The Concepts of Justice and Injustice

The concept of Justice both in Tarot (XI) and in society more widely is often misunderstood. When people think of Justice they tend to think of right and wrong, or virtue and vice, they tend to perceive Justice as being inherently good and Injustice as inherently evil but this isn't necessarily the case and the reason for that is complex.

Justice is not a question of morality; that is a statement which might anger you or make you feel perturbed to read, it might be something you immediately begin to formulate arguments against but in order to survive in the modern world you need to understand this concept in its entirety. I do single out the modern world here because in this age of information where we have access to news and updates from around the world, we are more aware today of injustices being committed than we have ever been. I see the news reports, I see the comments on social media, I hear the message people express so I know the argument you'll already be forming against my statement but my response is that your argument is misplaced.

HALT - Hungry Angry Lonely Tired

HALT is an acronym formed from the abbreviation of the words "Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired" and is one of a set of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) tools used for introspection and reframing when we want to try to understand what we are feeling, why we feel that way, and how we can communicate that state to others.

The King of Pentacles

Representing the paternal nature; the King of Pentacles represents the consumption of the soul by wealth. Here the belief is asserted that the limits of our physical world are determined by how much of our spiritual self we draw upon; with the sacrifice of wealth necessary as precondition to the acquisition of wealth – you have to spend money to make money – the burden of loss although offset by the gains does not decrease as those gains are consumed. What is given up is never returned in the form it was given but rather it is transformed forever.

In the upright state the King of Pentacles represents a warning to understand exactly what we ask for, before we ask for it, lest you get everything you want and have it not be at all what you expected.

In the inverted state the King of Pentacles represents fixation and the replacement of concerns about how to gain wealth with concerns about how to prevent its loss. In the inverted state the King of Pentacles is a warning to the miser and those who seek wealth to horde it, that the Universe provides more ways to lose wealth than it does to gain it; your energy will be expended far quicker attempting to safeguard your wealth once acquired than the total sum needed to acquire it in the first place. Unearned wealth is lost with ease, however that which is earned leaves a lasting impact not least of all because the effort expended to acquire it fundamentally changes us in the process.

The Queen of Pentacles

Representing the maternal nature; the Queen of Pentacles represents the burden of wealth created by obligation. The Queen of Pentacles represents the distribution of wealth and the attempt to mediate a conscience when determining who would benefit most from the wealth we distribute.

In the upright state the Queen of Pentacles represents the recognition that wealth attained but not shared makes those who horde that wealth culpable for the lost potential and deprivation that results from their inaction. The Queen of Pentacles has no desire to horde wealth, but rather focuses on the potential it holds.

In the inverted state the Queen of Pentacles represents the limit of our benevolence and the understanding that not all problems can be solved, not all requests can be met, our judgement must be used to determine who would benefit most, and subsequently the choice we make further burdens us with responsibility for the outcome of our actions and inactions.

The Knight of Pentacles

Representing discipline; the Knight of Pentacles represents the recognition of progress and achievement, as well as an understanding of the need to pass on our legacy to others. The Knight of Pentacles represents an authority figure who wishes to teach others who desire to achieve what they have done.

In the upright state the Knight of Pentacles represents a prompt to share our wealth with those who seek to further their own, to impart knowledge and wisdom and to relate our experience to help guide them on their journey; a prompt to assume the role of mentor and provide guidance when it is asked of us by others.

In the inverted state the Knight of Pentacles represents what is still unknown to us, the mystery and intrigue of the material realm, and a recognition of the limit of our understanding. The inverted Knight asks us to accept our ignorance so that we may open our minds to the opportunity to learn from others in turn.

The Page of Pentacles

Representing study; the Page of Pentacles represents reflection upon the wealth we have gained with a particular focus on the journey that wealth has taken from inception to completion. The Page of Pentacles is often a sign or prompt to consider what lessons can be learned from our past triumphs and how those can be applied to our future endeavours.

In the upright state the Page of Pentacles focuses specifically on the wealth itself and this journey it has taken, noting the evolution in form and the change in significance that results from this transformation.

In the inverted state however the Page of Pentacles focuses on ourselves and how the journey to obtain that wealth has changed us, the evolution within us, and the significance of this transformation, whether we succeeded in achieving the goals we set out now becomes irrelevant instead we take toll of the journey and count the cost of our endeavours.

The 10 of Pentacles

Representing completion; the 10 of Pentacles represents the end of the physical journey with the achievement of manifestation. Here the concept of manifestation represents the formation of an idea, the implementation, cultivation, production, and consumption within the physical realm.

In the upright state the 10 of Pentacles represents a return on investment, or a period of time to consume the fruit of our labour. The emphasis here is not placed on the idea of ending in the sense of termination, but in the sense of a cessation of movement – no further forward momentum is needed for now.

In the inverted state the 10 of Pentacles represents unmet expectations. Our forward momentum has ceased but the outcome is not exactly as we had envisioned. Here the emphasis is placed on making the most of what was achieved rather than seeking to prolong the journey further.