Gay Tarot - VIII Justice

[Flavio]

Even today gays can be victims of "justice" / LWB


Two men are in separated cages inside a prison, their arms try to reach each other but the corridor's width is bigger than their arms lenght.

Are they just trying to reach each other? or one of them is asking for help? and even more important... why are they tere?

There is a window so we can see the sunshine, why they can't enjoy it out there? the sunshine reflects the shadow of a Justice statue on the corridor, this is ironic because the statue is looking to the prison...it knows very well what is hapenning inside there.

I saw this card for the 1st time on the back of the LWB, it caused me a strange feeling, mix of fear to be victim of injustice actions caused by the hate and ignorance of "authorities" and a desire to help the guys in the cells.

It is true that many countries consider homosexuality as a crime, and because of that many people had suffered "justified" violence and lost their freedom, I think this card brings awareness on that matter.

In this deck Justice is VIII and Strength is XI

[horoskope88]

When I first saw this card, I didn't know what to make of it. It seemed to portray a very one-sided, totally negative perspective on this card. I didn't know how to interpret it, so I compared it to the RWS Justice.

The figure on the RWS holds up the Sword of Truth; she's extending one foot, implying that she is willing to step up and do what's right, to protect justice, and is ready to act for a good cause. In Living the Tarot, Amber Jayanti says on the Justice card that, "Whatever group or individual does not respect the law, or enacts laws for a country that are not aimed for its greatest good, become responsible for the demise of its people and environment."

That, I decided, was the same message the Gay Justice was trying to get across; the imperative to do good and uphold justice in a world full of injustice. Someone needs to step into the scene and rip down the bars and cages, and allow Justice to step in.

So, if I may add a few more divinatory meanings:
"The need to right a wrong. Fighting for justice or equality. Supporting a good cause."

[Lee]

In general I take a dim view of decks which portray a card as the opposite of the card's traditional meaning. An example would be the Whimsical Tarot, which illustrates Temperance with Jack and Jill tumbling down the hill.

In this case, however, I felt that the opportunity for social and political commentary outweighed my usual feelings. Also, using this image allowed me to still include the traditional symbol (seated Justice with sword and scales), yet make it relevant to the gay experience. It's true that the card shows Justice in a negative light, but on the other hand, the traditional card itself I don't see as particularly positive. I would call it neutral, with the potential for both great good and great harm. In the Gay Tarot, I leaned toward the great harm, since I felt it expressed something important about being gay, i.e. the restrictions put on us by the dominant majority.

I've found in my experience that some straight people (not all, by any means), even if they're sympathetic to gay people, have difficulty fully comprehending the emotional impact of being a member of a persecuted minority. Their attitude seems to be, "what's the big deal?" So I guess that's what I was trying to get across in this card, the emotional impact. Especially considering the fact that since this deck was designed, in the U.S., 11 states have passed bans on gay marriage, and eight of those states also banned civil unions or any legal recognition whatsoever of gay relationships. Clang!

-- Lee

P.S. I like horoskope88's desire to see this card as a positive call for action. That's probably the best way to see the card, in the final analysis.

[VisionQuest]

I had an emotional reaction to this card as well...

I felt it resonated quite well with the "gay experience".

Along with the meanings already mentioned, my feeling of the card was this:

The Justice in this card is that the gay man (or woman) would risk persecution, rather than deny his soul. The Justice is, that they've remained true to who they are, no matter what the consequence. Their love won't be denied.

I can't quite explain it, but that's about the gist of my interpretation of the card.

:) and someday I will have the deck! lol ;)

[Lee]

The Justice in this card is that the gay man (or woman) would risk persecution, rather than deny his soul. The Justice is, that they've remained true to who they are, no matter what the consequence. Their love won't be denied. This is another valuable positive interpretation of this card, one which I'll keep in mind.

-- Lee

[VisionQuest]

pic... http://geocities.com/tarotstuffs/Justice

[tarotbear]

My first viewing of this card stopped me cold.

It also transcended the concept of prison bars.

Mario and I had a ten year monogamous relationship. About 5 months before our 10th anniversary, he passed out and ended up in a hospital, blood spurting into his stomach from a rupture diagnosed as the effect of his failing liver backing the blood return up to the weakest spot. He ended up in a five-week medically-induced coma, bleeding internally the whole time until he would stablize, and a shunt could be put in. He woke up five weeks after the incident and basically was dumped by the hospital because he had no insurance, and they dumped him on me to take care of. He was home less than a week, had to be readmitted, and died swiftly. As a gay couple, I could not get him on my insurance, but I did go to court to pay to become conservator to his estate so that I could make his medical decisions - and not his family.

So, only men and women can be recognized as 'married'? States are passing laws banning civil unions?

Yes, this may be a 'negative' concept for justice, but it is how many gays see the society around them.

[Flavio]

I had this card in my mind the whole weekend... one of my dearest friend's boyfriend is in jail for unfair circumstances it happened the last weekend, needless to say my friend is devastated because there are few things he can do to help as his boyfriend's family only recognizes him as "a friend" who is trying to help because of good will.

If things go well this guy will go out of jail within days according to the current situation and confirmation of exhibits... my friend asked me to read for him the Sunday but I'm still in shock with this situation so I neglected his request, we both are afraid of what might happen to his boyfriend inside the jail, sorry if I my comments are considered off topic but I had to share this.