplan’s interpretation of the reversed card warns us of the perils of bias and false accusations, as well as the corrosive effects of bigotry and intolerance. It serves as a reminder to temper our judgment and approach justice with an open heart and mind.
Step into the realm of Justice where equilibrium and righteousness can be absorbed. Allow its wisdom to guide you as you navigate the complexities of life. Justice waits for you to embrace the pursuit of truth with grace and compassion.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for commenting! I enjoy hearing from my readers and getting a chance to see their blogs, too!