Judge (Critic, Examiner, Mediator, Arbitrator)

The template for the Judge archetype in Jewish-Christian culture largely derives from King Solomon, who was notable for
balancing justice and compassion. So thoroughly do we maintain this ancient template that Solomon's characteristic balancing is
now the standard by which we measure all judges. Those who manipulate or disgrace justice or violate this creed are held to be
social and moral criminals, having damaged the honor of the courtroom and the nation, and the archetype itself. For that reason,
this archetype should be understood as one that has the vision to manage the fair distribution of power in whatever form it takes,
from violating military codes to breaking marriage vows.

One need not be an attorney, judge, or critic by profession to identify with this archetype. If you are a natural mediator or
involved in interventions between people, you may carry this archetype in your psyche. Personal qualities that inspire in you a
commitment to lead a life with high standards related to justice and wisdom as well as the manner in which you interact with other
people are very reflective of a strong connection to this archetype. Prolonged suffering from having been misjudged--an
experience that walks hand-in-hand with learning forgiveness--should also be considered an expression of this archetype in your
life. But as with all other archetypal evaluations, you are not looking for one experience of having been misjudged or misjudging
another, but rather a life-long learning process that is centered around the learning of justice and compassion.

The shadow Judge manifests as consistently destructive criticism, judging without compassion or with a hidden agenda. Legal
manipulation, misuse of legal authority, and threatening others through an association with the law are other expressions of the
shadow. Such manipulation includes the misuse of business authority as well as conventional legal and criminal authority.

Films: Spencer Tracy in Judgment at Nuremberg; Louis Calhern as Oliver Wendell Holmes in The Magnificent Yankee; John
Forsythe in And Justice for All (shadow); Dominic Guard in The Go-Between

Fiction: Billy Budd, Foretopman (Capt. Starry Vere) by Herman Melville; The Ambassadors by Henry James.

Religion/Myth: Skan (creator god of the Dakota Sioux who judges both gods and the souls of humans); Yama (Hindu and Buddhist
god of death, judge of the dead, and ruler of death's kingdom or the hell realms); Pluto/Hades (Roman/Greek god of the
underworld and judge of the dead); Thoth (primarily the Egyptian patron deity of scribes, also known as a mediator among the
gods); San-guan ("Three Rulers," collective name for three Taoist deities who keep a register of the good and evil deeds of
people).