October 4-25: Portland Tarot Show 2013

The Tarot Show

First Friday opening reception on October 4, 7-9 p.m.
Show dates: October 4-25, 2013
Splendorporium, 3421 SE 21st Ave, Portland, Oregon 97202


Themis
Sarah-Andrea Morrigan
ink and watercolour
7.5" x 12"

Themis takes on the "Justice" card in the major arcana, and examines the notion of justice itself.  In the commonly used Waite Tarot deck, justice is symbolized by the "Lady Justice" holding a sword and a scale.  This is similar to a statue one might find in courthouses throughout the Western world.  Historically Lady Justice originated from Roman Iusticia, Greek Themis, and Egyptian Ma'at.

Yet, in today's society the notion of justice is not that of Themis but rather of Mars.  "Justice" is no longer about achieving social harmony or uniting the earth with the heaven.  It is rather about "winning" over "criminals" (often they also happen to be those who are marginalized, such as Blacks, the poor, immigrants, etc.) by any means necessary, by a highly opportunistic and punitive "justice" system, to perpetuate the discord and conflict instead of promoting concord and wholeness.  So-called "justice" is enforced by paramilitary police who are armed to teeth but lack human decency, ethical integrity, or moral compass.  This "justice" mentality is further expanded in the international arena, in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Cuba, North Korea, Palestine, etc. via military invasions and economic sanctions that are both designed to destroy lives.

In Greek, there is a difference between nomos (arbitrary laws created by humans) and themis (the divine law that is universal and unchanging).  True justice can only come from themis, not nomos that is enforced by guns and prisons.

Themis is the universal order and harmony that holds stars in its course and planets in its orbit.  At the very core, themis unites the earth with the heaven.  In this painting, a Japanese sword is laying on the ground, in its sheath, signifying that violence is never a means to achieve justice, and a true warrior must learn honour and cultivate their souls to be one with the universal order of harmony.    The grass holds droplets of water, held in perfect spherical shapes, held together by the law of physics.

The Greek letter θέμις (themis) and Chinese letters 世界同化，天地同流 (Shì jiè tóng huà, tiān dì tóng liú = harmonizing the world, heaven and earth flowing together) are shown.