Egipcios Kier - 8 Justice

Today we will consider card 8, Justice, from the Egipcios Kier Tarot deck, a card that hints at the secrets of balance, self-awareness, and the pursuit of righteous living.

The centerpiece of the card is a depiction of a woman crouching on one knee, which is unusual in Egyptian art. Rather than holding the feather of truth, she holds a dagger symbolizing the power to cut dishonorable behaviors from her life. 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. This bestows an aura of holiness upon the sacred space where the woman contemplates the meaning of justice. Reflecting upon one's own actions is a sacred act.

Above the central image, four symbols capture our attention. They deviate from the pattern we’ve come to expect from the Minor Arcana cards. The double crown of Egypt encircling the sun signifies Ancient Egypt’s power and mastery. To the right of the crown, an intriguing letter, perhaps from an “angelic” language, whispers secrets. Above the crown, two short diagonal lines proceeding from one end of a long horizontal line resemble a weapon or fishing hook. On the left is a circle, 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, which is the numerical value of that Hebrew letter. One astrological symbol represents Capricorn, the sign of discipline and responsibility. The Hebrew letter Chet is the first letter of the word, Chayim, life, and is also the eighth letter of the Hebrew alef-bet; it may have originated in the Egyptian hieroglyph for ‘courtyard,’ perhaps representing 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.” Only through just living can we live well.

Kaplan clarifies that the other astrological symbol represents Saturn, the planet of discipline, responsibility, and justice. Kaplan is also unfamiliar with glyph that I could not identify. 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 its 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. Rather than fearing punishment, we should be seeking to live as part of a harmonious whole.

According to Kaplan, the figure on the card is a follower of Ma’at, the 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 that we must ensure that we are walking a righteous path.

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 dualities recognized by Ancient Egyptian culture, such as 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.

In the shrine of Justice, equilibrium and righteousness can be absorbed. Allow its wisdom to guide you as you navigate the complexities of life. In this sacred space, the woman prays; in Hebrew the verb for prayer (התפלל) implies judging oneself, changing oneself. Justice waits for you to pursue truth. This card invites us to be self-aware, choose to do better, live virtuously, and support order and fairness in our societies.