Some Tarot readers read reversed (upside down) meanings during their Tarot readings. You may choose to reversed meanings when a card appears upside down, or you may read all cards as upright. If you wish to readall cards as upright, simply turn all reversed cards so they are upright. If you wish to read reversed meanings into your Tarot cards, some reversed cards have very specific meanings. Judgement is one of these cards.
The reversed, or negative, version of this card denotes dissatisfaction with the outcome of a project or a phase of life. You may be displeased because you didn't try hard enough or because the project just didn't work. There are lessons to be learned here, but nevertheless, it is time to move on and try something else. If legal matters are in the air, this is a warning that they may not work out to your satisfaction.
Judgment is the twentieth card of the Major Arcana of the Tarot. It is the embodiment of judgment, rebirth, and absolution.
The Symbolism of the Judgment in Tarot
This card is represented by an angel blowing a great trumpet. From this trumpet hangs a white flag with a red cross. Three humans with grey skin stand in the foreground — a woman, man, and child. They appear to be emerging from crypts.
Judgment bears the number “20,” and is the bringer of judgment for the Fool after his encounter with the Sun.
The General Interpretation of the Judgment Tarot Card
When appearing in a spread, this card implies a time when rewards for past efforts are finally attained. It is a time of reflection, a time to acknowledge that the future is not one imposed by fate or destiny, but one that has been shaped by you and you alone. This card is not always positive, for the rewards earned may be negative in nature.
Judgment heralds the end of a certain chapter of life. However, unlike the Death card, it does not imply mourning. Instead, it refers to the reflection of all that has passed, and a contemplation of what will soon be.
The Fool must now answer for all that he has done on his journey. He must make atonement for the bad while accepting praise and reward for the good.
The Inner Meaning of the Judgment Card
Judgment is the image of the process of judgment, a process which occurs at certain critical phases of life. The consequences of experiences until this point must be understood and accepted. The rising dead are representative of these experiences returning to you when the time of judgment has come. This is neither good nor bad; it simply is.
The Fool realizes that he has been traveling toward this singular experience ever since he stepped of the cliff so long ago. He knows that every choice he has made, every path he has taken, must be accounted for. There are moments he is proud of, and decisions that shame him. He must accept the good and the bad, and he must learn to move past them, once atonement has been made.
The Fool encounters Judgment after he meets the Sun, while on the path to his meeting with the World.
If you wish to read reversed meanings into your Tarot cards, then you should read all cards that appear upside down as reversed. In most cases, the reversed card means almost the opposite as the same card in the upright position. However, this is not true of the Sun Tarot card. There is nothing negative about this card, upright or reversed. However, if the Sun is reversed in a Tarot spread, it can mean that you'll have to wait a little longer for the happiness you seek to become reality. Be patient, and everything will eventually go as you'd hoped.
The Sun is the nineteenth card of the Major Arcana of the Tarot. It is the embodiment of happiness, contentment, and success.
The Symbolism of the Sun Card
This card is represented by an infant riding a pure white horse beneath the bright summer sun. The background is filled with sunflowers. The infant holds a red flag, representing the blood of renewal. The smiling sun indicates accomplishment and approval.
The Sun bears the number “19,” and the card is regarded as the bringer of happiness for the Fool, who encounters the Sun following his encounter with the Moon.
The General Interpretation of the Sun Tarot Card
When appearing in a spread, this card implies clarity, happiness, success, and renewed trust, hope and faith. It is finally possible to understand the pattern of life, to plan for the future, and to really move forward. The darkness of many previous cards is finally dispelled.
The Fool, armed with this new knowledge, and with a new foresight about his life and his journey, can move towards a greater goal. He is content with the journey he has undertaken, and with the lessons he has learned. He also realizes that a spirit can never truly learn all there is to know — he will always be the student.
The Inner Meaning of the Sun in Tarot
The Sun is an image of power associated with the conscious mind. Darkness can be dispelled by logic, reason, and the consciousness. This card represents intellectual striving, a vision of the future, and hope for an ideal future. It is the card of nobility and determination.
The Fool’s encounter with the Sun brings the hope and clarity he has been seeking. He has faced many trials, he has come to terms with many things, but always has he maintained his integrity. However, in the Moon, he faced uncertainty and doubt, losing his confidence and his power of action. In the Sun, he regains both of these attributes.
The Fool lost faith many times along his journey. Now, this faith in himself is restored. His spirit cannot be conquered, and will always struggle against hopelessness and ignorance, fear and despair. He will always strive toward the light, never forgetting the journey he has completed.
The Sun is encountered by the Fool, following his meeting with the Moon. This occurs on the path to his meeting with Judgement.
