Judgement Path 31 on the Tree of Life

Judgement walks Path 31, called the Path of Shin connecting the Sefirot of Hod (Splendor) to Malkhut (Kingdom) on the Tree of Life.  

Judgement’s journey through the Tree of Life represents the process of rebirth and renewal, as well as the power of divine intervention in our lives. The path of Judgement teaches us to find renewal during change, to trust in the natural order of the universe, and to have faith in the power of divine intervention in our lives.

This path is one of relationships, a that releases and stimulates energies within our life so that we can truly discover our relationships to others – and what they say about ourselves.  It provides the energy to stimulate vision of what needs to be transformed and renewed.  It will also increase the will to endure, It can activate a trial by fire we must all go through in our quest for the higher.  Fire destroys and creates, for from its ashes we can always rise like the phoenix.  Using the Judgment card with path working can also add to the trial by fire.  It can manifest situations that force and activate greater choice in our mission in life.  These situations will reveal unwanted ties and uncover the blessings of the divine operating within our lives.

Benefits: Energy for transformation, clarification of relationships, idealism, truths revealed, opportunity for renewal, balance of give and take.

The Hebrew letter representing this path is Shin.

Shin relates with the idea of a tooth but also represents the element of fire.  It speaks towards the human ability to change and be changed by everything in life within us and our environments throughout all of time.  Further both a tooth and fire are symbols of the force which breaks down and transmits energy from one state to another.  This is thus that transformation, the breaking down of something in order to change its form.  Whether it be breaking down food to transform it into something our bodies can digest or firing clay to solidify it into a pot.  For us this speaks to balance of opposing states and extremes.

In her book Kabbala Pathworking, Sandy Anastasi suggests some of the areas Path 31 can helps us work on include: Increased energy; Fortitude, the ability to keep moving forward under any conditions or circumstances; Objectivity; Putting your emotions 'in order', and learning to rise above them when necessary, freedom from 'emotional fetters'; Personal empowerment; Recognizing the inherent balance in all things; Finding your 'Center'.

Andy Matzner, in his book Tarot for Transformation, Using the Major Arcana to Discover Your Best Self and Create a Life Worth Living says of Judgement:

There are only two ways to life your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle.

The other is as though everything is a miracle. Albert Einstein

He says: The Judgement card is one that, for me at least, has typically belied a straightforward interpretation. On the surface, it clearly references the 'last judgement'. the end of time during which those who are selected rise to join Christ in his heavenly kingdom, while the remainder suffer in hell. The sound of the trumpet calls the dead to their accounting and each will be judged accordingly both by their faith as well as their good deeds.

However after reviewing Arthur Edward Waite's commentary in his book The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, he says: What strikes me are the three figures in the foreground of the Judgement card: the couple from the Lovers and Devil cards, only now with a child between them. This calls to mind the integration not only of opposites but also of our inner child (the work of the Sun card), as well as the acceptance of our shadow aspects (the work of the Moon card). There are three additional complementary figures in the background, which reinforces the idea of a fragmented self drawn to the unifying call of the trumpet. The water represents the unconscious; the bodies rising out of coffins floating on its surface emphasizes the Jungian goal of becoming aware of the forces that drive us. No longer on automatic pilot, our conscious self is now informed by discernment, which means 'to judge well'. We see things as they are without being hobbled by our past conditioning. Instead of reacting, we respond.

He suggests the importance of 'Living in Gratitude and in the Service of Others'

In his book The Soul's Journey, Finding Spiritual Messages in the Tarot, James Ricklef says of Judgement:

The practice of forgiveness is our most important contribution to the healing of the world. Marianne Williamson

This card can signify hearing a call, awakening to a higher truth or reality, or a metaphorical resurrection. It also is concerned with the issue of forgiveness. This may seem ironic given its title, but everything is about its opposite, so the issues of judging and forgiving are inextricably linked.

One of the ways he suggests one might wish to use his book is to do a daily draw and review the basic messages and then consider one of the messages for the card as a lesson or insight to keep in mind throughout the day. In the case of Judgement the messages to choose from are: The call to awaken; The Universal Mind; Waking up from self-judgment; Show me the way; Your inner light calls others from the dark; Judge not..; Misunderstanding judgement; Release judgement and be reborn into Spirit.

Do any of these speak to you right now?

While both Andy Matzner and Sandy Anastasi focus only on the Major Arcana, James Ricklef also has information on the Minor Arcana. Since I chose a card for each of the Sephirot I thought I'd share some of his information on these too.

Page of Cups: This card indicates a childlike enchantment with the mysteries of life, new explorations of imagination and intuition, and simplicity and innocence in a relationship. It also denotes emotional inexperience or naivete. His messages to consider with the Page of Cups are: Embracing mysteries; Eternal mysteries of the heart; Imagination and intuition and Innocent love.

2 of Swords: The Two of Swords is about duality, choices, decisions, and balanced ideas. It also can indicate a need for objectivity, a willingness to compromise in the interest of fairness and harmony, and an awareness that there are two sides to every story. His messages to consider with the Two of Swords are: Polarity; A Quiet listening; Decisions and Choices about existence and reality.

Where will your journey take you?