Diploma in

Learning the Tarot

Major Arcana: Justice, Hanged Man, and Death

 Uncover the symbolism of Justice, the Hanged Man,
and Death
Understand the meaning of the upright Justice,
the Hanged Man, and Death
Explore the meaning of the reversed Justice,
the Hanged Man, and Death

Objectives
Justice (XI)
Justice: Rider-
Waite-Smith
symbolic
description
 Justice:
Symbolic description
t:
S
 Justice:
Symbolic description
• Her crown is a symbol of her authority
• Her sword is double-edged representing
that justice cuts both ways
• The upwards-pointing sword symbolises
victory
• The scales represent balance and
fairness
 Justice:
Symbolic description
• The scale of mercy is balanced by the
sword of retribution
Upright Justice:
General Meaning
Upright Justice:
General meaning
• Justice
• Fairness
• Truth
• Law
Upright Justice:
General meaning
• This is a time when past errors or
imbalances can be redressed
• You will benefit from a fair system,
provided you are accountable,
honest, and deserving
Upright Justice:
General meaning
• Need clarity of mind and impartial
judgement
• You are being called to account
for your action and will be judged
accordingly
• The balance has been unsettled
and must be restored
Upright Justice:
General Meaning
• The Justice card does not seek to
punish

• The Justice card seeks adjustment

for the scales to be balanced
Upright Justice:
Love
• Karma Upright
• Reaping what you Justice:
sow
Love
Upright Justice:
Love
The meaning of Justice in a
relationship reading depends on how
you have treated people in the past
Upright
Justice:
Career
Upright Justice: Career

Remaining
Act with integrity and
accountable and
fairness
responsible
 Honest Just Fair

Upright
Justice:
Career
Upright Justice:
Career
Consider your work-life balance
Upright
Justice:
Best course
of action
 Upright Justice: Best
course of action

• Be fair in all your dealings

• Consider all sides before making a decision
• Follow the rules / law
Upright Justice: Best
course of action
• Follow your moral compass
• Trust in karma
• Settle your karmic debts
• Provide peace and diplomacy
Reversed
Justice:
General
meaning
 Reversed Justice:
General meaning
• Unfair
• Dishonesty
• Hidden agenda
• Taking advantage
• Amoral behaviour
• Judged unfairly
 Reverse Justice: General meaning

• Inability to take responsibility

• Trying to avoid consequences
 Reversed • A sign of unpaid karmic
debts
Justice: General • Pay your dues for any
meaning wrongdoing
• Face your problems directly
Reversed Justice:
Love
Reversed
Justice: Love
• Unfair treatment
• Dishonesty
• Imbalance
Reversed Justice:
Career
Reversed Justice:
Career
• Unfair work environment
• Dishonesty in career
• Not being accountable
• Untrustworthy financial dealings
• Avoiding financial accountability
Reversed Justice:
Best course of
action
Reversed Justice: Best
course of action
• Avoid legal or intellectual entanglements
as they may not work out in your favour
• If you are making an important decision,
be aware of your own prejudice or bias
that could sway your decision unfairly
The Hanged Man
(XII)
The Hanged Man:
Rider-Waite-
Smith symbolic
description
The Hanged Man:
Symbolic description
• By hanging upside down, he is gaining a
new perspective
• Looking at the world from a different
vantage point
The Hanged Man:
Symbolic description
• His halo represents new insight,
awareness and enlightenment
• He is suspended by his own free will
Upright Hanged
Man: General
meaning
Upright Hanged
Man: General
meaning
• Pause
• Surrender
• Letting go
• New perspectives
Upright Hanged
Man: General
meaning
Events are not moving with speed, all
you can do is wait patiently in the
knowledge that the universe has its own
plan
Upright Hanged Man:
General meaning
• Looking at things from a completely new
perspective
• A willingness to be uncomfortable in the
pursuit of a higher truth
• Withdrawing during a time of
transformation
Upright
Hanged
Man: Love
Upright Hanged
Man: Love
The Hanged Man is about sacrifice,
new perspectives, and waiting for the
right time
Upright Hanged
Man: Love
Spending time alone to develop personal
insights before forming a romantic
relationship
Upright
Hanged Man:
Career
Upright Hanged
Man: Career
• Career uncertainty
• Forced break
Upright Hanged
Man: Career
• Uncertainty, delays and frustrations
• Refrain from making major career
decisions right now
Upright
Hanged Man:
Best course of
action
Upright Hanged
Man: Best course
of action
• A sacrifice is needed in order to attain
the envisioned goal
• Pause and consider before deciding
Reversed Hanged
Man: General
meaning
Reversed Hanged Man:
General meaning
• Delays
• Resistance
• Stalling
• Indecision
Reversed
Hanged Man:
Love
Reversed Hanged Man:
Love
Love life has slowed down

Appearance of willing sacrifice

Reversed Hanged Man:
Love
Cutting yourself off from others and
underestimating the value of staying connected
Reversed
Hanged Man:
Career
Reversed Hanged
Man: Career
• Lack of inclination
• Procrastination
• Re-evaluate career options
• Get a fresh perspective
Reversed
Hanged Man:
Best course of
action
Reversed
Hanged Man: Best
course of action
Pause and see things from a
different perspective
Death (XIII)
Death: Rider-
Waite-Smith
symbolic
description
Death:
Symbolic description
The Death card features a skeletal
knight dressed in black armour on a
white horse carrying a black flag as
the figure rides through a wasteland
Death:
Symbolic description
• White rose on the flag reflects beauty and
purification
• The sun serves as a reminder that there is
always a new beginning
Upright Death:
General meaning
 Upright Death:
General meaning
Endings

Change

Transformation

Transition

Ending and rebirth

Resurrection
Upright Death:
General meaning
The Death card signals that one
major phase in your life is ending,
and a new one is starting
Upright Death:
General meaning
• Time of significant change and
transition
• Process of release, transformation
and regeneration
Upright
Death: Love
Upright Death: Love
• Death in a love reading can signify that
you or your partner may be holding onto a
relationship that’s not working
• You may be clinging to old patterns that
are stopping your relationship from
moving forwardforward
Upright Death:
Career
Upright
Death: Career
• Career opportunities
• Adapting to changes at work
Upright
Death: Best
course of
action
Upright Death: Change has
Release your
fears and
Detach from
the old and
Best course of begun unhealthy embrace the
action behaviours new
Reversed Death:
General meaning
Reversed Death: General meaning

Feeling anxious and

Not accepting change
stressed
Reversed Death:
General meaning
If the Death card appears in reverse, ask
yourself, what am I avoiding letting go of?
Reversed
Death: Love
 Reversed Death:
Love
• Must embrace change
• When one door closes, another opens
Reversed
Death: Career
Reversed Death:
Career
• Resistance to change
• Fear of new beginnings
• Repeating negative patterns
Reversed Death:
Career
• Remain flexible and open
• Unexpected financial changes
Reversed Death:
Best course of
action
Reversed Death: Best
course of action
• Resisting change
• Let go of the old