Our next card in this journey through the tarot is Justice. Unsurprisingly, the Justice card is about fairness. It’s the promise that a fair decision will be made in legal proceedings, and that the decision won’t be swayed by such things as pretty words or pretty images.

When we look closer at the Justice card we can see he has a sword in one hand and is holding scales in the other. She, and perhaps only she, has the power to ensure that those scales are always balanced and that all parties are treated fairly.

Depression isn’t fair. We did not do anything to deserve it and we are not being punished. 

When we live with the Depression demon we can easily become entrenched in the unfairness of it all. That’s what the demon wants us to do. It wants us to focus on how unfair it all is so that we can’t see, and can’t find the energy to look for, a way out.

We can’t allow that to happen. We can’t allow the demon to take control.

Justice reminds us that we can’t control other people’s actions but we can ensure that we treat others with fairness. What we often need reminding of, is that we should treat ourselves with fairness.

We often expect too much from ourselves, are too hard on ourselves, and if we have depression, we get really good at blaming ourselves.

Spending some time with the Justice card can help us understand that we need to be fair to ourselves as well as others. 

Journeying with the Justice Card.

Sit or lie down comfortably, and take 3 deep breaths in.

Continue to breathe deeply and slowly as you imagine that you’re lying on your back on a beautiful, sandy beach, with your feet on the edge of the water. Your arms and hands are lying flat by your sides and your eyes are closed.

Take a breath in as the water gently flows over your toes and covers your heels. As you breathe out, the water flows gently back into the sea.

Breathe in again, as the water flows gently up your shins and covers your knees. As you breathe out the water gently rolls back into the sea.

Breathe in again, and the water flows gently up to the top of your thighs. As you breathe out the water gently rolls back into the sea.

Breathe in again, and the water gently flows up past your pelvis to your belly button and covers your hands and arms to your elbows. As you breathe out the water gently rolls back into the sea.

Breathe in again, and the water gently flows up to your chest and upper arms. As you breathe out the water gently rolls back into the sea.

Breathe in again, and the water gently flows up over your shoulders and neck and reaches your chin. As you breathe out the water gently rolls back into the sea.

Breathe in again, and the water comes up past your mouth, nose, eyes and covers the top of your head. As you breathe out the water gently rolls back into the sea.

Spend a few moments here, enjoying the feeling of being fully relaxed. 

As you lie there, you become aware that you have something in each of your hands.

Your left hand feels heavier than your right so you look at it first. 

What’s in your left hand?

What’s in your right hand?

Are you able to hold your hands in a way that means both objects seem to weigh the same?

The object in your left hand holds your depression and the object in your right hand holds your joy.

Play with these weights for a while, move them up and down, get a feel for how they naturally weigh. 

Now. Move your Depression up and your joy down until your joy lays gently on the sand. Your joy is grounded.

Look at your left hand, gently blow the object into the air until you see it catch flight, move through the clouds, and disappear. 

Spend some time quietly sitting with your joy in both hands. What message does the object have for you? Who are you now that you have experienced joy?

When you’re ready, place your joy in your pocket and know that you carry it within you.

Take 3 deep breaths and come back into your body.

Wriggle your toes, your fingers, roll your neck, and when you’re ready open your eyes.

Write down your experiences in your journal. 

You are the boss, not your Depression

Although it often feels like Depression has the upper hand, that only occurs when we’re unwell. And when we’re unwell, we need to rest and heal.

When we are well, and there’s no denying that sometimes our well periods can be very small, we’re able to make choices and that’s when we work with the Tarot to help strengthen the chances of us making good choices.

Once you’ve completed the above exercise, pop the Justice card under your pillow and sleep with it for a few nights. It’s there to remind you to be fair and just with yourself.

Fiona Tate, AKA the Depression Muse, is a Lilithian Witch, Writer, and Mental Health Mentor. She helps people with Depression use it as a superpower and turn it into a Creature of Fucking beauty. She’s on a mission to reduce the global suicide rate to zero. Follow this link to receive a free copy of her book Depression Sucks and join the waitlist to hear more about Black Orchid Alchemy: The alternative way to manage Depression.