Card Basics

The Temperance card

14. Temperance

Number: 14 English Name: Temperance Element: Fire Astrology: Sagittarius Hebrew Letter: Samekh Keywords: Harmony, Balance, Healing, Patience, Integration, Moderation

Symbolism and Imagery

Key Symbolic Elements

Archangel Michael

  • Meaning: Divine healing power, protection.
  • Interpretation: Harmony guided by a higher power.
  • Posture: Gentle and compassionate demeanor.

Wings

  • Meaning: Spirituality, connection to the divine.
  • Interpretation: A bridge between heaven and earth.

White Robe

  • Meaning: Purity, cleanliness.
  • Interpretation: Pure intentions and actions.

Triangle Symbol

  • Position: On the chest.
  • Meaning: Element of fire, integration of spirit and matter.
  • Interpretation: Trinity, completeness.

Flow of Water

  • Between two cups: Flow of emotions and intuition.
  • Meaning: Exchange between conscious and unconscious.
  • Interpretation: Circulation and purification of energy.

Right Foot and Left Foot

  • Right Foot: On land (consciousness, material).
  • Left Foot: In water (unconscious, emotion).
  • Interpretation: Balance in both worlds.

Pond and Land

  • Meaning: Boundary between unconscious and conscious.
  • Interpretation: Harmony of emotion and reason.

Mountain Path

  • Meaning: Spiritual journey, path to higher realms.
  • Interpretation: Path to growth and progress.

Golden Crown

  • Position: On the mountain peak.
  • Meaning: Enlightenment, achieved wisdom.
  • Interpretation: The ultimate reward for effort.

Flower Garland

  • Meaning: Beauty, harmony, unity with nature.
  • Interpretation: Beautiful expression of life force.

Upright Meaning

Basic Meaning

  • Harmony: Peaceful integration of opposing elements.
  • Balance: The middle path, avoiding extremes.
  • Healing: Gentle recovery over time.
  • Patience: Long-term approach.
  • Integration: Fusion of different elements.
  • Moderation: Appropriate state, neither too much nor too little.

In Love and Relationships

  • Relationship Harmony: Peaceful balance between partners.
  • Mutual Understanding: A relationship that accepts differences.
  • Relationship Healing: Gentle recovery from past wounds.
  • Patient Love: Affection nurtured over time.
  • Spiritual Union: Deep connection at the soul level.

In Work and Career

  • Teamwork: A cooperative work environment.
  • Skill Integration: Fusion of different skills.
  • Long-term Success: Steady and sustainable growth.
  • Mediator: Arbitrating conflicting opinions.
  • Healing Professions: Work related to healing and care.

In Money and Material Matters

  • Asset Balance: Diversification of risk and stability.
  • Moderate Spending: Healthy consumption, not excessive.
  • Long-term Investment: Asset building over time.
  • Financial Harmony: Balance between income and expenditure.
  • Charity: Moderate social contribution.

In Spirituality

  • Inner Harmony: Peace and stability of mind.
  • Meditation: Gentle spiritual practice.
  • Spiritual Growth: Gradual expansion of consciousness.
  • Healing Power: Ability to heal oneself and others.
  • Middle Way: A spiritual path that avoids extremes.

Reversed Meaning

Basic Meaning

  • Disharmony: Lack of balance and conflict.
  • Excess: Extreme actions or attitudes.
  • Impatience: Lack of patience.
  • Separation: A state of disunity.
  • Hindered Healing: Obstruction of the recovery process.

In Love and Relationships

  • Relationship Instability: An unbalanced relationship.
  • Hasty Judgment: Decisions made without sufficient time.
  • Emotional Extremes: Intense mood swings.
  • Lack of Mutual Understanding: Inability to accept differences.
  • Rejection of Healing: Not facing past wounds.

In Work and Career

  • Workplace Conflict: Lack of teamwork.
  • Over-focus: An unbalanced approach.
  • Hasty Decisions: Judgments made without sufficient consideration.
  • Unintegrated Skills: Ineffective use of skills.
  • Burnout: Fatigue due to excessive effort.

In Money and Material Matters

  • Investment Imbalance: Concentration of risk.
  • Extreme Spending: Wastefulness or excessive frugality.
  • Short-term Thinking: Lack of long-term perspective.
  • Financial Instability: Imbalance in income and expenditure.
  • Selfishness: Indifference to social contribution.

Deeper Meaning and Philosophy

Philosophical Interpretation

Temperance expresses the “virtue of moderation.” This is related to Aristotle’s concept of the appropriate balance, avoiding extremes, as discussed in his Nicomachean Ethics.

  • Middle Way: Aristotle’s theory of virtue.
  • Middle Path: The path avoiding extremes in Buddhism.
  • Yin and Yang: Harmony of opposing forces in Taoism.
  • Golden Mean: A moderate and harmonious principle of action.

Psychological Interpretation

Jungian Psychology Interpretation:

  • Integration of Opposites: Harmony of conscious and unconscious.
  • Transcendent Function: Growth through the integration of opposites.
  • Individuation: Integration of the overall personality.

Positive Psychology Interpretation:

  • Well-being: Mental and physical health and happiness.
  • Resilience: The ability to recover from difficulties.
  • Mindfulness: Gentle attention to the present.

Spiritual Meaning

  • Prana: Regulation of life energy in Hinduism.
  • Qi: Energy balance in Taoism.
  • Healing: Spiritual healing power.
  • Integration: Harmony of various aspects of the soul.

Practical Reading

Interpretation Examples by Question

“How can this conflict be resolved?”

  • Upright: Seek harmony gradually with patience and understanding.
  • Reversed: You are too hasty. Take more time and understand the other person’s perspective.

“Is this relationship balanced?”

  • Upright: It is a very good balance. Nurture this harmony carefully.
  • Reversed: The balance is broken. Strive for improvement with mutual effort.

“What about my health problem?”

  • Upright: You will recover gently. Moderate treatment and patience are needed.
  • Reversed: Avoid extreme treatments. A balanced approach is necessary.

Combinations with Other Cards

Temperance + The Lovers

  • An ideal relationship. Perfect harmony and balance.

Temperance + The Star

  • Healing and hope. Gentle recovery after difficulties.

Temperance + The Hermit

  • Inner harmony. Quiet growth and integration.

Temperance + The Devil

  • Battle with temptation. Conflict between moderation and extremism.

Meditation and Work

Temperance Meditation

  1. Preparation: Place the Temperance card in a calm place.
  2. Breathing: Slow, harmonious breathing.
  3. Visualization: Imagine yourself pouring water like an angel.
  4. Balance: Feel the conflicting elements within your heart.
  5. Integration: Gentle fusion of opposing energies.
  6. Healing: Feel healing energy flowing through your entire body.
  7. Integration: Bring the harmony gained into your daily life.

Journaling Questions

  • Where in my life do I need balance?
  • What conflicting elements do I need to integrate?
  • How is my healing process progressing?
  • Where do I need to exercise patience?
  • What does my harmonious state look like?

Utilizing the Energy of Temperance in Daily Life

Daily Practice:

  • Avoid extremes and aim for a moderate approach.
  • Strive to understand conflicting opinions and people.
  • Cultivate patience to work on things over time.
  • Contribute to the healing of yourself and others.
  • Live consciously with a balance of mind and body.

Temperance Affirmations:

  • “I value harmony and balance.”
  • “I grow patiently and gently.”
  • “I integrate opposing elements.”
  • “I radiate healing energy.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: If Temperance appears, should I endure something? A: Not necessarily. Temperance means “moderation” and indicates a balanced approach that avoids extremes.

Q: Does a reversed Temperance mean I should stop abstaining? A: A reversed card indicates extreme behavior, meaning neither excessive abstinence nor excessive indulgence is appropriate.

Q: What is the difference between Temperance and Justice? A: Justice represents objective judgment and fairness, while Temperance represents subjective harmony and balance. Justice is the principle of “judging,” and Temperance is the principle of “harmonizing.”

Summary

Temperance teaches us the importance of avoiding extremes and maintaining harmony and balance in life. This card indicates the value of working on things patiently over time and gently integrating opposing elements.

The energy of Temperance teaches us that true strength lies in moderation. Healing and growth are processes that take time, and the spirit of patience and harmony brings the best results.