20 – Judgment
Since Christianity was deeply embedded in the art and culture of Europe at the time tarot emerged, it is understandable that the term “Judgment” was interpreted in the religious sense of a final, divine sorting of the righteous from the damned. This reference has remained fairly constant throughout the history of the card.
Although the concept of the dead being “awakened” during the Last Judgment aligns with the sense of metaphorical awakening this card symbolizes, I think the emphasis on judgment coming from above does not. The purpose of judgment in this card is to reevaluate one’s past in order to correct mistakes and move forward with greater wisdom.
In the Jewish tradition, the living are called to judgment each year at Rosh Hashanah. During the ten days that follow, individuals reflect on their actions and seek atonement before Yom Kippur, when their names are said to be inscribed in either the Book of Life or the Book of Death.
I believe this concept of judgment aligns more closely with the card’s meaning.
Whether or not one believes in divine judgment, the practice of periodic reflection can have a profound effect on personal growth. That process requires one to have a past to look back on. We need history to perceive patterns. We need to have lived in order to have a life upon which to reflect.
In my concept for this card, I wanted to express the sense of accretion and transition that occurs with age. As we proceed on our journey through life, we experience joy, but also regret. We regret missed opportunities, bad decisions, and moments of weakness. It is only with time that we can put these in perspective, weigh the outcomes in a broader context, and acknowledge the lessons these experiences have taught us.
With this sense of self-reflection in mind, I created this card using a single person: myself. I used photographs taken throughout my life to represent the stages of growth from childhood through maturity.
At age three, my focus was inward. Children arrive in a complex world and must learn to navigate it while getting acquainted with themselves. They are open to new experiences, yet inherently self-absorbed.
As a young girl, I read a book under the lilac tree that bloomed in late spring outside my bedroom window, filling the room with its intoxicating scent. Later childhood is a time of learning and curiosity, a chance to experience the wider world without risk.
In my moody teenage years, I began to look outward, longing for independence while still enjoying the benefits of being provided for by adults. The cat in my arms presages the nurturing I show to my daughter as I hold her in my arms as a young mother. She is the center of my universe.
As a woman in the last chapter of my life, I do not look back at what is past. There is no need; it is embedded in my memory and woven through my identity. The winding wall I sit on is the snake of my life, its sinuous curves locked in stone. Its course cannot be changed. Instead, I look to the future, to the years left to me. I cannot know if, how, or by whom my life will be judged, but I need not judge myself. I distill my shame and regret into wisdom and my joy into gratitude.
This card of Judgment is about seeing one’s life journey with clarity. It is about self-knowledge, accepting responsibility, and ultimately, forgiveness.
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