11 Justice

Number 11  All pervading universal law

This card addresses directly the immutable Laws of the Universe; laws of cause and effect, and of the irreversible verdicts that proceed from actions in the past – what has been sewn shall be reaped. Her eyes are open – no blind justice here – all is seen and nothing escapes her notice. If God knows our every thought, as is stated in the Bible, and punishment and reward is carried out by God, then the idea is not a foreign one at all, but central to the belief of every religion. Whether thought of as God, Shiva, Allah – or Justice as a conscious power in itself, the Law is constantly and continually in action and enforcement, no one escapes or circumvents it due to any belief system. The only protection we have therefore from it's scathing 'Wheel of Sharp Weapons', as it's termed in the Vajrayana Buddhist texts, is to walk 'in the Dharma' – that is, in such a way that we do not incur negative results from our thoughts and actions. In order to fully understand what is required to reach such a state and bring all of our karmas to rest, one must become a student of a school who's teachings contain a complete and comprehensive accounting of such matters - such as the Mahayana or Vajrayana, or perhaps a study of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras – who's central tenet of 'taking refuge in the Dharma' is studied and put into practice to infinite detail. Only when we've neutralized our negative acts and thoughts from the past and stay clear in the present - can we step into the free air, and begin the steep ascent into pure consciousness. We'll then be rid forever of the normal malaise of sorrows that nearly everyone nurtures and carries throughout life. That this is even to be considered as a possibility is shunned out of hand by most, as most people cherish their sufferings, and protect its continuation. To achieve or even to strive toward such a state is thought of as 'not to be human', or boring, and the notion is instantly dropped.

So this card deals not only with the heart of Karma, but with the heart of the entire Tarot, as it must be kept in mind that the Tarot is a a pictorial guideline to walking on the spiritual path, (the Tao, the Dharma) and walking the path means to be ever aimed at a more perfect condition of being, bringing less and less suffering upon ourselves, and thus upon others. That there exist treatises such as the ones mentioned above, and testimonials of those who have completed the journey should be enough to tell us that we may as well open our minds entirely to the possibility of our completing the journey ourselves, why only go halfway? Seen in this sense we will come to realize Justice not as a foe, but as our greatest ally; if we can be sure to be punished for our transgressions, then we can be equally sure to be rewarded for our progress.

Of course anything said on this subject in this writing will be of necessity oversimplified – it's only a curt guideline to the comprehension of the nature of the card. As was stated on the 'Wheel of Fortune' page, we're now contemplating the mystery of all mysteries – karma, enlightenment - and a lifetime of observation and practice will be required to bring it into realization. What else have we got to do?

By Ananda G. Brady copyright 2011