Temperance
The Temperance card symbolizes balance and harmony, blending opposites, and maintaining calm in everyday life. It highlights the importance of moderation in all aspects, including emotions, as represented by the angel pouring water between two cups. When inverted, it signifies excess and loss of balance, urging caution against indulging too much in anything that might lead to chaos or overwhelm. The card's essence is one of grace, wisdom, and integration.
Keywords
Balancing Act
I am balancing.
Everyday Balance
Temperance is similar to the balance found in Justice, but it’s more of a day-to-day kinda thing.
Angel Symbolism
The angel is pouring water back and forth between two (identical) cups. If you look at the Basic card, the angel (I love that it’s an angel) has one foot on the shore and one in the water. The water being poured from one cup to the other is perfectly balanced. Water in tarot always means emotion—his is calm and directed. On one side is land, on the other, water. I’ve heard the following words used to describe him: oasis, peace, calm, Zen. On his forehead, a circle. On his chest, a triangle. In many Basic decks, there is also a square around the triangle. The square/triangle/circle have to do with body/mind/spirit. All are represented, because if you fall behind in the upkeep of one, the others will suffer. The wings are equal.
Land and Water
On one side, we have ranging hills leading off into the distance, and on the other, a lovely garden to rest in. One foot on land, one in the water. Balance, balance, balance. This card can also represent alchemy. A little of this and a little of that is okay. You can blend almost anything, and nothing really has to be in extremes. Opposites can be blended, you just have to have patience and the right equipment. Man and woman, fire and water. Hell, even oil and water can be mixed. You just have to know the secret.
Search for Balance
There is a balance. We just have to stop and look around to find it. Temperance rests between Death and the Devil in the tarot. Change, peace, chaos.
Key Attributes
Grace, peace, wisdom, integration, movement without loss of self, calm, moderation.
Temperance Inverted
Inverted, it’s about excess. Generally, anything in excess is bad for you. Love, anger, booze, drugs, exercise, food, socializing, sex, surfing the net. A good rule of thumb is that if you spend more than two hours a day on it (except for sleep) you might need to rethink your day. I also get an image of a whirlpool swirling around and sucking people in. It’s so easy to lose your balance when you’re precariously balanced like this. So easy to slip. It’s hard to pull yourself back out of the water, and even harder to shake the experience off. It’s all fun and games till someone gets sucked under the water.
Vortex of Crazy
I like to call this the Vortex of Crazy™. I know some people who live very happily (it seems) here. Everything is a crisis. Everything is all about them. Everything is huge. How exhausting.
Exploring Excess
Sometimes it’s not so dramatic when it’s inverted. Sometimes you need to cut loose and dive into excess. It can be important to explore and taste and get dirty and bang yourself up. It’s exhilarating, and it’s a wonderful way to learn. You might get your ass kicked, though, so keep that in mind. With Temperance inverted, there really is no in between.
Managing Emotions
You can get mad, but do you have to get angry? You can be hurt without being devastated. You can be sensitive without carrying the world’s pain in your heart.
Deck Of Luminaries Tarot
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