Judgement: Modern RWS Tarot Card Meanings
KEY XX: Judgement, Rider Waite Smith tarot deck.
Upright Judgement RWS Meanings
Keywords
Judgement, Reckoning, Awakening, Rebirth, Absolution, Calling
Element
Fire
Yes/No
Yes (follow the calling)
Generally:
A major life decision, a moment of reckoning, a spiritual awakening. A final exam result, a court verdict, a moment of profound self-realisation, a call to a new way of life.
In my opinion, Judgement is one of the most interesting cards in the Major Arcana.
In a Love Context
A major turning point in a relationship. A final decision about whether to commit or separate, a relationship "resurrected" after a difficult period, a moment of total honesty between partners.
In a Money/Career Context
A final decision about your career path. A job offer that feels like a true calling, a final performance review, the successful outcome of a major audit, a reckoning with your financial situation.
In an Intellectual Context
A moment of profound intellectual awakening. A final thesis defence, a sudden understanding of a complex subject that changes everything, a public declaration of your beliefs.
In a Spiritual Context
A spiritual calling or a moment of rebirth. A profound experience of absolution or forgiveness, hearing the call to a specific spiritual path, the resurrection of a dormant faith.
In Common Spread Positions
As Advice
It is time to make a final decision. Heed the call. Face the music and accept the consequences.
As (Ultimate) Outcome
A final, irreversible decision. A period of awakening and rebirth. A successful judgement in your favour.
As Obstacles
A fear of making a final decision is blocking progress. A refusal to face a necessary reckoning. An external judgement is holding you back.
As Hidden Energy
An unacknowledged spiritual calling. A hidden need for a total reset and rebirth.
As Resources/Alliances
Your own clear judgement. A moment of profound self-awareness. A final, positive verdict.
Judgement Reversed Meanings
Reversed Keywords
Self-Doubt, Ignoring the Call, Indecisiveness, Self-Loathing
Generally
Reversed, the Judgement card signifies a profound failure to answer the call of your higher self. Where the upright card is a resurrection, the reversed card is a refusal to leave the tomb. This manifests as a period of crippling self-doubt, indecisiveness, and a stubborn ignoring of a clear calling. It is the energy of deep, gnawing self-criticism. You are refusing to make a necessary, life-altering decision, not out of ignorance, but out of a fear of the consequences. This is a state of spiritual stagnation, where you are clinging to old, dead patterns of your life, unable to forgive yourself for past mistakes and thus unable to be "reborn" into your new, higher potential.
In a Love Context
In a love reading, the reversed Judgement card points to a significant refusal to make a final, clear decision about a relationship. The "trumpet" has sounded, and it is clear that a fundamental change is necessary, but you or your partner are ignoring the call. This can be a refusal to commit or, more commonly, a refusal to end a relationship that is clearly over. This indecision creates a toxic limbo. This card also speaks to a period of intense self-doubt that is harming a partnership. Past mistakes, old arguments, and a lack of forgiveness are being held onto, preventing any chance of a genuine resurrection of the connection.
In a Money/Career Context
In a money or career context, this card signifies a deep indecision about your career path. You are ignoring a clear calling to a new line of work, often out of fear of the financial consequences. You know your current job is a "tomb," but you are afraid to step into the unknown light. This can also manifest as a project that is stuck in a state of limbo due to a lack of a final decision. More personally, this card can represent a profound fear of a performance review or any form of "judgement," as you are engaging in crippling self-criticism and are unable to see your own worth clearly, thus blocking your own advancement.
In a Spiritual Context
Spiritually, the reversed Judgement card is a heavy and painful card. It signifies the act of ignoring a clear spiritual calling. Your higher self is calling for a profound transformation, an awakening, but your lower self is resisting out of fear. This card often points to a spiritual path that is completely blocked by self-loathing and a refusal to forgive yourself for past mistakes. You are judging yourself so harshly that you cannot accept the divine grace or absolution that is being offered. This creates a state of spiritual stagnation, a fear of the very awakening you are seeking, because you feel unworthy of it.
In Common Spread Positions
As Advice
A warning against self-doubt and indecision. It is time to stop criticising yourself and to make a choice.
As (Ultimate) Outcome
A period of frustrating indecision. A failure to act will lead to a missed opportunity. A negative judgement due to a lack of preparation.
As Obstacles
Your own crippling self-doubt is the primary hindrance. A fear of being judged is preventing you from moving forward.
As Hidden Energy
A hidden fear of failure is driving your indecision. A secret self-loathing is undermining the situation.
As Resources/Alliances
Help comes from forgiving yourself. A necessary delay in a final decision. The realisation that you are not yet ready to be judged.
The RWS Judgement in Key Card Combinations
Combinations with Major Arcana
Judgement & The World
Judgement (↑) & The World (↑): The successful completion of a major life cycle, leading to a profound sense of purpose and rebirth. A fated and successful conclusion.
Judgement (↓) & The World (↑): A successful outcome that feels empty or unfulfilling due to a lack of self-awareness. Ignoring your true calling despite achieving worldly success.
Judgement (↑) & The World (↓): A spiritual calling that is being blocked by a failure to complete a necessary cycle. A feeling of being "stuck" just before the finish line.
Judgement (↓) & The World (↓): A situation where a fear of being judged is preventing you from completing a major project. A state of stagnant indecision.
Judgement & The Hermit
Judgement (↑) & The Hermit (↑): A period of solitary introspection that leads to a major spiritual awakening. A profound insight that comes from a long search for wisdom.
Judgement (↓) & The Hermit (↑): A wise person who is crippled by self-doubt. A period of soul-searching that leads to indecision rather than clarity.
Judgement (↑) & The Hermit (↓): A spiritual calling that is being ignored in favour of a lonely and isolated existence.
Judgement (↓) & The Hermit (↓): A situation where a fear of being judged has led to a state of paranoid and bitter isolation.
Combinations with the Suit of Wands
Judgement & The Ace of Wands
Judgement (↑) & The Ace of Wands (↑): A new, creative project that feels like a true calling. A moment of inspiration that leads to a major life change.
Judgement (↓) & The Ace of Wands (↑): A brilliant new idea that is being held back by self-doubt and indecision.
Judgement (↑) & The Ace of Wands (↓): A spiritual calling that lacks the creative spark to get started. A period of rebirth that is blocked by a lack of inspiration.
Judgement (↓) & The Ace of Wands (↓): A situation of complete creative and spiritual stagnation, caused by a fear of failure.
Additional Notes On Judgement
A.E Waite’s Original ‘Judgement’ Card Meanings
Upright: "Change of position, renewal, outcome. Another account specifies a judgment in legal matters. Reversed: Weakness, pusillanimity, simplicity; also deliberation, decision, sentence." Pictorial Key To The Tarot (1911).
Question: Is Judgement the same as the Last Judgement in Christianity?
While the imagery is clearly drawn from the Christian concept of the Last Judgement, this is for the purpose of alluding to a more esoteric meaning of the “last judgement” idea. That is, is less about a final, external judgement from God and more about an internal moment of reckoning, where one's own higher self calls the lower self to account, leading to a personal "resurrection" into a new state of awareness.
Meditations On The ‘Judgement’ Card
What is my true calling, and am I listening to it? What past action do I need to forgive myself for? If I were to make a final, honest judgement of my current situation, what would it be?
