With the Judgement card we see some rather grey looking people apparently rising from the dead at the call of Archangel Gabriel’s trumpet. Obviously we are not talking about reanimation; this is a spiritual awakening and rebirth. Whatever has come before is in the past and resolved, or at least absolved. You can let go of that baggage and rise to a new day, perhaps even a higher calling, as this card can also suggest. Go on, live your life, and be your best self.
But how did the querant come to be so spiritually ashen? Pairing it with the Queen of Swords reversed suggests that there is a person who has worn them down, perhaps used and abused them, perhaps even sucked the life out of them, which holds with the imagery. It can happen.
The Queen of Swords can be an intelligent person who uses their talents harshly. They might have a sharp, overly critical tongue. They might be manipulative and controlling. They might be easy to anger and not particularly empathetic towards you. They might even be all of the above. You would hope the querant would have a clear idea of who this person is as they seem to have made a powerful impact on their lives. It could be an ex or current partner. It could just as easily be a teacher or an employer, someone who had an apparent authority over the querant. Remember, this is not necessarily a woman, but someone who exhibits the negative qualities listed.
Whoever this is, this situation was going on long enough for there to do significant damage to the querant, perhaps making them doubt themselves, lowering their self esteem, or making them feel unworthy and incapable. In other words, a good person to get away from. With the Judgement card, it seems that the querant is either removing themselves, or should remove themselves from this person. They are awakening to what this person is like and they are on the way to healing from that negative energy.
This is what comes to me as I write this. I’d be interested in hearing if someone else has another take on these two cards together.
Reiki Flow 