This month's full moon altar honours the Greek-Roman Goddess of Earthly Justice. The Greeks drew a distinction between Themis, Goddess of Divine Justice dispensed by the gods, and her daughter Dike (rhymes with Nike), Goddess of Earthly Justice dispensed by humans. The Emperor Augustus later introduced into the Roman pantheon Dike's equivalent named Justitia. This ancient goddess remains a common symbol in our modern Western society, although these days her name has been secularized to Lady Justice.
On an altar cloth of written legislation, Lady Justice stands between two green candles. A judge's gavel, the symbol of judicial authority, rests nearby.
Lady Justice represents the rule of law and the pursuit of fairness in disputes between parties, no matter who they are in a society. Her ideal is that justice must be equally available to the powerful and the powerless, the rich and the poor, without bias or favour. She wears a blindfold to symbolize that equality. Her scales of balance are raised higher than her sword, symbolizing that disputes are to be settled peacefully by rule of law, not by physical force or violence. Sometimes her double-edged sword is said to symbolize that there are always "two sides to every dispute" or that justice "cuts both ways," again expressing the concept of fairness.
The green candles symbolize the "living tree doctrine" of constitutional law. This holds that a country's Constitution is not static, unchanging, stuck in the past as of the date it was created, but is instead a dynamic and evolving document capable of adapting to changing social and human realities. Therefore, the Constitution should be interpreted broadly and progressively, allowing for its meaning to evolve over time to meet the needs of society and its people.
Lady Justice is being sorely tested these days in the United States. When procedural fairness and the rule of law are not respected by a government, the rich, or the powerful, it is always for the purpose of advancing authoritarianism and tyranny.
[Photos © Debra She Who Seeks, 2025; memes courtesy of the internet]
33 comments:
If a government can get away without affording due process for one person, anyone could be next. This altar is so relevant in these times!
The blindfolded figure standing between the green candles, her scales raised in the pursuit of fairness, is such a striking image.
So timely, and so well explained. Trust a lawyer to know her stuff!
My lady justice is now in the dining room,, she has a clock in her base. The ABA is focussing on the rule of law - much needed these days.
...Lady Justice is under assault here!
Perfect for you, and much needed today!
bobbie
What a phenomenal post! Thank you for the education on the origins of Lady Justice!
Hello Debra, I am sure that your great altars often inspire people to imitate them, but this month that would be difficult for many. The "altar cloth of written legislation" in the U.S. would not now embody the concepts of justice and fairness.
--Jim
p.s. It was smart of you to lift that gavel. How could a judge rule against you with their gavel missing?
Another beautiful altar and sorely needed here right now! Too many law firms have forgotten who they are and kissing that fat, pasty ass!
seriously stealing the second to last one
😱 Oh, Dike/Justifiable, we need you now, but I fear your wonderful powers move too deliberatively, too slowly.
I live on the border that last night Trump recreated as Joint Base Southern Border (my words) by Executive Order. The only invasion I see from my back porch (one quarter mile from the border “line”) is a bunch of US military moving in!
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/military-mission-for-sealing-the-southern-border-of-the-united-states-and-repelling-invasions/
Lady Justice? I think Musk just eliminated her job.
😲🤭 Hey Debra! This you?! 🛸 (I'm sure it isn't because the video is silly and sub-standard! Asking just for fun!)
Watch: Sizeable Disk-Shaped UFO Filmed Over Edmonton | Coast to Coast AM
https://www.coasttocoastam.com/article/watch-sizeable-disk-shaped-ufo-filmed-over-edmonton/
A much-needed altar for the times in which we live! I noticed that Dike has her foot on the head of a snake with a large book underneath. What does the snake symbolize?
Appropriately timed. My British friends pronounce Nike to rhyme with Like or Bike. Just saying…
@ Cleora Borealis -- No, it's not me but I wish it were -- how cool to spot a UFO (of course, only if it doesn't abduct you).
@ Tundra Bunny -- Good ask! It represents the triumph of law and justice (the book) over evil and corruption (the snake). Let's hope that holds true for our times too!
@ Moving with Mitchell -- Well, whatever the pronunciation, Dike and Nike still rhyme, LOL!
Lady Justice could use some help.
Thank you for the explanation.
Lovely!!!!! When you change this altar out, send the whole thing to trump would you?
This altar honors Lady Justice as a powerful symbol of evolving fairness and impartial rule of law, reminding us that true justice must adapt with society and stand firm against authoritarian threats.
i can see April's micromoon from where i sit in the lounge - moving in and out of cloud cover, quite atmospherically..... well written blog and the altar is fabulous
Yes - I was about to say that the president of that once great nation just south of you would be incapable of understanding the notions that you have touched upon in this blogpost. To him, justice is about what he thinks and what he wants and bugger everybody else. The way he has slagged off individual judges and lawyers is almost as disgusting as the fact that he gets away with it without restraint... so far anyway!
Very relevant for what is happening in the US. Our rule of law is crumbling.
perfect altar and right on time too. ~*~
I had one of those when I was a CASA volunteer for abused kids. Not sure what happened to it.
Love your choosing Dike as the Goddess of the month. Here in India, we have the reverse conundrum - our judges are taking decisions, overriding the due democratic process. They also select themselves behind closed doors, and our Constitution provides checks and balances for the Legislature and the Executive, but none for the judiciary. On a completely unrelated note, I LOVE that there is a separate goddess for divine and human justice. In our mythology, the rules of one apply to the other too. Dharma (code of conduct) is the same for humans and Gods. (Indian and Greek mythology is fairly similar - polytheistic, with frequent encounters between the two).
Wow such an incredible post full of greatly inspiring content dear Debra 👍🥰
I really appreciate how beautifully you can write ♥️
Loved the part regarding constitution remain adopting rather then static.yes this must be true for the constitution so human nature and it’s reality must be respected above everything 👌
I loved the justice lady ♥️♥️♥️
Last para ,so true every word 👍
I'm glad Tundra Bunny asked about the snake as I wondered the same thing. Was that your 'work' gavel? Did Dike come from that same store in Edmonton or was she a relic from your time in the legal profession?
We hope to survive the current administration but it is awful to live through...
@ e -- No, that wasn't my "work gavel," LOL -- it would have been too tempting to hit people over the head with it! My statue of Justitia, however, did reside in my work office until I retired. I bought her about 20 years ago at a gift store in West Edmonton Mall, if memory serves me correctly.
alas there is no justice here. The Orange Nero is going for any justice that dares stand up to him. Soon he will determine all.
Codex: I like the creativity of your altars. There is no symbol to represent the fallability of human judges though?
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