Key 11-Justice (The Twentysecound Path)

Key 11 - Justice - Lamed - Whip
Gematria Value: 30
22nd Path Galbanum | Sapphire, Opal
From Tipharet to Gevurah | NORTHWEST

JUSTICE / LIBRA / MABON

Mental equilibrium - Karmic balance.


Water always seeks its own level. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.


"Lamed" means ox-goad, or whip. Aleph, Key 0, is the ox. Lamed urges and guides the cosmic manifestation power represented by Aleph.


Lamed is the last letter in the Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy). Joined with the first letter in the Torah, Bet, it forms the word "Lev," which means "Heart." In the annual Torah reading cycle, this circular joining of the first and last letters shows that Torah is the Heart of Judaism.
The pillars, veil, and throne show a connection to the High Priestess. They show a seated person firmly grounded between the pillars of the tree, and the veil of wisdom, also a symbol of virginity, "temenos," or sacred space. Temenos is also associated with Keys 7, 9, and 14.


The Goddess Themis holds her arms in the "coagula/solve" position - meaning "coagulate (or join) - and "dissolve." The "coagulation" is a drawing-in of energy. The "solve" is the use of the energy to dissolve, or cut like a laser. Keys 0, 1, 3, 4, 11, & 15 share this symbolism.


Her right hand holds a gleaming sword, symbol of "cutting through intelligence." Swords are associated with air, appropriate for air sign Libra. Swords discriminate; they separate good from bad. Swords can kill or protect.

The Sword is Key 6, the Lovers - the dual, thinking nature of that card reminds of stereo vision, giving us our ability to estimate distances and perceive depth. The scales in the right hand of Justice reenforce the symbolism, in the sense of judgement. Swords also appear in Key 1, and Key 10.


The Vajra, or Dorje, is also known of as the "Diamond Thunderbolt" in Tibetan Buddhism. It represents wisdom cutting through ignorance. It is a mystical weapon, a sword used by Divine Intelligence.


Rotating swords block the entrance to the Garden of Eden; these tell us of discerning understanding, or Binah.


The red-yellow-blue color scheme shows connection to the Gevurah-Tipharet-Chesed triad.


Justice wears a crown with a square and three spikes. Three and four are spirit and matter, combining to the number 7. Crowns appear in Keys 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 11, 14, 16, Keter, and Malchut.


Key 11 is the center of the pack (not counting 0). Libra is the transition of the seasons, from Spring and Summer, to Fall and Winter. By the same token, the Paths leading to Key 11 from 0 are more straightforward, open, and clear, like Spring and Summer. The following keys are "denser" and more complex, as Emanation further penetrates into matter.


What you sow, so shall you reap - Karma - these are at a transition point at Key 11. The earlier cards and the later cards are in different realms of manifestation or receiving (sowing or reaping). Interplay between the clear, direct nature of the upper paths and the more human, complex nature of the lower paths pivots at Key 11.


MABON - September 23 - (pronounced may-bone) is the name of a Welsh fertility God, Mabon, and marks the Autumn Equinox. Night and day are equal in length again, in a state of balance, and the harvest is near completion. The God nears his death and the Goddess prepares for his rebirth. The bounty of the harvest is celebrated in wine festivals, knowing that soon Winter will bring uncertainty. Facing the winter, we face the mysteries of the inner world.

LIBRA

September 23rd to October 23rd.

Ruled by Venus.

I balance.

Diplomat or yes person.

Cardinal Air. Thinking, communication, relationships, intellect, intuition, all concerns of air, balance in Libra, into the diplomat, the harmonizer, the leveler. Libra is the turning season, when the child-like glare of summer is forgotten and the world of adults takes precedence. Libra influences in the chart (Seventh house, or planets in Libra) create an emphasis on relationships. This can manifest as deep friendship, happy marriage, and harmonious community.

Libra (in its purest essence) is cheerful, articulate, brings people together, enhances teamwork. Libra can also be two-faced, wishy-washy, and passive-aggressive. A Libra can deliver the most dire, horrible news, and it still sounds pleasant. Libra can sell ice cubes to Eskimos.

Libra can be "full of hot air," building castles in the sky that never materialize. This kind of visualization is of vital importance in the manifestation process, but like anything else, becomes a problem when there's too much of it.

Domains of Libra are anything dealing with people, learning, the arts, music, culture.

Libra, ruled by Venus, is always striving for beauty and harmony. Libra will sacrifice a lot just to keep things pleasant. Libra can also bring war, when Mars comes into play.

Libra is the peacemaker, and checks their own ideas with others to balance their thoughts. The Libra instinctively stimulates and urges others to express their own opinions.

Libra, when active in the chart, gives the benefit of the doubt, and can be elegant, lenient, reassuring, helpful, intuitive, philosophical, creative, full of ideas, a comedian, theatrical, artistic, and well mannered.

Unfavorable Libra aspects in the chart can bring imbalance, weak will, denial, avoidance of responsibility, insincerity, manipulativeness, deviousness, poor financial judgement, inability to make decisions, lacking in direction, careless, a moocher, over agreeability, airheadedness, fickleness, or gullibility.

Lessons for Libra include being true to self, not always trying to say what the other person wants to hear, sticking with decisions, facing responsibilty, not deceiving themselves.

Libra rules the kidneys.

For Libra, the Shadow takes the form of Other's unjust attacks or mistreatment. Being pushed around is the result of repressed anger concealed by niceness; Other acts out your aggression for you. Work with your shadow, and the people you project it onto, by getting off the fence, stating your case, and being prepared for conflict, if need be, to reach a resolution. The more you deny your Shadow, the more it will manifest itself and attract what you will interpret as disruption or pain.

The Seventh house has the character of Libra: planets in this house are concerned with Relationship; leaving the self-obsessed lower hemisphere and the recognition of the other person, cooperation, and open adversaries. This is the house of marriage, of love, soul mates, and intimacy.

Libra is the Fall Equinox, when longer nights take precedence. In the chart wheel, this is where the soul leaves the self (Aries) dominated lower hemisphere and enters the community dominated upper hemisphere. This is the adult/cosmic marriage.

Libra is symbolized by Lady Justice; a woman holding scales.

The air triplicity is Libra (cardinal) followed by Aquarius (fixed), and then Gemini (mutable).

In the natural order of the signs, Libra is air, preceded by Virgo (earth), and followed by Scorpio (water).

The opposite axis, or antidote to Libra, is Aries.

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