Meaning of Temperance

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 29 Aug 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Rhiannon	29 Aug 2002
This is one card I feel like I've never really gotten a handle on. The only thing that pops into my mind when I see it is "you need to balance yourself". And that can be hard to explain to someone who doesn't understand what you mean. Does anyone else have some other keywords or helpful advice about the Temperance card? Thanks, R :)

Supletion	29 Aug 2002
my view of the card: on the positive side, it might show compromising, uniting opposite sides, diplomacy, ability to merge things, or the need to. slow careful work, peaceful situation and taking a break from the outside world to spend some time and work on oneself, purifying oneself. high technical ability, smooth and without mistakes. patience, no extremety to neither direction. on the negative side, it might stand for shutting down the enviroment, too much self-messing, repeating the same thing over and over, slow preparations that never actually carry result. things go slow, dull, boring. lack of passion and ambition, chronical tireness, laziness prevents progress. disconnection, emotional and sexual repression and coldness. not being able to choose a side or a direction, causing staying in the same place for too long. too much hesitating. hope this helps :)

fairyhedgehog	29 Aug 2002
As always, Thirteen has some good stuff to say about this card: http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/basics/temperance.html I've taken the liberty of quoting the last part of her article on this card: Quote: from Thirteen's Tarot Basics This card really does seem to be less about moderation then about the Sagittarian desire to find a unified field theory, a way of blending opposites, achieving synthesis. In a reading, this card can mean that the Querent sees two opposite camps (choices, belief systems, families, friends) and no way to unite them. But sometimes the only reason the two won't blend is that we're not taking the time, not measuring out the right amounts (the Querent might, for example, be trying to merge two full families when blending has to occur bit by bit with individuals). It is also a reminder that a bow and arrow are useless apart, but together a formidable weapon. This card tells the Querent that they CAN and should put thesis and anti-thesis together to get the even more useful synthesis. But it will take time, care, patience and experimentation. And also, yes, moderation. I love this card because it is beautiful, peaceful and yet dynamic. The Hanson-Roberts has a particularly fine Temperance in my opinion.

Jenny-Li	29 Aug 2002
I love this card too, and especially its meaning of Alchemy, the joining of two opposites to create a magical, "higher", NEW blend... It's not just mixing fire and water to obtain a fire-and-water-mix, but what comes out of the process is something completely different... My brain doesn't quite cooperate today, so I can't really describe it better than this... Hope it made ANY sense... Light and love, Jenny :)

Major Tom	30 Aug 2002
I'm quoting from my first tarot book The Magick of the Tarot by Melita Denning & Osborne Phillips: In Divination: While the Lower Self is not to try to control or rationalize the action, it is also clearly to act. What we have-steel, paint, wine, whatever - can be made fit and adequate if we use it without anxiety. Thus Crowley says "Work without lust of result". Thus the widow was to make her cakes of meal and oil without worrying about having enough. Thus the man with one talent should not have buried it, but used it. This card indicates action guided by high intuition. Reversed Action may be spoiled by clash of incompatible interests within the individual, or with others. Projection of inner conflict by one or other party may make joint work impossible.

Laurel	30 Aug 2002
Temperance is one of my favorite cards. I can't describe my thoughts as eloquently as others, especially Thirteen did, but it goes something along the same line. The woman in Temperance is one of the Graces, a very balanced archetype who epitomizes the second saying outside the Temple of Delph "Nothing To Excess". We live subjectively in a dualistic world where most of us are constantly stuggling between over-application and under-application of our energies. Temperance is a mindset to seek harmonious living beyond a repeating cycle of overindulgance followed by repression followed by overindulgence. The practical way to look at this is dieting. People who diet can lose weight quickly, but typically regain it plus more because their metabolism reacts badly to a binge-purge cycle. However, people who can slowly cut down the amount of food they eat and move towards consistent healthy eating so its not a diet but a lifestyle will achieve their goals and be able to sustain them. The rewards won't come over night, but they will be real because the change itself is real. That's temperance. Laurel

Molly	30 Aug 2002
Excellent, excellent question! I have had the same problem with the card, and have learned a lot from these answers! Thanx all! The post just before mine reminded me of what some fundamentalist Christians can also go through... I spent a lot of time in youth groups, going on retreats, and have seen and been through this - have heard it described as a "roller coaster Christian"... You have a spiritual high and you retreat from "worldly" things - stop watching R rated movies, listening to secular music, don't read anything unless it is the bible or by Christian authors, eventually you get worn out from trying so hard to separate yourself from the world and you just go back to doing all those things you tried to stop doing.... and then you feel guilty like you aren't a good enough Christian, so you try again. I once gave away all my videos and magazines and CDs... I always felt guilty that I couldn't maintain it. Now I wonder where people get the idea that this is something they need to do... the bible verse "you are in the world but not OF the world" is highly abused, I am afraid. Temperance is a very valuable spiritual lesson in this sense. Just a thought I had after reading along... I realize we are all from very different spiritual backgrounds, so this might not make sense to some people... Though, I had a friend that was very "spiritual" - maybe this is something other people have experienced as well. She was so into talking about God and reading about God... well, she was no good at having a conversation about anything other than that. She seemed unable to empathize or *be there* because her head was always *in the clouds*... So hard relating to her.... Maybe Temperance is a good card for anyone who is caught up in religious ferver - no matter what religion it is... the card to remind them that they DO live on earth and they need to bring their head out of the clouds and find balance.

Keslynn	30 Aug 2002
Molly, I know exactly what you're talking about! That was very insightful. Of course, if I showed my Temperence card to my extreme Christian friends as a lesson they might learn, they would flip out. *lol* Oh well. I hope they will find their own "happy medium" in time. Great thoughts from this thread! :) Kes

Alex	02 Sep 2002
so I assume, it's something I don't have and something I don't need? Seriously, Temperance stands for the feeling function as Justice stands for the thinking function: the flow of *feelings*, whether angry, hurt, or loving, must be maintained: undue weight to any feeling over another will injure them all. Just as the mind must strive to achieve a rational balance (Justice) so must the heart(Temperance) strive to achieve an emotional balance. Alex.

Tarot_Cupcake	03 Sep 2002
I look at this card as "learning to accept the bad with the good". There is always alittle of each in every situation and this card says we need to realize both sides of every event and learn to "go with the flow" and accept the mixed bag, both good and bad.

Rhiannon	03 Sep 2002
These replies have all been very helpful to me, and I hope to some others as well. I appreciate your responses guys! R :)

Molly	03 Sep 2002
Alex: Thank you for bringing out the distinctions between Justice and Temperance - I have wondered about the difference. Keslynn: LOL... right! Now that I am not so ignorant about the tarot, it is odd to me how many fundamental Christians think the Tarot is of the devil. Imagine suggesting meditating on a tarot card... Very sad - they don't know what they are missing out on *G*!

MeeWah	03 Sep 2002
This is one of my favorite cards. I like the name of Temperance. In some decks such as in the Cosmic Tribe it is called Art, which I interpret as the Art of Living. It encompasses a balanced approach to all things under heaven; moderation & appropriate action; harmony or the "right" mix of ingredients to fulfillment. On occasion, I have interpreted it to refer to matters of health &/or diet. Interestingly, there was a period where it appeared in nearly every throw I did for clients, all of whom were either thinking of dieting or on a diet.

lili	04 Sep 2002
Here you can find a good definition of this card [[url]www.ata-tarot.com/resource/cards[/url]]

ChrisTheObscure	05 Sep 2002
In the Haindl Tarot, which is the deck I seem to be using most of the time, Temperance is called Alchemy and with that deck it really illustrates the idea of opposites blending together, as someone else has said. I'm pretty new, but from the first time I looked at the card I noticed a couple of things. First, the phrase, "all things come in the proper time" always comes to mind; and secondly, it speaks to me that I should wait, use caution, kind of "go with the flow"...ie, remain neutral in a conflict, strive to compromise, resist the urge tto fight for my way or my point of view to be seen (which is tough for me!). Just my $0.02 :) C.

Sally Gardens	06 Sep 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Molly The post just before mine reminded me of what some fundamentalist Christians can also go through... I spent a lot of time in youth groups, going on retreats, and have seen and been through this - have heard it described as a "roller coaster Christian"... You have a spiritual high and you retreat from "worldly" things - stop watching R rated movies, listening to secular music, don't read anything unless it is the bible or by Christian authors, eventually you get worn out from trying so hard to separate yourself from the world and you just go back to doing all those things you tried to stop doing.... and then you feel guilty like you aren't a good enough Christian, so you try again. I once gave away all my videos and magazines and CDs... I always felt guilty that I couldn't maintain it. Now I wonder where people get the idea that this is something they need to do... I can relate. Been there, done that, had the T-shirt. :D The turning point for me was realizing that spirituality was not a thing apart from "the world," a "battle" or dualistic struggle to be separate from the world, but rather a process of growth and finding successful integration with the world, a process of finding that balancing point in which I am both a distinct self yet also connected and "one" with life and the world. The "spiritual" path does not seek to transcend the world but rather runs right through the middle of the world. ;)

Strega	06 Sep 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Molly Thank you for bringing out the distinctions between Justice and Temperance - I have wondered about the difference. Here's an existing thread on the topic: http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6120 Hope that helps. :)

Kurai Yuko	06 Sep 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Rhiannon Does anyone else have some other keywords or helpful advice about the Temperance card? Thanks, R :) Hi! To say that the Temperance means that you have to balance yourself is right, but incomplete. The Temperance can mean, also, a long time waiting without any response. For example, you are waiting for something that you really want to happen. But if you take the Temperance when asking about this thing, it can means it doesn't matter how long you wait, it'll be a really boring witing and will take a really long time to happen. Sometimes, it can mean that you need to 'think again'. Do you really want this to happen? Is it so important? Are you sure that this 'thing' won't bring you problem in the future? Now you need to sit and think. Of course, all i'm writing here is the Temperance alone. In another spread, it'll depend on the other cards. Some keywords: inertia in your objectives, passivity in your behavior, balance, long waiting (with no results), boredom. I'd like to say that the Temperance also means that something is interfering in your objectives (usually something spiritual), and that you can do nothing about it, except to accept the time's limitation. Or that the things will need more time to 'get ready' than you expected. Or even that you'll have patience, keep forgiving, keep thinking and waiting, waiting... I know it sounds very negative, but it's a passive card. It gives you time to analyze the situation, to change your way or to keep waiting. When the Temperance (14) starts fighting for it's goals and becomes active, then it'll become the Devil (15). I hope i've helped you, even if just a little :)

Rhiannon	07 Sep 2002
This is why I love the forums so much. It's just like reading about 100 different books on tarot. Even if you've read all of them before, someone can say just ONE word that makes sense to you, and then you've got it! It's our diversity and differences of opinion and approach that make this place so wonderful and informative. R :) *who is very happy and thankful today*

Challenge	15 May 2004
I look at the angel as being a lamp that starts to glow when two ends (opposites) meet eachother...like electricity...when you find the right mix,the right blend you feel some kind of enlightment as you can see in the radiance around the angels'head...

TemperanceAngel	15 May 2004
*Oooo ooo, TA jumps about about waving her arms...* In my experience as a reader I have learnt that this card can sometimes represent healing to a situation or a healer, a person has the qualities of a healer... XTAX

Seed Crystal	17 Oct 2004
Temperance Etymology: Latin temperare: to mix, regulate, restrain oneself, abstain; tempor, tempus time, timely, seasonal. Related words: temporal; temper (especially in the mix of substances to produce an alloy); temperature; temperate; possibly tempest, temple because of the connection to time and timely. by the way, loved the comment about Temple of Delph, Nothing To Excess.

Ace	17 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Kurai Yuko Some keywords: inertia in your objectives, passivity in your behavior, balance, long waiting (with no results), boredom. I'd like to say that the Temperance also means that something is interfering in your objectives (usually something spiritual), and that you can do nothing about it, except to accept the time's limitation. Or that the things will need more time to 'get ready' than you expected. Or even that you'll have patience, keep forgiving, keep thinking and waiting, waiting... I always saw Temperance as bringing into one's own life what you need for your growth and developement. But that was because that is what I was TAUGHT at the beginning what it meant. I could never get used to the Temperance of RWS or Robin Wood. They just didn't "do" me. Now the way you describe Temperance fits exactly with the WorldTree Tarot version (showing a man fishing and just relaxing) I can see it as passivity but not as a negative passivity, sometimes you just have to WAIT. Thanks guys for clarifying this card for me, it always gave me more trouble than the courts!

RedMaple	18 Oct 2004
I used the Motherpeace Tarot for quite a while, and the Temperance card is of someone dancing. I liked the way this made Temperance a very active card, and made me go back and see the waters blending in a new way. Yes, alchemy. Yes, dancing the world into balance. Very different than passive "being in balance" which I could never picture. Now I think, what is the dance? What is being brought into balance? RedMaple

smleite	19 Oct 2004
I recently found something I would like to share. Curiously (or not...), the Samaritan woman was sometimes used to personify Temperance, as in this French chapel, “Chapelle Saint-Gaetan ou de la Misericorde”, http://www.nicerendezvous.com/FR/X_vieuxnice.php?p=79. The text refers to a mural painting of “the Samaritan, representing Temperance (pouring water from a vase into another (…)” (la Samaritaine, figurant la Tempérance (versant de l'eau d'un vase dans un autre (…)). The Samaritan was this woman, from Samaria, to whom Jesus asked for common water, taken from a well, giving her in exchange what He called “living water”: John, Chapter 4, 1 – 14: “when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus himself was not baptizing, just his disciples), he left Judea and returned to Galilee. He had to pass through Samaria. So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there. Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well. It was about noon. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." His disciples had gone into the town to buy food. 5 The Samaritan woman said to him, "How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?" (For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans.) Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." (The woman) said to him, "Sir, you do not even have a bucket and the cistern is deep; where then can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this cistern and drank from it himself with his children and his flocks?" Jesus answered and said to her, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." Nice, no? Silvia

Proserpina	19 Oct 2004
Hi Rhiannon, This has probably been the toughest card for me to work with too. I interpret it as a need to watch yourself and not go to extremes, keeping emotions in check and not letting things get out of hand. I also see it as allowing things to just "be"-- let things flow naturally and don't try to push it too much. ~P Quote: Originally posted by Rhiannon This is one card I feel like I've never really gotten a handle on. The only thing that pops into my mind when I see it is "you need to balance yourself". And that can be hard to explain to someone who doesn't understand what you mean. Does anyone else have some other keywords or helpful advice about the Temperance card? Thanks, R :)

Sechat	22 Oct 2004
This is one of the cards that I must find beautiful in order to buy the deck. While many cards I struggle to fully comprehend so that I am no longer dependent on book meanings, Temperance came fairly easily. I find that my take on it is a little unusual in that I think to temper, to moderate, is often a blending of 'unequal' qualities....Dan Millman (author of the Peaceful Warrior books) tells a parable in which a beginning archer has to 'overcorrect' aim way to the left in order to correct a tendency to miss to the right. When we have trying to reframe our behavior, the longer we've continued on the undesired path, and the more defensive we feel about it, the more skewed our sense of center can be. Also we are all beautiful unique expression of Life, therefore wouldn't we need to find uniquely individual ways of expressing Temperance? peace, sechat

Ace	22 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by smleite I recently found something I would like to share. Curiously (or not...), the Samaritan woman was sometimes used to personify Temperance, as in this French chapel, “Chapelle Saint-Gaetan ou de la Misericorde”, http://www.nicerendezvous.com/FR/X_vieuxnice.php?p=79. The text refers to a mural painting of “the Samaritan, representing Temperance (pouring water from a vase into another (…)” (la Samaritaine, figurant la Tempérance (versant de l'eau d'un vase dans un autre (…)). The Samaritan was this woman, from Samaria, to whom Jesus asked for common water, taken from a well, giving her in exchange what He called “living water”: John, Chapter 4, 1 – 14 Nice, no? So Temperance is also about giving and getting back? yeah, that makes sense!

The Meaning of Temperance thread was originally posted on 29 Aug 2002 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.