Tarot// The Fight for (inner) Justice
The energy of this card is earned by weeks, months, or years of making decisions with a particular intention. Defending yourself against competitors or societal conformity can be hard; success comes in picking the most just and winning outcome. Fairness can become a trigger after traumatic events. A supervillain's origin story usually entails political, social, or familial loss, The villain wants to make everyone pay. This is the reverse energy of Justice if you are routing for the hero or just common sense. Trauma is an event or series of events so unfavorable to the mind that it is too much to process. Complex trauma is a series of these events. The impact of trauma exists in the mind's extreme, so coping with trauma can come out in extreme ways; like self-harm, criminal behavior, compulsive lying, compulsive shopping, and eating and addictions. Abusers may craft a personality based on maladaptive coping mechanisms to trauma, like our supervillain's revenge arc.
It may be hard to tell what true Justice is but it's clear what it's not. Justice cannot be immature, it cannot be capricious, and it cannot be shallow or demonstrative. In human history, there have always been societies that prescribe the death penalty for every person who stepped out of line. A more liberal, modern attitude recognizes that this only makes people used to executions and scared to get caught acting authentically, lest it is construed as 'wrong'. Living in fear causes the mind to re-traumatize itself with thoughts of an already-lived worst nightmare. Triggers, slights, and even imagery concepts can inspire a fight, flight, freeze, or faun response. Acting out in extremes of rage, fear, condemnation or banishment are the actions of the demagogy, not the savior.
So if these irrational knee-jerk responses amount to injustice; What is justice? In a complicated world, it is harder to prescribe something that will match everyone's lifestyle values. In tarot, the seeker does not only collaborate their experience with a group of people but receives divination specific to their daily and life experience. The advice this card provides praises us for becoming aware that there is a higher morality but cautions against standing in the way of fate. The Justice energy represents natural consequences and cautions against too forceful administration of punishment. Pulling The Justice card signals that you may administer punishment and give rewards but only from your higher self. The benefits of The Justice energy come
Being able to stop short of administering mindless payback requires a change in the mind. This energy may not bring peace but the ability to raise your vibration when the eleventh card turns up in a reading requires a peaceful mind. Understanding which feelings and attitudes are authentic and which of these grow in the mind as a result of rumination can bring the blessings of Justice. Mindfulness and other mental health practices require sitting in silence. This allows a person to identify intrusive and repetitive thoughts. When a person observes those thoughts it can be surprising how many of the same ones show up again and again. Many intrusive thoughts have a shameful, fearful, or angry tinge. Continuing to sit with those feelings can cause a burning in the body. The mind-body connection becomes a battle because when the thoughts are identified in the brain, the somatic aches and discomforts. Quieting this tumult internally strengthens resolves. This resolves leaks outward. External struggles become easier to deal with after a person has silently held themselves accountable for their chaos and lack of steadiness, as this is one of the hardest things to do. Once this peace, or stalemate, is being worked on; Justice feels far less volatile. Objectivity is a hallmark of living in The Justice energy. The mind and body are held in check with the self-care and the external world is met with self-critical reserve.
Because life happens, problems must be dealt with while doing this work. As this push towards internal discipline continues a person understands that peace is the goal. Here Justice is the fight and search for peace in as many areas of consciousness as possible.
Those seeking a path to equality are grateful when things work out as they should; as so much patience has been required. Gratitude is a humble form of happiness. Like contained water, it seeks its own level. In this humble state of recognizing how much rage and instability has been overcome in one's self and within conflicts with others; happiness is not sweet but nutritious. Like hearty, well-balanced meals, a diet of gratitude is necessary for functioning in an ever-changing world. So many things are taken away from each of us. A swipe of the debit card, the fall of the political or pop icon (living or dead), a car accident that destroys property and health in an instant. Sometimes, a person may realize that they have taken another person's time energy, or money in a way disagreeable to this party. Reconciliation and compromise are often painful processes.
All of these contradictory circumstances can be resolved with a balance of practical, mental, and spiritual actions. Beginning with the practical is necessary to achieve Justice. The Supreme Court hears cases based on evidence and precedent. If the holders of this office take their job seriously, they can usher in change. Ruth Beder Ginsberg and Thurgood Marshall are examples of this in US history. Millions have been positively affected by their correct judgments. When this office becomes a stronghold of power and oppressive influence, the nation mourns the unfairness. Balance is elusive but each citizen must turn the tide in the war for Justice with reason and kindness. On a deeper level, when Justice happens as a consequence of the march of history, it takes a strong group of leaders to protect it as long as it is challenged.