This is my initial interpretation of the Judgement card.

Tarot Deck: Universal Waite Tarot

Judgement is the last card before The World, key XXI (21), which is the final card in the Tarot journey in the Major Arcana. The word judgement on its own conveys a strong meaning: it represents a test that will lead to a pinnacle spiritual or physical event.

A call is being made from the Heavens; the allusion of an angel atop a cloud in the sky–with flowing gold hair and large purple wings–blows his horn above Earth. Yellow is symbolic of growth and health and purple denotes passion, knowledge and royalty. He bares strong resemblance to Raphael, the angel in The Lovers card, but is actually the archangel Gabriel. Gabriel as a messenger is a common theme in Christianity, but based on past studies in the subject of philosophy, the significance of the horn comes from John Milton’s Paradise Lost; both angels appear in the story, but Gabriel’s role as a messenger from God, is to lead Satan away from the Garden of Eden.

To the left of the horn is a white banner with a red cross, symbolic of the power of conscious acceptance of spirituality in its purest sense.The Judgement Tarot card represents a message that is a literal awakening.

A man stands to the left, a child in the center, and a woman to the right. The man’s position to the left represents consciousness and the woman’s position represents unconscious thought and the child represents creation. The child can also stand as a metaphor for rebirth. It is also interesting to note that the man and woman have switched sides when compared to their positions in The Lovers card; perhaps by switching sides, they have come to peace with understanding one another and the meaning of life. Across a stream of water, we see a reflection of the same family, symbolic of duality and balance. The three figures can also represent the importance of the number three in Tarot. Perhaps they represent the power of the mind, body and spirit, the fruits of things coming together, or the three Platonic virtues in Tarot: Strength, Justice and Temperance.

In the background, we see a reflection of the same human figures directly across a large body of water, denoting emotion and unconscious thought. Behind them, are ice-capped mountains, symbolic of the highest goal that needs to be attained. Now, there is a balance of passions and intuitive thought; they are ready for the true test–the Judgement.

John Milton’s Paradise Lost (16

In numerology, the Judgement Tarot card represents the number 2, symbolic of growth and union. I find myself drawing a connection between Judgement and two other cards in the Major Arcana: The High Priestess and the Wheel of Fortune. The High Priestess, key II (2) shows us the power of learning how to discover that which is hidden and mysterious as a necessary step in spiritual discovery. The Wheel of Fortune, hey X (10) represents the changes in various stages of life. The World, key XX1 (21), represents complete understanding of the the various stages of life, but when you multiply 2 (The High Priestess) x 10 (The World), the result is Judgement.

Possible Meanings in a Tarot Reading:

Keywords:

• An awakening that is spiritual or physical
• A signal or message
• Reflection and awareness
• You have earned recognition and are being praised for it (mentally or physically)
• You are ready to proceed to the highest point and are on the way to reaching your goal/a goal

Symbolism:

• Angel (Gabriel)
• Horn
• White flag with red cross
• Purple wings
• Family (man, woman, child)
• Reflection of family
• Water
• Ice-capped mountains

Image: Universal Waite Tarot © US Games Systems, Inc.

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