Judgement XX

Keywords & phrases

• Moment of truth
• Wake up call
• Enlightenment, spiritual awakening
• New way of thinking
• Rebirth
• Rise up
• Release, surrender
• Stand up, speak up
• Answer the call
• Calling, purpose
• Self-expression – music, writing, art, dance
• Memories, past lives

First impressions

This is a wake up call on a grand scale.

What is happening in the card?

An Archangel, with wings spread wide fills the sky above a landscape of water and distant mountains.

The Angel blows a bannered trumpet to herald a message to the men, women and children rising up out of their coffins below. They receive the news with arms and faces raised up to heaven with expressions of awe, ecstasy, surrender and grateful, willing acceptance.

The Angel is said to be Gabriel, a Guardian Angel. Protector of babies, children and teens. The name means ‘God is my strength’ and as such this Angel may perform acts of justice and power.

Gabriel uses music to communicate messages of the divine, evoking emotion and memories. 

There is also no mistaking the use Christian imagery here relating to the Resurrection and the Last Judgement.

“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.” ~ 1 Thessalonians 4:16 

How can we relate to this card?

We experience the energy of the Judgement card when we know that the time has come to stand up and be counted. To put ourselves on the right side of history. To consider the world that we have received and the world that we will leave to future generations.

This is the call for you to use your own (God-given) talents and powers for good. Use your words, your art, your music, your brilliant mind to evoke emotion, to communicate a message of love, to do good in the world and to help others. To raise them up.

Judgement also relates to atonement and forgiveness. For yourself and others.

Do you see or hear the call of the Angel who fills the sky? Or do you choose to close your eyes and ears and lay low, play small and stay in the safe confines of your life?

When you look back at yourself in the moments when you had a choice to make, how will you judge yourself and the way that you showed up? How would history judge you?

These are some of the questions that Judgement brings.

Message & affirmations

Today, I ask for the assistance of my guides and the protection of angels. I ask that they bring me messages that are aligned with my highest good and my highest calling. Now is the time to act on that calling.

My personal experiences of this card

Writing this page has brought to mind (not for the first time on this site) Marianne Williamson’s ‘our deepest fear’ quote. The Judgement card reminds me that to play small in life is simply a cop out, that serves no one, least of all myself.

Events, situations & readings

In a relationship spread:
As it relates to relationships, the Judgement card can help you to break free from resentment, guilt and negative, judgemental thinking and awaken in you forgiveness and new ways of thinking and acting.

In a work, business or finance spread:
In a career reading, Judgement asks to to examine your chosen path and the way that you are working and ask yourself if you are truly using your talents, or are you playing small.

In a personal development spread:
Judgement can indicate a spiritual awakening.

Reversed:
Resistance to change. Trapped by limited thinking. Stuck in the past. Inability to forgive (self or others) and move forward.

People & interaction with other cards

When Judgement appears with Justice the message is loud and clear. Consider what is just and right in a situation and act accordingly.

Also linked by the number 2 to The High Priestess, the appearance of Judgement calls on you to trust your intuition, your inner voice, when judging a situation.

Questions, prompts & insights

Who or what are you judging in your life? How can you break free from guilt and resentment? Who do you need to forgive in order to release yourself? What past actions do you need to atone for and whose forgiveness do you seek?

In what area of your life are you playing small? At work, at home, in your community? Who is that serving?

Are you being called? Called to be and do something that you know in your heart is true for you? Are you answering that call? Or are you just choosing not to see or hear the huge, great angel on the mountain calling you to your purpose?

How do you see each new day? Can you see it as a new opportunity to be better, do better and to have the life you chose.  

Featured decks:
Main image from The Rider Waite Tarot. Also The Spacious Tarot + Expansion Deck by Carrie Mallon & Annie Ruygt