Hanging in the balance - Margarete Petersen’s Justice

Decks vary as to where Justice is placed – sometimes at number 8, sometimes at 11, and sometimes somewhere else!  But Margarete Petersen has chosen to place her version of the card at 8.

Justice (trimmed): ©Margarete Petersen Tarot

 

Here we have Ma’at and her scales – balancing, adjusting...   No bolt-upright sword (as far as I can see), as often seen in depictions of Justice, but there does seem to be a mirroring of light and dark (although not 50-50!). Not at all black and white, or straight.  “The karmic law of cause and effect”, writes Margarete Petersen, and “A lively process, ensuring balance.”  I like the use of the word ‘lively’ here – rather than it being a static thing, it’s a reminder that we constantly have to make adjustments in order to keep our balance.

 

The astrological link to Libra seems obvious!

 

Scales of justice, blind

Without bias, relentless,
 Maintaining balance. 


Margarete Petersen Tarot, AGM-URANIA, 2004.