Sunday 19 June 2011

Judgement -- Major Arcana


Today's card for discussion is called Judgement. It is numbered as 20 in Major Arcana. The picture I have used for reference is from Rider Waite Tarot Deck.

As the Fool leaves the garden of Sun, he feels that he has come to the final phase of his journey and yet something is telling him that there is one last thing left to do. Unable to understand what, he looks up at the sky for guidance and see a beautiful angel carrying a trumpet in his hand. The angel tells him, 'Before you could end your journey, you have to come to terms with your past. However, much you may try to run away from it or bury it, your past always follow you, always shapes up your next step and so the path you will take'. Knowing that it is going to be the hardest task of his journey but has to be completed, Fool nods his head in agreement. At this moment, Angel blows his trumpet and lo the earth cracks open and the ghosts and spirits of Fool's past rises up in air.

Now, when the Fool is facing them, he feels fearless and even more he find himself forgiving them for doing bad things to him and thanking those who had been kind and helpful to him. He also senses, that they have forgiven him for ignoring the lessons they had to teach him. Slowly, these ghosts and spirits of past start rising up in air and fade away. Now, Fool is completely free, even free of his past. Thus, Fool is ready to complete his journey or start altogether a new journey with no memories and no past to look behind to.

When this card comes up in a reading, its a very much symbolic card as it signifies rebirth and resurrection. It is quite different from the Death card as you are not putting something to end here but making some hard and final decisions. Coming face to face with the situations and past deeds or decisions and bringing about a change.

This card is about courage and recognizing that you are holding onto something that needs to be let go forever.

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