Judgement
Symbolic Attributes
- Element:Fire
- Arcana:Major Arcana
- Suit:Trump
- Archetype:Resurrection
- Numerology:20 = 2 + 0 = 2 (division, duality)
- Hebrew Alphabet:Sin/Tooth/300
Keywords
Description
Judgment is the moment the trumpet sounds in your inner sky. In the classic imagery—most famously in the Judgment from the Rider–Waite Tarot—an angel blows a trumpet while people rise from coffins. It looks dramatic. It is dramatic. But not in a “doom and punishment” way. It is about awakening from sleep. From denial. From autopilot. This is not external judgment. It is self-recognition. The coffins represent old identities. Old stories. Old shame. The trumpet is truth so clear you cannot ignore it anymore. And truth, when accepted, is strangely freeing
Light Meaning
- Receiving a wake-up call
- Discovering a new purpose in life
- Becoming totally and completely yourself
- Receiving a well-deserved reward
- Passing an evaluation or examination
- Welcoming the start of a new phase of life
Shadow Meaning
- Being weighed in the balances and found wanting
- Failing to measure up to a well-defined standard
- Being caught goofing off or misbehaving
- Failing to prepare for an examination you know is coming
- Rejecting an opportunity to reinvent yourself
Questions to Ask Yourself
- •What is the main thing I need to realize about myself?
- •In what way might the universe be trying to get my attention?
- •If I were to reinvent myself, what would I become?
Personal Meaning
The time will come for you to make judgements or decisions. Assess your situation carefully and take your stand with commitment and confidence. Learn from and then release burdens from the past and start fresh with new conviction.
You have had to make judgements or decisions. You felt a need to release burdens of the past and start fresh.
The time has come for you to make judgements or decisions. Assess your situation carefully and take your stand with commitment and confidence. Learn from and then release burdens from the past and start fresh with new conviction.
Personal Reversed Meaning
Refrain from being judgemental and hurtful to yourself or others. Judgement can only be applied constructively when tempered with mercy, understanding, love and acceptance. If you are completely without fault, then you will know that there is nothing to gain from throwing the stone.
It is possible that you have been judgemental and hurtful to yourself or others. Judgement can only be applied constructively when tempered with mercy, understanding, love and acceptance. If you are completely without fault, then you will know that there is nothing to gain from throwing the stone.
It is possible that you are being judgemental and hurtful to yourself or others. Judgement can only be applied constructively when tempered with mercy, understanding, love and acceptance. If you are completely without fault, then you will know that there is nothing to gain from throwing the stone.
Fortune Telling
- •An old issue you thought was over will come up again today
- •Get ready for huge changes: break-ups, sudden calls from old friends, and unexpected setbacks
- •God's trying to get your attention
Mythical / Spiritual Context
The resurrected Christ. The Last Judgment of Revelation. The phoenix, which rises to new life from its own ashes.
How to Interpret This Card in a Reading
A guide to deepening your understanding of Tarot symbolism.
Context is Key
No Tarot card exists in a vacuum. While the meanings above provide a foundation, the true significance of this card depends on where it lands in your spread. Is it in the past position, indicating a phase you are moving away from? Or is it in the outcome position, suggesting a potential future? Always consider the neighboring cards — they often tell a story that modifies or amplifies the message.
Trust Your Intuition
Traditional meanings are the starting point, but your intuition is the compass. When you look at the card imagery, what draws your eye first? A specific color, a symbol, or a facial expression might trigger a personal memory or feeling. That immediate reaction is often the most relevant message for your current situation, even if it differs from the standard definition.
Understanding Reversals
If this card appears reversed (upside down), don't fear it. Reversals often suggest an internalizing of the card's energy, a delay, or a need to revisit the lesson before moving forward. It can also indicate that the "shadow" aspects described above are currently more active, inviting you to bring them into the light for healing.
Connecting with the Element
Remember the suit this card belongs to. Wands speak to passion and action (Fire). Cups dive into emotions and relationships (Water). Swords navigate the mind and conflicts (Air). Pentacles ground us in the material world and resources (Earth). The Major Arcana represents larger life themes and soul lessons. Filtering the card's meaning through its elemental lens will give you a grounded, practical way to apply its wisdom to your life.