Keywords (Upright): equilibrium, karmic justice, divine order, inner alignment, conscious choice Keywords (Reversed): imbalance, distortion, dishonesty, refusal to self-correct, spiritual misalignment
Thelemic Context & Why the Change
In the Thoth Tarot, Aleister Crowley renames the traditional Justice card to Adjustment and reassigns it to Trump VIII rather than XI. This reordering is not arbitrary—it aligns with the Qabalistic Tree of Life, where Trump VIII corresponds with the Hebrew letter Lamed (ל) and the sign of Libra (♎︎). It bridges the spheres of Geburah (Severity) and Tiphareth (Beauty).
The shift from “Justice” to “Adjustment” reflects a deeper Thelemic philosophy: balance is dynamic, not static. Maat, the Egyptian goddess of truth, becomes the essence of this archetype—not as a moral enforcer, but as a cosmic principle. Her feather doesn't judge—it measures.
Symbolism in the Thoth Tarot
The figure in the card, often seen as Maat herself, stands with perfect grace inside a vesica piscis, symbolizing manifestation and the sacred feminine. She is poised with scales and a sword, but unlike traditional depictions of Justice, her balance is fluid, precise, and alive.
Behind her, a canopy of swords and sexual glyphs speaks to the Aeon of Horus—where divine alignment includes the body, the will, and the soul. Her balance is not based on external rules, but on internal resonance with truth.
Adjustment Tarot Card Meaning: Upright
When Adjustment appears upright, it calls for radical self-honesty. This is a moment to recalibrate, reflect, and realign with your True Will. Unlike judgment in the legal or religious sense, this card speaks to energetic harmony.
Key Upright Interpretations:
Spiritual Equilibrium: You are in a phase where integrity and alignment are crucial. Walk with awareness.
Karmic Clarity: Choices made now carry significant weight—cause and effect are immediate.
Inner Refinement: You’re asked to refine your behavior and thoughts to mirror your highest truth.
The Adjustment tarot card meaning in the upright position is a sacred reminder: justice is not external—it lives in your alignment with self.
Adjustment Tarot Card Meaning: Reversed
When Adjustment is reversed, imbalance, dishonesty, or misalignment with your path may be manifesting. This is not a punishment—it’s a sign that something needs correction before deeper consequences unfold.
Key Reversed Interpretations:
Avoiding Truth: Denial of personal responsibility or ignoring internal imbalance.
Distorted Judgment: Actions may be based on ego, fear, or illusion rather than clarity.
Loss of Center: Your spiritual compass may be off—it's time to pause and re-center.
In reversal, the Adjustment tarot card meaning becomes a wake-up call. Your soul knows what is true—listen.
Summary: The Sacred Dance of Maat
Adjustment is the living balance of the soul—not a legal decree, but a sacred measurement. Upright, it encourages conscious choice, spiritual refinement, and karmic awareness. Reversed, it warns of veering from your axis and calls you to restore harmony through truth.
Maat doesn’t punish—she reveals. She asks only that you be in balance with yourself, and thus with the universe.