Justice and Devil tarot card combinations

Cards combination description

High arcan Justice and high arcan Devil combination - may indicate corruption, if surrounded (either side) or if followed by Eight of Swords and The Devil can sometimes indicate prison, or imprisoned.

Card 1 - Justice

The Justice tarot card is a symbol of truth, fairness, and law. As she sits in her chair, the scales in her left hand represent how intuition should balance logic. She symbolizes impartiality with the double-edged sword in her right hand. The clarity in thought which is required to dispense justice are symbolized by the square on the crown she wears. Behind her, there is a purple cloak and standing grey pillars. Beneath her red cloak, which is held together by a clasp, she shows the tip of a white shoe. This is a spiritual reminder that what she delivers are the outcomes of their actions.

Associations:

Similar or supporting cards:
The Ace of Pentacles (contracts with material connection) The Emperor (rational and practical) The Hermit (deep thought and contemplation) Temperance (balanced emotions) King or Queen of Swords (lawyers, police, men/women with legal connections) Two of Pentacles (maintaining balance)

Opposing or contradictory cards:
Five of Wands (imbalance) Two of Swords (indecision, two minds) Five of Swords (dishonest)  

Justice combinations
Due to the legal implications of Justice there are lots of possible combinations, however, always check the defined meanings you normally use and follow progressions carefully to avoid misinterpretation or jumping to conclusions. I tend to look for a number of reinforcing cards when less favourable indications are present; these are more evident when using the Life Spread and Anchor. In legal matters you would hope to find a favourable card immediately following Justice to show a good outcome and happy resolution (The World, The Sun, Three of Cups, Six of Wands, etc).

Full card's description

Card 2 - Devil

This card shows the Devil represented in his most well-known satyr form, otherwise known as Baphomet. Along with being half goat and half man, the devil has bat wings and an inverted pentagram on his forehead. He is standing on a pedestal, to which are chained a nude man and woman, as if to show that he has dominion over them. Both the man and the woman have horns, as if to show that the more time they spend with the Devil, the less human they become. The chains make it appear as though the devil has taken them captive. The man has a flame on his tail while a woman has a bowl of grapes on her tail, which symbolizes their addiction to power and finer things in life, respectively.  Looking closely, both the man and the woman don t look happy.  Their individual power has been taken from them, leaving them exposed and ashamed in their nakedness.

Associations:

Similar or supporting cards:
Ten of Wands (feeling weighed down) Nine of Swords (stress and anxiety) Eight of Swords (feeling trapped and restricted) all the secrecy cards (Moon, Five of Swords, High Priestess)

Opposing or contradictory cards:
Temperance (moderation) The Star (hope and optimism)

Devil combinations
Watch for the cards that surround The Devil, the clearest indication of what the problem concerns usually comes from the card that precedes it.   In simple lines or small groups, watch for Five of Swords and The Devil, or The Devil and The Moon, surrounding and either side of another card as it’s usually a sign of deception and dishonesty – the central card would indicate the area of concern. There are too many combinations to list here but those below provide a small flavour of possibilities... 

Full card's description