Justice Major Arcana XI · tarot card meaning
- Sign
- Libra
- Hebrew letter
- Lamed
- Yes or no
- It depends
Justice upright
Justice means an account settled by what was actually done. It may be a fair division, a consequence, or both sides being heard. Look at her face. She looks straight outward, which almost nothing else in this deck does.
Yes or no: It depends on the facts, not the wish. Justice answers only once the balance is weighed fairly.
Justice reversed
Reversed, Justice points to judgment distorted by bias or excessive severity. One side may be favored, or a history may omit its difficult parts. The sword stays raised while the scales lose fairness.
Yes or no: No, not as it stands. Reversed, the scale is tipped, and a fair answer is not there yet.
The card at a glance
- Attribution
- System
- First printed
- Themes
- truth, balance, power
What is shown
A crowned figure sits between two grey pillars. A purple curtain closes the space behind the throne. The right hand raises a straight sword. The left holds balanced scales. Red cloth covers a green undergarment. One white shoe appears beneath the robe. A square clasp and square jewel repeat the throne's geometry.
- Number
- XI
- Yes or no
- Yes
Justice upright
La Force meets the lion with calm hands rather than violence. It represents courage, disciplined desire, and strength gathered for a challenge.
Yes or no: Yes. La Force shows enough courage and control to meet the challenge.
Justice reversed
Reversed, control becomes strain or begins to slip. Inner conflict can distort how much force the situation really requires.
Yes or no: Not yet. Reversed, the balance between power and restraint is unstable.
La Force is read in its Marseille title, image, and position; its RWS link is a structural cross-reference, not permission to replace the card's identity.
The card at a glance
- Printed title
- LA FORCE
- Printed number
- XI
- Pattern
- Edition
- Themes
- truth, balance, power
- Deck
- Tarot de Marseille: Strength (La Force)
What is shown
A woman in a broad, curling hat stands over a shaggy lion. Both hands grip its jaws at close range. She carries no visible weapon, armour, or shield. The animal's body disappears below the frame.
- Attribution
- Tulio (11)
- Yes or no
- Not yet
Justice upright
Tulio lifts a small flame to eye level while carrying a long staff. The scene supports close examination of a volatile idea or signal.
Yes or no: Not yet. Tulio is still examining the signal before making a larger claim.
Justice reversed
Reversed, fascination replaces examination or the small light is treated as complete evidence. Attention narrows around one compelling sign.
Yes or no: No. Reversed, fascination has replaced a complete assessment.
Tulio carries no RWS major identity here; its meaning comes from its place in the Sola Busca trumps alone.
The card at a glance
- Attribution
- Tulio (11)
- Workshop
- First documented
- c. 1491
- Themes
- truth, balance, power
- Deck
- Sola Busca: Tulio (11)
What is shown
Tulio turns upward toward a flame held in his raised right hand. He wears layered violet, green, and white clothing and carries a long red staff. A small curved object hangs behind his hip.
Questions
What does Justice mean?
Truth, consequence, and a fair accounting. Justice means an account settled by what was actually done.
What does Justice mean reversed?
Reversed, Justice points to judgment distorted by bias or excessive severity.
Is Justice a yes or no card?
It depends upright, no reversed. On the facts, not the wish.
What is shown on Justice?
A crowned figure sits between two grey pillars.
