23 - DisputeOriginal Title = Court. (Gericht.)
Imagery = External view [outside] of a Local-Court building [arbitration].
This card represents a state of dissension.
This card is the opposite of card 11; and exudes a Negative tone.
This card describes CONCORD, and can be judged as a greater form of card 29.
Historically the specter of domestic court was used as a cheeky unserious warning about the consequeces of discord. Unfortunately the illustration has often been taken way too literally as to mean that this card is about having to appear in court. Instead this card is almost always more about petty bickering and stubbornness, than about a deadlocked situation requiring arbitration. The label of Dispute is thus a good title for contemporary understanding, as it makes no reference to a legal system and instead emphasises the underlying concept of disputing.
On a cautionary note this card can also indicate denial, either actively (by refusal to admit error) or passively (by pretending that the error doesn't exist).
Note that "stoppage" (but not ending) is implied in this card, and possibly even some backsliding of progress as gains deteriorate and allies move on. The problems indicated by this card are however possibly resolvable.
|| In the past this card was often titled "Dispute", and indicated Disagreement. Alternatively it could also have indicated denial. ||