"I have said that this symbol is essentially invariablein all Tarot sets,or
at least the variations do not alter its character. The great angel is here
encompassed by clouds, but he blows his bannered trumpet, and the cross as
usual is displayed on the banner. The dead are rising from their tombs--a
woman on the right, a man on the left hand, and between them their child,
whose back is turned. But in this card there are more than three who are
restored, and it has been thought worth while to make this variation as
illustrating the insufficiency of current explanations. It should be noted
that all the figures are as one in the wonder, adoration and ecstacy expressed
by their attitudes. It is the card which registers the accomplishment of the
great work of transformation in answer to the summons of the Supernal--which
summons is heard and answered from within.
Herein is the intimation of a significance which cannot well be carried
further in the present place. What is that within us which does sound s
atrumpet and all that is lower in our nature rises in response-- almost in a
moment, almost in the twinkling of an eye? Let the card continue to depict,
for those who can see no further, the last Judgment and the resurrection in
the natural body; but let those whose who have inward eys look and discover
therewith. They will understand that it has been called truly in the past a
card of eternal life, and for this reason it may be compared with that which
passes under the name of Temperance."
A.E.Waite
Judgement
In one deck there is the picture of the phoenix rising from the fire and that
image is always in my mind no matter what deck i am using..for in this card we
find both the reminder that perhaps we need to really work at change or
perhaps we find that change is there- is now. One is reborn- maybe not
totally, or maybe totally. We are awoken from the dead- from the sombulence
that has kept us from seeing outside our own confines.
We see bodies on the card that are naked- rebirth, the figures are rising from
their coffins- back into the light they emerge, looking up at the angel
(Gabriel?) who harkens them to hear their inner selves, their inner voice.
Look at the position of the arms of each person in the card-- the woman
receives directly the vibrations made from Gabriel's horn (note that there are
seven rays coming down- a number we see often) - the child has its arms wide
open, the male, more reserved. One author indicates that the male is self-
concsious- the child and female completely open to receive the divine energy.
When you read for someone try to note which figure catches your attention as
this may help you provide insight to the issue at hand- what is needed
perhaps, what is going on.
One thing that is sure- this is a new beginning- all that has been has led to
a rebirth and a time to move forward- no longer in the dark. The blue
background indicates the consciousness at various levels and the clouds the
veils that we've seen between the various levels of conscious.
Besides being naked, the people are grey- as if they are not angels, not
animal- but transformed...each with yellow hair- the sun's illumination on
them. The angel has red wings- symobolizing the Spirit's fire energy,
although Gariel the messenger is connected with water as an element.
In divination look at what is going on that is either through a cycle of
rebirth, and is now emerging with spriit and body joined, or perhaps what is
needed to reach that state? The word 'judgment' has several connotations- and
while this is sometimes association with 'judgment day'- a day of reckoning,
often it indicates that part of ourselves or others that is passing judgment-
being judgmental. What is judgment day to you? A time of accountability or a
time of rebirth? What inside oneself begs for examination?
