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Justice
Professor of Ethics
The professor of ethics will help you balance the
morals and obligations of your magical practice.
Key Symbols
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The professor is playing with a
golden set of scales on her desk. Scales are longstanding symbol of
truth and justice. In this case, the imagery dates back to ancient
Egypt, where the goddess Ma’at would measure a dead man’s heart against
the weight of a feather before he could be allowed to journey on into
the afterlife.
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The Justice card is also associated with Themis, the
Greek goddess of Justice who helped keep the infant Zeus safe from his
father Cronos, or Time. She was also a gifted prophet who served for a
time as the Oracle of Delphi.
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Scales are the emblem of Libra, the sign of balance.
The glyph for Libra, which looks like a balanced set of scales, is
painted on the wall behind the professor.
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The Libra glyph seems to be balanced on a companion
symbol — the Hebrew letter Lamed,
which means ox goad.
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The feather pen on the professor’s desk symbolizes the
sword of justice — a double-edged reminder that fairness cuts both ways.
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Justice’s classroom looks like a lawyer’s office or
law library, with leather-bound volumes of law and ethics shelved on a
lawyer’s bookcase.
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The glass doors on the shelves symbolize the
transparency and protection of the law.
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The rolled parchment scrolls on the desk, like their
counterparts on the bookshelves, represent the wisdom and judgments of
the ages.
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The professor’s familiar is a white owl, a symbol of
clear vision and wisdom. Athena, the goddess of wisdom, was often
accompanied by an owl. Owls can also be messengers.
Practical Magic
While you’re on the grounds of Mandrake Academy, an
array of elemental creatures is on guard to ensure that your practice spells
won’t harm people, pets, or property. In your everyday world, however, real
magic can have real results — and that entails some ethical considerations.
The Rule of Three
Before you do any magical work, you might want to
consider the Rule of Three — a karmic rule of thumb that suggests that
everything you do will come back to you threefold.
What you do for bad or good, comes
back to you, as well it should.
The Mandrake Rede
You might want to think about the Mandrake Rede — a
sort of “Golden Rule.” It’s a cautionary proverb, passed down from
generation to generation: Do as you
will, and harm none. The rede doesn’t offer blanket permission to do
anything and everything you want, but it does allow for freedom of
conscience.
The Mandrake Creed
You might also want to adopt the Mandrake Creed, which
the professor of ethics teaches in all her introductory classes.
Words have power; actions, too.
Your choices will come back to you.
Live as you will; act as you must,
In perfect love and perfect trust.
If do no harm will be your guide,
Keep faith and wisdom at your side.
The
answers that you seek are found
In
sacred space and holy ground
Where two worlds meet, and then give birth
To
fire, water, wind, and earth.
The Wheels of Justice Tarot Spread
This Majors-only spread is based on a classic layout from
Oswald Wirth’s Tarot of the Magicians. It’s designed to be read like
a court hearing, with lawyers arguing the pros and cons of a case before a
judge. Use this spread if you’re faced with a difficult decision.
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The
“pros” — the arguments in favor of the case.
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The “cons” —
the opposition.
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The judge.
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The judgment,
pro or con.
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The decision,
or the judge’s written summary of the case.
Return to the Study Guide
Index
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