Judgement – Rider-Waite-Smith

Major Arcana XX · Correspondence: Fire

Judgement Tarot Card Meaning

Upright keywords

awakeninginner callingrebirthforgiveness

Reversed keywords

self-criticismdoubtignoring the call

Judgement upright

Judgement sounds like a trumpet waking you up. This card heralds a moment of deep clarity, when you look at your life with perspective and understand the meaning of what you've lived through. It isn't a judgement that punishes, but a rebirth: the chance to leave old guilt behind, forgive yourself and start again with greater awareness. You may feel an inner calling, a vocation or a desire to live in a way that's more in tune with who you are today. This arcanum asks you to answer that voice. It also speaks of important decisions made from maturity rather than fear. Look back on your story with compassion: every experience has brought you here. Now you can get up, dust yourself off and walk towards a fuller, more authentic version of yourself.

Judgement reversed

Reversed, Judgement can mean that you hear the call but hesitate to answer, out of fear or because you don't feel ready. It can also reflect excessive self-criticism that keeps you from moving forward, or difficulty forgiving yourself for past mistakes. This position encourages you to be kinder to yourself. You don't need to be perfect to be reborn; all it takes is giving yourself permission to start again, with who you are today.

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More about Judgement in the Sibilana Tarot Guide

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