Justice - Gloria Jean

Sedona, AZ - United States

Beautiful work Jean. This is a wonderful depiction of Libra - also fitting for our current sidereal Libra Lunar Cycle (2011-10-26). In Egyptian myth, sidereal Libra, the Balance Holder was illustrated as an upright figure holding the scales of Libra. This was Ma'at, who would weigh the human heart / soul at the time of death, with the soul in one scale and an ostrich feather (feather of Truth) in the other. If the heart / soul was heavier than the feather, the soul would need to reincarnate--needing to release its excess weight, or karma--the need to balance its incarnational experience. Ma'at, although rendered as a woman with an ostrich feather in her hair, was not a deity passing judgment (as some scholars interpret this rendering), but a universal force expressing as balance and order, a natural justice based upon the law of basic equilibrium inherent to the universe. This natural force or principle, later got personified, as was common during the translation of hieroglyphics by Greco-Roman scholars, from which externalized religion was formulated, by those who did not understand that Egyptian imagery was a picture language conveying concepts and ideas, not beings that were worshiped of feared. Ma'at embodies the principle that the relationship between constituent parts must function in balance and as a unified whole. In Greek myth, Ma'at transposes into the seer Themis, goddess of Mount Olympus, holding the scales in one hand and double-edged sword in the other. Themis was of divine order and law--often called upon to evoked social order, proper procedure and custom. Thesis was shown blindfolded, conveying judgment made with impartiality. In Christian imagery, Themis becomes Archangel Michael holding his double-edged sword of righteousness in one hand and the scales in the other. Note the shift from female figures to male! However, in all cases, Libra was depicted as a divine figure weighing the equanimity of a soul's incarnational experience. Your modern depiction is perfect. Cheers ! Nick