Major Arcana
The archangel Gabriel blows a trumpet from the clouds while the dead rise from their coffins in answer to the divine call. A cross on the red and white banner marks the sacred occasion. Judgement speaks of awakening, absolution, calling, and the moment of reckoning when we hear our soul's deepest purpose.
Upright
Reversed
Quick meaning
Judgement represents the archangel Gabriel blows a trumpet from the clouds while the dead rise from their coffins in answer to the divine call. A cross on the red and white banner marks the sacred occasion. Judgement speaks of awakening, absolution, calling, and the moment of reckoning when we hear our soul's deepest purpose.
Use the symbol
In a yes or no tarot reading, Judgement is best read through its condition. Upright, it points toward Judgement, Self-evaluation, Awakening, Renewal. Reversed, it suggests Indecisiveness, Self-doubt, Malicious gossip, Lack of self-awareness. The answer depends on whether the situation is moving with the upright lesson or stuck in the reversed pattern.
As advice, Judgement asks you to work with the card's main lesson rather than react from fear. Start with the upright meaning: In a general context, the Judgement Tarot card can indicate that you and/or someone you care about are being judged too harshly by others.
As feelings, Judgement can describe someone experiencing the card's emotional tone. In love readings, its upright energy is: In a love Tarot spread, if you are in a relationship, Judgement can indicate that you or your partner may be judging each other too harshly.
Reversed, Judgement points to what may be blocked, avoided, or expressed in a harder way. Use the reversed meaning as a prompt to slow down and address Indecisiveness, Self-doubt, Malicious gossip, Lack of self-awareness.
Energy in motion
In a general context, the Judgement Tarot card can indicate that you and/or someone you care about are being judged too harshly by others. It can also indicate that you are judging people harshly or making snap judgements yourself. Alternatively, Judgement can also be an indication that you have achieved a level of clarity and composure that allows you to calmly evaluate yourself and your choices in order to make positive decisions. You have come through your past karmic lessons with increased self-awareness and you are allowing healing to take place so you can move forward in a positive direction. If you have a big decision to make when this Major Arcana card appears, use the karmic lessons you have learnt from the past to help you make the right choice. Judgement upright can represent a legal matter or court case being resolved. If you have acted honourably and told the truth, this matter should be resolved in your favour. If you have been dishonest, don’t expect things to go your way. You need to clear your conscience and try to make amends for your misdeeds. This Major Arcana card can also signify being separated from someone you love by an ocean or sea. You can expect to be reunited with them soon when it appears. It can also indicate homesickness.
In a love Tarot spread, if you are in a relationship, Judgement can indicate that you or your partner may be judging each other too harshly. Be wary of throwing blame or accusations at each other during arguments to try and provoke a reaction, you may do more damage to your relationship than you mean to. Instead try to sit down and talk through how you are feeling without trying to apportion blame. You need to forgive past mistakes if you want the relationship to move forward. You may be able to breathe new life into a relationship that’s falling flat with simple, open and honest communication. It can also indicate that others are judging your relationship or talking about you and your partner behind your back. The best thing you can do in this instance is rise above it. It’s really their issue, not yours. Alternatively, Judgement can signify being separated from someone you love by an ocean or sea so it may indicate that you and your partner could be living in separate countries for a while or having a long distance relationship. If you are single, judgement tells you not to be too hasty in judging potential partners. Give yourself a chance to get to know them before you decide if they are right or wrong for you. It also reminds you to be mindful of how you come across as you never get a second chance to make a first impression!
In a career Tarot reading, Judgement can be an indication that you are being assessed or evaluated. You may be in the running for a promotion and not even know it. Be careful how you represent yourself when this card is in your reading, you are being watched. If you’ve been letting projects slide lately, now is the time to pick up the slack before you lose an opportunity. Financially speaking, Judgment tells you to be careful with money and not to make snap judgements. Make sure you have all the information you need to make an informed decision before making any big purchases or investments. It can also indicate a loss in a lawsuit so don’t do anything that could be negligent or lead to trouble like dangerous driving and make sure any insurance you need to have is up to date.
In a health context, Judgement can signify a period of healing and wholeness after a difficult illness. You have come through the tough times, learned from them and you are ready and willing to take all necessary steps to help you on the road to recovery.
Use tarot for reflection only; it does not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or care.
In a spiritual context, Judgement signifies spiritual awakening. You have learned the karmic lessons of the past and you now understand what the universe has been guiding you to. You are ready to take a more enlightened spiritual path. The Judgement Tarot card can indicate that you have found your spiritual calling or may be going through a spiritual rebirth or renewal.
Energy under tension
In a general context, the Judgement Tarot card reversed can signify that you are allowing fear and self-doubt to hold you back from making the decisions necessary to move forward in a positive direction. Now is the time to take action. If you delay you may lose the opportunities available to you. Alternately, this Major Arcana card in a reversed position can be a sign that you may be refusing to learn the karmic lessons of the past. Or you may be reproaching yourself for past mistakes so much that you are unable to see the lessons to be learned from those mistakes. Judgement reversed can also be a sign that you are taking your focus off your own shortcomings by being overly critical of others or engaging in malicious gossip. This will only lead you to trouble, try to put the focus back on fixing the issues in your own life rather than judging other people for their mistakes. It can also indicate that others are being overly judgemental or critical of you or blaming you for something that wasn’t your fault. Don’t let those people influence your decisions, rise above the drama and focus on doing what you want to do. Judgement reversed can also indicate that a legal matter or court case will be resolved but in an unjust or unfair manner.
If you are in a relationship, Judgement reversed can indicate that you are avoiding making a decision about the relationship because of self-doubt. Whether this decision is about the relationship moving forward or ending, it is a decision that needs to be made. Judgement reversed can also indicate malicious gossip or false accusations so if you have heard nasty rumours about your partner, make sure you get the facts before you rush to judgement. The Judgement Tarot card reversed can also indicate issues caused by failure to learn from the past. Perhaps you and your partner have been through a rough patch and you feel like you should be closer now but you’re not. Ask yourself have you learned all you could from those past issues and are you applying that knowledge to your relationship? If you are single, Judgement reversed can indicate that you are letting shyness or embarrassment stop you from approaching the person you are interested in. Don’t let fear hold you back! Whether or not it works out the way you want it to, at least you’ll know you tried and you won’t have to forever wonder “what if?”
Judgement reversed shows that you are at a turning point in your career and this time could make or break you in terms of success. You need to make a decision but you are paralysed by self-doubt. This is not a time for indecisiveness. You need to seize the opportunities available to you. If you let them slip by you may regret it. In a financial context, don’t be overly cautious with money. That’s not to suggest you should go wild and blow all your money at a casino but loosening the purse strings a little bit won’t kill you. You may find yourself deliberating endlessly about every purchase, if it’s something you need and you can afford it, just buy it! It’s good to be financially responsible but you don’t have to fret about every penny you spend.
In a health context, if you suffer from a long-term illness or injury, Judgement reversed may be telling you to let go of any old negativity especially if it’s relating to someone who may have caused or contributed to your injury or illness. Holding onto negativity will only make your recovery more difficult. You have to accept where you are and let go of the past if you want to move forward.
Use tarot for reflection only; it does not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or care.
In a spiritual context, Judgement reversed signifies that you are missing or refusing to learn your karmic lessons. If you don’t learn them the universe will bring them back to you bigger and bolder. Give yourself time to absorb these lessons so you can move forward in a positive way.
Cards in conversation
Together, Judgement and The Fool blend the lesson of judgement with the energy of the fool. This pairing asks you to read the cards as a relationship between the central theme and the fool stands at the edge of a cliff, knapsack over his shoulder, gazing upward with youthful abandon.
Together, Judgement and The Magician blend the lesson of judgement with the energy of the magician. This pairing asks you to read the cards as a relationship between the central theme and the magician stands before a table bearing all four suit symbols — wand, cup, sword, and pentacle — one hand raised to the heavens and one pointing...
Together, Judgement and The High Priestess blend the lesson of judgement with the energy of the high priestess. This pairing asks you to read the cards as a relationship between the central theme and the high priestess sits between two pillars — boaz and jachin — at the threshold of the sacred temple.
Clarify the card
In a general context, the Judgement Tarot card can indicate that you and/or someone you care about are being judged too harshly by others. It can also indicate that you are judging people harshly or making snap judgements yourself. Alternatively, Judgement can also be an indication that you have achieved a level of clarity and composure that allows you to calmly evaluate yourself and your choices in order to make positive decisions. You have come through your past karmic lessons with increased self-awareness and you are allowing healing to take place so you can move forward in a positive direction. If you have a big decision to make when this Major Arcana card appears, use the karmic lessons you have learnt from the past to help you make the right choice. Judgement upright can represent a legal matter or court case being resolved. If you have acted honourably and told the truth, this matter should be resolved in your favour. If you have been dishonest, don’t expect things to go your way. You need to clear your conscience and try to make amends for your misdeeds. This Major Arcana card can also signify being separated from someone you love by an ocean or sea. You can expect to be reunited with them soon when it appears. It can also indicate homesickness.
In a general context, the Judgement Tarot card reversed can signify that you are allowing fear and self-doubt to hold you back from making the decisions necessary to move forward in a positive direction. Now is the time to take action. If you delay you may lose the opportunities available to you. Alternately, this Major Arcana card in a reversed position can be a sign that you may be refusing to learn the karmic lessons of the past. Or you may be reproaching yourself for past mistakes so much that you are unable to see the lessons to be learned from those mistakes. Judgement reversed can also be a sign that you are taking your focus off your own shortcomings by being overly critical of others or engaging in malicious gossip. This will only lead you to trouble, try to put the focus back on fixing the issues in your own life rather than judging other people for their mistakes. It can also indicate that others are being overly judgemental or critical of you or blaming you for something that wasn’t your fault. Don’t let those people influence your decisions, rise above the drama and focus on doing what you want to do. Judgement reversed can also indicate that a legal matter or court case will be resolved but in an unjust or unfair manner.
In a love Tarot spread, if you are in a relationship, Judgement can indicate that you or your partner may be judging each other too harshly. Be wary of throwing blame or accusations at each other during arguments to try and provoke a reaction, you may do more damage to your relationship than you mean to. Instead try to sit down and talk through how you are feeling without trying to apportion blame. You need to forgive past mistakes if you want the relationship to move forward. You may be able to breathe new life into a relationship that’s falling flat with simple, open and honest communication. It can also indicate that others are judging your relationship or talking about you and your partner behind your back. The best thing you can do in this instance is rise above it. It’s really their issue, not yours. Alternatively, Judgement can signify being separated from someone you love by an ocean or sea so it may indicate that you and your partner could be living in separate countries for a while or having a long distance relationship. If you are single, judgement tells you not to be too hasty in judging potential partners. Give yourself a chance to get to know them before you decide if they are right or wrong for you. It also reminds you to be mindful of how you come across as you never get a second chance to make a first impression!
In a career Tarot reading, Judgement can be an indication that you are being assessed or evaluated. You may be in the running for a promotion and not even know it. Be careful how you represent yourself when this card is in your reading, you are being watched. If you’ve been letting projects slide lately, now is the time to pick up the slack before you lose an opportunity. Financially speaking, Judgment tells you to be careful with money and not to make snap judgements. Make sure you have all the information you need to make an informed decision before making any big purchases or investments. It can also indicate a loss in a lawsuit so don’t do anything that could be negligent or lead to trouble like dangerous driving and make sure any insurance you need to have is up to date.
The Judgement is best read by context in yes or no questions. Upright, it points toward Judgement, Self-evaluation, Awakening, Renewal. Reversed, it suggests Indecisiveness, Self-doubt, Malicious gossip, Lack of self-awareness.
Put this symbol in context
A one-card reading gives you one focused message to work with now—no sign-up required.
