VIII – The Witness / Justice
“the scales of awareness and harmony”
symbol: equilibrium, balance, responsibility
zodiac: Libra
date and ritual: equinox – jurisdiction, taking responsibility
archetype: Ma’at, Themis/Nemesis
path of Lamed: Geburah – Tiphareth
Ma’at or equilibrium is more of an unseizable principle, than an archetype with set form. It is a term or definition that can never exist. As well as perfection, balance is a utopic condition we always pursue and can never reach. It is the space in-between all things, or the force that drives everything, without being tangible. The cosmos pursues balance as well as we do – as above, so below. Justice means the reliable law of karma or, in other words, the sentient cosmos searching for balance within itself.
Probably, there is no executor, no judge or wise gods who convict us for our sins after death. It’s only us, who decide on a subliminal level what needs to be rebalanced between the habits we allow to dominate our daily lives.
Maybe we „adjudge“ ourselves with reincarnation just to graduate the inner scale. Even enemies, predators or foes are people we have chosen to help us outweigh the karma.
This is the reason for not depicting a judging character, but just Anubis as guardian, guide, or witness of our own court.
Ma’at in definition does not exist, but there is a conscious part of the universe (or within us) which surveys the laws of equation and witnesses the scales. In times of evident injustice – in our lives, the world, or the cosmos – this subliminal voice of equilibrium can be channeled and might explain the higher context of our suffering or situation and how to get out.
Balance can be represented by every archetype, situation or person. It is neither good nor bad, but simply serves its purpose.
The true inner self will always accord with the basic law of balance. Since it is the code which decides if an act succeeds, true will in action would never fail in any circumstance. Clouded views and misguided action on the other hand would lead to chaos and imbalance, self-judgment or, in other words, just into a new cycle.
This very act of judgment is always the moment when the head of the serpent (Ouroboros) meets its own tail. However, life is not perfect, and neither are our decisions. To make mistakes and lose balance is part of the game. To learn from those lapses to counteract at an early stage, to free ourselves from misery, is the goal of this card.
