What Does The Judgement Card Mean In Tarot?

Reading tarot cards is a skill that takes a lot of practice. While some people like to use tarot cards for fun and break out a deck at parties to try to read their friend's futures, others use tarot as a tool to direct their lives and rely on their cards to help point them on the right path (via The Cut).

One of the most common tarot decks is the Rider-Waite deck, which was drawn by Pamela Colman Smith and originally published in 1910. The cards are highly recommended for those just beginning their journey into tarot and feature simple images with a basic color scheme. As for deciphering the deck, most come with a guide book and there are plenty of resources online as well.

When looking through a tarot deck some of the cards may seem a bit ominous as they depict people being stabbed by swords, a death card, and a devil card. However, things are not always as they appear when it comes to tarot, and the cards that seem to be the darkest don't necessarily have negative connotations.

One of the most important cards in a tarot deck is the Judgement card, a card that can at times seem a bit scary.

The Judgement card usually means you have a big decision to make

According to Biddy Tarot, the Judgement card shows naked men, women, and children as they rise from their graves and spread their arms toward the sky. Above the people the Archangel Gabriel, who is the messenger of God, blows his horn and the people are ready to respond to his call to find out if they will be accepted into heaven. The card can seem a bit dark to some. However, its meaning isn't as scary as you may think.

If the Judgement card is pulled upright during a tarot reading, it is said to mean judgement, rebirth, an inner calling, or absolution. It can also indicate that you need to make a life-changing decision while using your intuition and your brain. The card suggests tuning into your higher self to get the clarity you seek during the process.

A reversed Judgement card means that you may be experiencing some self-doubt, ignoring a call that you've been given, or being your own worst critic. This likely means that you need to do some major self-evaluation and perhaps meditate on your issues. The card reversed is a sign that the universe is trying to send you a message and invite you to do something bigger and accept the calling that you feel pulled to, even if you're afraid.

The next time you pull the Judgement card during a tarot reading, be ready to make a big decision in your life.