In modern spirituality I find that
judgement is often judged. Many people have had painful experiences due to
religious judgement. This is ironic because in Christianity, the religion that
I grew up with, there is a principle of non-judgement. I was taught that we shouldn’t judge, because
only God has the right to judge. This however does not work well when some
followers of a religion see themselves as God’s ambassadors. One of the
teachings of Jesus is that it is better not to judge, because the judgement we
pass on others will also be bestowed on us. My understanding of this
principle is that our judgement of others is an expression of our relationship
with ourselves.
The Tarot also has a card devoted
to judgement: the twentieth card in the major Arcana. The
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| Judgement: the 20th Card in the Major Arcana of the Tarot (Rider-Waite) |
When I read the Tarot, I look at
how the card speaks to me. There is a suggestion of the duality of heaven and
earth, symbolised by the angel and the humans. Furthermore, the cross is a
symbol of matter and the red colour corresponds to the root chakra, representing
our connection to earth. Red is also the colour of blood, reminding of our
humanity. The white background to the cross signifies the purity of spirit and
the unification of all colours of light. While the earthbound existence could
be dreary and heavy, as expressed through the theme of death, responding to the
call of heaven (or soul) can bring new life to it. Interestingly, the
resurrected people are naked, which brings to mind Adam and Eve’s harmonious
co-existence with God in the Garden of Eden before the fall. Being naked means no
longer hiding aspects of the self from oneself, and that includes mistakes.
Through looking at oneself with honest eyes, forgiveness of the self is
possible, which in turn fosters tolerance for others.
Judgement represents an
opportunity for learning. While corporeal existence is by no means perfect,
there are glimpses of paradise even in the mundane. Those moments where
everything is in harmony remind us of the love at the core of our being.
Through having a body and an ego identity, we can create ourselves through the
choices we make. When we become aware of where our actions have harmed
ourselves and others, we can correct our mistakes. When others have hurt us, we
can show compassion towards them, understanding how they have acted out of
their own pain and lack of knowledge as we often do when we hurt others. Being
naked also serves as a reminder that we are all human, regardless of our social
standing. The fault we find in others is a projection of the inadequacies we
perceive in ourselves.
To me the final judgement
ultimately means taking full responsibility for one’s actions. When one no
longer looks to a moral authority outside of the self to dictate one’s
behaviour, one is free to make mistakes and to learn from them. Judging others
inappropriately is also a valid mistake, because no person can ever know the
full truth of another person’s perception. However, in the material world where
we forge our own human identities, there are experiences that we might not wish
to have in relation to other people, as well as practices that we do not
condone. The capacity to judge in this case is a responsibility to honour our
own truth and to speak and act on it if we choose to. Taking responsibility for
our own choices also involves understanding that others are responsible for
theirs.
