K11: Equilibrium - Action

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Aspect of Consciousness:  The Law of Karma; Work; Action
 The Law of Karma is the application of the Law of Cause and Effect through human action which brings about equilibrium and spiritual growth.  The resulting equilibrium is not static.  It is a dynamic equilibrium maintained by undeviating Cosmic Law in action.  It is Superconsciousness  which establishes the goals of the self, but it is the operation of Cosmic Law which keeps us moving along the Path towards the goal.  The Law of Karma manifests itself to us as Undeviating Justice - the Law of Dynamic Balance which is always acting.  Justice is applying to the conduct of life the inspiration which comes to us from above and from within, reaping the results, and learning from the experience.  You Act - You Sow - You Reap - You Learn - You Grow.

Hebrew Name: Lamed (Ox Goad, whip)
The letter Lamed is in the shape of a serpent, uncoiled and active.  Lamed means "to teach, to instruct".  It also means "Ox-Goad".  Since the Ox represents Superconsciousness (K0), Lamed represents "that which urges and guides the manifestation of the cosmic power."  Lamed stands for an "inward urge or drive, and an inward capacity for self direction."1 

The special sense or function assigned to Lamed is Work, or Action. "This is also the basic meaning of the Sanskrit term Karma."2 

Qabalistic Intelligence: The Faithful Intelligence
To succeed in anything, we must have faith - confidence in our ability to achieve the desired outcome.  This faith, however,  is not blind.  It is borne out of knowledge and the experiences of past sowing and reaping.  Thus the "ripening of perception and interpretation" leads to faith, which becomes a motivation for action.  You act because you have the faith that your desired outcome is achievable by the action.3 

Astrological Correspondence:    Libra
Libra, the scales, is ruled by Venus (K3: Creative Imagination).  This signifies that "our subconscious deductions from experience are the seeds of Karma, and are actually the basis of all our activities."4  In other words, creative imagery invokes desire, which prompts us to action.  Change the imaging, and one changes the Karma.  Also, Saturn is exalted in Libra.  This indicates that "the highest manifestation of the restrictive, concrete, definitive power of Saturn is brought about through the operation of [discriminating action.] Astrologers say that Librans love justice, order and harmony."5

Number:    11
The Power of one, acting through the agency of one.  Self consciousness acting through self consciousness.  Balanced and active administration.  Also, "balance, poise, exactitude, accuracy, impartiality, equity."6 

Color / Note :    Green / F#

Tarot Key:  Justice

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Symbolism:
(Summarized from "The Tarot", by P.F.Case)7 

The Scene:    A crowned woman is seated on a throne, holding an upright sword in one hand, and a balanced scale in the other.

The Woman:    The same woman from key 3 and Key 8, The Empress (Venus). She wears a green cape (Venus) signifying creative imagination, a red robe (Mars) signifying action, and a blue undergarment signifying memory. The meaning is that Action and Imagination always go hand in hand, and that imagination is based on memory.

The Scales:    The instrument used to weigh and measure action.

The Sword:    In conjunction with the scales, symbolizes wisely directed (discriminating) Action.

The Curtain:    Violet curtain conceals a yellow background symbolizing that the veils of mechanism (Violet-Jupiter-Wheel of Fortune) conceal from the uninitiated that the whole universe is permeated by the life-breath of spirit, symbolized by yellow.

 


The challenge is to consciously apply the Law of Balance through Action to everyday life:
bulletBalance and Poise in Action: 
  1. You weigh the meaning of present conditions (Scales). 
  2. You strike a balance by taking positive Action to overcome the negative consequences of past errors (Scales + Steel Sword). 
  3. You use the sword of discrimination to eliminate mistaken thought and action, and to separate the wheat from the chaff (sword). 
  4. You overcome evil with good by seeing to it that you plant and cultivate positive thinking and match your plans with corresponding Action.
bulletJustice:    Ultimately, balance is always being maintained.   "I recognize the manifestation of the Undeviating Justice in ALL the circumstances of my life."8 

bulletFaith:    Having faith in principles leads to poise in action.

 

 
bullet The Imagery of Justice can be used as a reminder:
That pain is not punishment.  Pain is the result of old forms, old patterns, old desires, and old thoughts that are not in harmony with the universe.  Pain is the stinging ox-goad prodding us back into movement. 
To put your Faith into Action. 
That life is an education. You live, you learn. 
That Fairness and Justice depend upon balanced Action.

In "Living the Tarot", Amber Jayanti provides some suggestions for integration and application of Justice:

bulletAsk yourself the following questions:9 
What injustice am I struggling with?
What social or political situation is disturbing me?
Where do I desire to become more balanced and centered?  
What state (karma) would I like to mitigate?
Where might enacting some extreme behavior for a short time serve to balance me out healthfully?
What behavior am I modifying?
What justice can I now perceive within an injustice?

 

Illustrations from the Universal Waite Tarot Deck reproduced by permission of U.S. Games Systems, Inc., Stamford, CT 06902 USA. Copyright ©1990 by U.S. Games Systems, Inc. Further reproduction prohibited.