In the Qabalistic Tarot, Judgement is assigned to the Hebrew letter Shin. Shin is fascinating and filled with meaning. Its meaning is "tooth", and this implies its ability to bite and break down. The judgement "has teeth" so to speak.
The form of the letter has three prongs - like a trident, or a triple flame. In the traditional assignment, the element of fire is associated with this letter. The value of the letter is 300, and so we can sense that it implies a triple-energy on a grand scale. What is a triple energy? Usually when a phenomena is explored through three stages those stages imply two opposing energies and a synthesis - the completeness of this synthesis is the "spirit" of the phenomenon.
In alchemy there are the three qualities: Sulfur (burning and breaking down), Mercury (flowing and transforming), and salt (congealing and setting). The play between these states allows an evolution on the level of substance towards purer states of existence. So too with judgement - the fire burns up the dross, and the pure flowing mercury is released.
"Shin", when spelt in full is "Shin-Yod-Nun", and has the value of 360. This is significant for us because it represents the full circle of 360 degrees. In the famous 7-fold name of God, the "Shem ha Mephorash" (which title starts and ends with a Shin!), there are 72 angels of with five letters in their names - 360 letters, 360 degrees. The spirit of Shin is a mighty heavenly circle.
The Holy name of God, Tetragrammaton, is linked to Shin, since the athbash of YHVH (26) is MTzPTz (300). That same holy name is linked to the principle of firstness or unity, because of its gematria value - 26. The letter Aleph itself is made up graphically of a vav with two yods attached - for the value of 26. All these mysterious connections link 360, 300, 26, and 1 into a network. Since 300 (also "Ruach Elohim" - the breath of God) is of the nature of a fire of pure awareness, then we may interpret the Judgement as a moment in which our distortions and ignorances begin to be immolated. Like a Pheonix.
For all these reasons, I view the Judgement as the path of the Pheonix.
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