Favoring balance and diplomacy, Libra is an empathetic sign that values truth, harmony, and understanding, especially when it comes to our relationships with others. There is a deep desire for everyone to be treated fairly, thus allowing all to enjoy the abundance and beauty of life.
The symbol of Libra is the Scales of Justice, originally associated with the goddess Themis, who was the ruler of justice and fairness among the ancient Greek gods. The scales were used to weigh the actions of mortals throughout their lives, determining the morality of those decisions and duling out the appropriate reward or punishment in the afterlife.
Tarot Correspondences
Every zodiac sign has a set of tarot cards associated with it, offering a much deeper understanding of the layers of meaning that connect them. For Libra, these cards are Justice and the Two, Three, and Four of Swords.
Justice
With Libra being an air sign, Justice also lies under the domain of air: the realm of ideas, communication, intellect, wisdom, rationality, and logic. In many versions of the Justice card, the scales remain, but a new element has been added - a double-edged sword, a symbol of choice and consequence.
Justice represents a mediator figure, calm and clear-minded enough to see all sides of any situation. This clear-headedness allows us to recognize our own personal boundaries while remaining compassionate toward others.
In my version of the Justice card, a sample of the universal food chain is illustrated. This idea, ever-present in observable life, represents natural order, balance, and the inevitable consequences of our actions and decisions. This card asks us to consider the ripples we send out into the world, practice accountability, and not shy away from the harsh realities of life.
The Three Decans of Libra
The decans of a sign can be viewed as a subset of its larger themes. We can think of them like acts in a play or a sequence in a story, each illustrating a different cycle of action and knowledge for that sign.
The first three cards of the Swords suit show a narrative about utilizing our intellectual and intuitive powers, what happens when those become overwhelmed by emotion, and the importance of turning inward as a method of healing and recovery. When we tie this back to the larger theme of Libra/Justice, we can see that this reflects how empathy and emotional attachment can affect our judgment. What happens when we aren’t able to remain completely objective?
The Two of Swords depicts a moment of decision when we must clear our minds and listen to both our intuition and reason to see the best possible outcome. This card can appear when there is a lot of confusion about which path to choose, and how emotionally attached we might be to a certain resolution. It reminds us to trust ourselves to see the truth, even if it isn’t immediately apparent.
The Three of Swords is an infamous card in the tarot, powerful in its emotional and mental anguish. These feelings coming about when we are faced with loss and heartbreak, and shows us the importance of accepting those emotions while working to move above and beyond them. It is a situation where balance and harmony cannot be achieved (yet), and we’re left to reconcile the harsh truths of the matter. The head and heart are at odds.
The Four of Swords then shows us the movement from suffering back into peace via turning inward and working to heal our minds and bodies. This is a card of rest, most importantly mental rest, where we can sort out and process our thoughts and the proceedings of the Three of Swords. Often this comes during a time of solitude, with outer distractions removed. Even more so, this can be a period of rest forced upon us after we’ve hit the proverbial wall and have no other choice but to calm our minds and seek refuge within.
Here’s a tarot spread for you to try out, which focuses on the themes of Libra and Justice. First, find the Justice card in your deck and place it at the top of your working space. Then, take a deep breath, shuffle, and pull your cards for the remaining questions.
*Note: If any of the Libra decan cards (2, 3, 4 of Swords) appear, treat them as a magnifier of Justice’s message: You may want to pay extra attention to that question/area.
