TEMPLE artefact #014
#11 Justice final version, art by Rian Hughes
XI. JUSTICE
KEY WORDS –- BALANCE. EQUILIBRIUM. FAIR JUDGMENT.
Justice is Trump 11 of the Major Arcana.
The image is built around two triangles, one pointing down, the other up, overlapping to create a central diamond shape, where the point of the lower triangle is at the hara centre, a couple of inches below the navel. (there is a concealed vesica pisces here, two hologram-like overlapping circles implied by the composition).
In the Thoth Tarot ‘Adjustment’, Crowley’s version of the ‘Justice’ card, this figure looks like a prototype Batman, so I’d like to maintain that and even amplify the superheroic overtones to suit our approach.
Justice wears a mask that resembles a blindfold with a pointed nose guard, like Batman’s mask minus the eyeholes.
Her head is slightly tilted upward, and her expression suggest satisfaction. Hers is an inwardly turned concentration.
From the hood that covers her head, a single resplendent and graceful OSTRICH plume sweeps upwards from her brow.
Justice wears a black, form-fitting superhero jumpsuit with blue highlights and piping. Her long cape, draped to the glittering surface below, is trimmed with OSTRICH feathers, (thick around the shoulders).
To really emphasise the idea of Balance central to the card, our Justice performs a seemingly impossible feat –
Her hands are clasped in front of her around the ornate pommel of a long ceremonial broadsword, with its tip pointing down.
This sword is the ACE OF SWORDS from the minor arcana – the superweapon of the intellectual faculty. This is the Sword of Swords, point downward to imply supreme concentration.
Big, black, the grip is a coiled snake, with two crescent moon shapes. A RUBY set in a circle where the blade meets the handle. The ebony blade is etched with BINARY CODE ones and zeroes.
The tip is poised on the summit of that GLITTERBALL that shows up now and again, representing here the material world – here we can see the top hemispherical curve rising from the bottom of the card.
What gives us the truly uncanny sensation of perfect poise is this – Justice grips the sword in both hands. The flat of the blade pressed against her body, held between her thighs - but her legs are bent double at the knees, folded in half – and it’s almost that pose Batman does, perching on a gargoyle, quivering like a hunting dog as he scans for trouble – but the flat rubber soles of her boots are pressed against the razor EDGES of the sword!
It’s as if she’s riding this huge black and silver Stormbringer of a weapon like a pogo stick, caught at the precise moment of perfect upright balance!
The slightest tilt might upset the balance of the universe!
Except her cloak hangs to the ground where its hem touches the glitterball. It’s clearly not in motion, draped in symmetrical lines at either side. She is balanced there, like some improbable ninja.
Justice poised impossibly on the point of the sword!
The Libra scales of justice rise up behind her, their pans hanging from three chains on either side.
At the top central pivot of the balance is the astrological sign for VENUS – the circle with cross at the bottom – while the crossbar of the scales resembles the WINGS of the goddess Maat as seen in Egyptian depictions.
On the tip of the wing, where the panes are connected by chains, we see a Hebrew letter Aleph on our left and Lamek on the right.
The pan on our left, Justice’s right, has, inscribed in it, a Greek ‘alpha’ Α – the one on her left, our right has an ‘omega’ Ω.
In the pan on the left, a HEART graphic is being weighed against the BLUE FEATHER in the pan on our right.
In the background, above Justice’s head and shoulders is a streaming light effect, a little like the stargate effect from 2001. Smears of light seem to blast out in a tunneling perspective that creates a kind of halo effect of lights.
The colour scheme is blue and green.
Through the slashing lines of Justice’s cape, we have glimpses of the lining within - a Harlequin pattern of green red yellow and black lozenges hinting at the connection of Justice to the Fool.
“Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the OSTRICH?”
My House is *full* of Ostrich Feathers.