Temperance - a Difficult Card?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 04 Nov 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Demonesse	04 Nov 2002
I'm having trouble interpreting the Temperance card, and I see in Thirteen's Tarot Basics it's one of the hardest cards to interpret. For example, in a reading I tried to do recently, Temperance appeared in the place of 'internal forces' in a simple experimental spread - the querent's question was about self development both in a material and spiritual sense, and I confess I was somewhat at a loss to interpret the card. So, would anyone be kind enough to share their interpretations of this card the right way up as well as reversed (as clearly and simply as possible)?

Rhiannon	04 Nov 2002
http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?threadid=6904&highlight=temperance There you go! R :)

dangerdork	04 Nov 2002
That thread from Rhiannon had a lot of good thoughts. Another thing about Temperance not discussed so much on that thread is the idea of moderation achieved through experience - that the extreme limits must be tested before defining a middle ground. An important thing to remember about Temperance is that it is the card that follows Death in the Fool's journey. If Death is a transformation and the end of a cycle, then Temperance is the wisdom gained after having gone through a full cycle of the seasons, through night and through day; balance and harmony achieved by living through and thus understanding the full range of experience. There was a link to the ATA site on that other thread, I thought the definition there was awesome.

Trogon	05 Nov 2002
I don't generally think of Temperance as being a particularly difficult card, so much as it is a somewhat multi-faceted card. It can relate to many, many things both spiritual and worldly. Internal and external. Simple and complex. Positive and negative. And, I feel it can relate to these differing things at the same time... such is the nature of Temperence. I also feel that I sometimes have some "difficulty" with this card because mixing these kinds of opposities in our minds is a difficult thing to do sometimes. Especially blending the sometimes opposites of what we want vs. what we need. I've had it turn up in a couple of readings for other people, but only once for me and fairly recently. This was back on Oct. 19th... I did a 3-card daily pyramid reading for myself just before the beginning of my shift at work (I'm a police dispatcher at a small police department). Anyway, sometimes it can be very quiet on the late shift here and, even though it was Saturday, I was hoping for it would be as I had several things of my own that I wanted to do. The reading had Temperance in the "peak/main theme" position. I had intially interpreted the card as possibly meaning that there would be a balance between what I wanted and what would be needed for my work. Kind of a blending of "work" and "play". After a bit of further reflection there was a greater depth here. There was more that would be required of me, that I would have to achieve and maintain a balance of and blending of patience and energy. That I would probably be facing frustrations as well as satisfaction. And that I would have to maintain an emotianal and spiritual balance. At least that is, basically, what I wrote down in my readings notebook for that reading. I do recall that this was one of the busiest shifts I'd had in many months. And yes, there were many frustrations as well as triumphs and a blending of myself and the officers into a smoothly functioning team. Now, I'll be the first to admit that I'm writing this waaaayy after the fact, and that some of my impressions are probably colored by this fact. However, that is, I think, part of getting the experience and knowledge we want in regards to the Tarot... or at least that's what I think. I suppose that Ms. Temperance could've pushed me into the pond and that I'm all wet... ;)

Thirteen	05 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Demonesse Temperance appeared in the place of 'internal forces' in a simple experimental spread - the querent's question was about self development both in a material and spiritual sense, and I confess I was somewhat at a loss to interpret the card. Remember that Temperance is always advice on blending in moderation opposites to create a synthesis. This is how it differs from Justice, by the way, which is about balance. When you see Justice, you usually have a choice to make--an all or nothing choice. Like, eat a lot of sweets or eat none. The Justice card comes up and advices you to stay in the middle: eat ONE sweet. Not a lot, not none. Balance. If you asked the cards "Should I paint my room red or blue" and you got Justice, the answer would be "a little of both, some red, some blue." But Temperance is all about merging opposites into a unique third. So the answer Temperance would give you to that same, "Red or Blue?" question would be, "Paint it violet!" Justcie is about the mind, fairness, balance. Whoever has more must give up some to create a balance. Temperance is about fire, passion, alchemy--cooking advice if you will; it says, if you try to blend two ingredients together too quickly you'll get a mess. But do it slowly, and you'll get a lovely sauce. You're querent's question was self-development in material and spiritual sense. Now I don't know what "internal forces" means--as I don't know what spread you were doing and what the rest of the cards were. Nevertheless, I'd read this as the querent' belief that the two (material/spiritual) are opposites and must be developed seperately--but the internal forces (Temperance) know that they can only be developed separately for so long (like the ingredients in the sauce)--but full development requires eventual, and gradual merging of the two into a unified whole. See?

Silaria	05 Nov 2002
I was thinking about this discussion and took a look at the Temperance card in the Robin Wood Tarot. What I saw in this card is balance and control. The figure in the card is juggling 3 balls (work, family, self is how I see the balls). The calm expression on his face is calm and in control of all three aspects. The figure standing on Earth and Water also signals balance between the physical and spiritual worlds. Now, this is just looking at the card itself. The cards around it, the way the card displays (inversed or normal) and the position in the spread would determine how I truely interpret the card in a reading.

zander770	05 Nov 2002
Quote: [i] For example, in a reading I tried to do recently, Temperance appeared in the place of 'internal forces' in a simple experimental spread - the querent's question was about self development both in a material and spiritual sense, and I confess I was somewhat at a loss to interpret the card. [/b] a lot of the time, for me (personally & reading for others, and, i think this just might be the case regarding the quote, above), the #14 key has a "physcian heal thyself" meaning (if that makes any sense). sure, it's "balance" & "moderation," depending, but, i also feel the card has a heavy aspect of "trial through fire," or, a "coming through the other side," type of flare! ~Z~770

anjocoxo	05 Nov 2002
I'm just a begginer, but temperance also means mixing two very different thing (such as water and fire, for instance) with moderation. As long as you believe you can blend both opposite things, you can do it. Maybe your friend should try to mix the physical and spiritual and develop both aspects of his/her life, as long as he/she does it with ponderation and calm...

XLCR	05 Nov 2002
Am I the only one who see's sexual compatability, chemestry, earth shattering sex - in the temperance card....? Using the sacred circle tarot deck

XLCR	05 Nov 2002
Sorry... : D to much time at the computer was confusing with the tower card...but sometimes see sex in temperance also...mixing of fluids...uh maybe I'm just hormonal

Major Tom	06 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Thirteen But Temperance is all about merging opposites into a unique third. Temperance is about fire, passion, alchemy--cooking advice if you will; it says, if you try to blend two ingredients together too quickly you'll get a mess. But do it slowly, and you'll get a lovely sauce. I like this. :) A quote from The Magick of Tarot by Melita Denning and Osborne Phillips: 'It is agreed that "temperance" here is a mistranslation: the English word should have been "tempering". To temper is to modify and such modification often involves liquid: steel is heated and then tempered with cold water, wine is tempered with water, paint is tempered with oil.' Crowley called it Art and it's easy to see why. Temperance is about transformation of the Self.

Pollux	06 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Thirteen But Temperance is all about merging opposites into a unique third. So the answer Temperance would give you to that same, "Red or Blue?" question would be, "Paint it violet!". Temperance is about fire, passion, alchemy--cooking advice if you will; it says, if you try to blend two ingredients together too quickly you'll get a mess. But do it slowly, and you'll get a lovely sauce. I love this too! :D Actually so far I was trying to work out some Astrological correspondences, and to my non-surprise while researching and looking at decks I have noticed that the Temperance is a card with a number of different associations. Yet, I got stuck on the Sagittarius - it is the one that works for me, also on a basis of signs and their "spreading" among the cards. Now your post just gave me the hint to understand that, and I feel so accomplished! The Fire idea of alchemy and cooking is just NEAT, and it exemplifies it so much! :) In answer to the thread, I also see Temperance as a card of awareness. This derives from my being intuitively stuck withthe Sagittarius thing (as said above), and leaning on the psychological meanings of cards on a general basis. Temperance, a bit like Sagittarius, represents the blending of unconscious and conscious: the angel is mixing fluids from a silver calice into a golden one, the lunar cup of the primeval unknown and the solar cup of outward clear knowing. An integration of the personality. I don't know about the other cards and the spread as well, but maybe there's some issue your friend must work on, something that must be dragged from the depth of her soul/mind into light, some ghosts she's got to deal with... Or rather she must simply exploit the inner urge she feels and bring it out, turn it into energy for her use. That's what I can merely think of for a "inner forces". Quote: Originally posted by Major Tom 'It is agreed that "temperance" here is a mistranslation: the English word should have been "tempering". To temper is to modify and such modification often involves liquid: steel is heated and then tempered with cold water, wine is tempered with water, paint is tempered with oil.' Mh... The GILL TAROT... :P *LOL* No, seriously, in the Gill #14 is called "Temperare" (oh really? ;) *LOL*), to the meaningthat you quoted here, Major Tom. I don't know if I am fond of the design, since I am a big fan of the traditional Temperance. Anyway, the card is quite original: a speedily swirling angel with fire around him, dancing on waters, and a a gale around him, earthy landscape n the background. My view is that she intended to include nt only fire and water, but also air (wind) and earth (hills). An tetra-elemental tempering. I think I'll have to post this back again in the 78DW study group... *LOL* There is a TEST meaning as well though, that I was forgetting and Gill reminded me of. So I agree with those that mentioned it before. The testing time will require the "tempering" of the self withnew attitudes and behaviours, a new self-creation eant to strengthen the self. The Card shows a rainbow, good omen of positive fate. Tempering is the "tackling-with" action itself, if you want. Maybe her "inner forces" are the self-same will to tackle withdevelopment in anyway - it could be a rather recent urge and situation she's found herself into.

divinerguy	06 Nov 2002
Temperance also reflects the concept of avoiding self-destructive, but indulgent, habits and activities. Its a "step back and think a bit" card. Wait before jumping in. Too much of a good thing. Self-control.

Jewel	06 Nov 2002
I had an incredible experience when I entered the Temperance card a year or so ago. I learned from it that it is also (aside from you have already posted) consequences for your actions. Not like in the Justice card, but in the blending and tempering sense. I was able to experience the emotions of another, what I created, based on my behavior through this exercise. The unique 3rd I was creating as eloquently put by Thirteen. It was quite amazing.

Demonesse	06 Nov 2002
I admit, even after Thirteen's clarification, I'm still having a bit of trouble differentiating between Justice's and Temperance's meanings on the issue of balance and moderation when they come up in a spread... :(

Diana	06 Nov 2002
edited

Thirteen	06 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Demonesse I'm still having a bit of trouble differentiating between Justice's and Temperance's meanings on the issue of balance and moderation when they come up in a spread... They're very close. Take this example. A glass of wine with dinner or no wine? Justice: A half glass of wine with dinner. Temperance: Mix a half-glass wine with half-glass water and have that for dinner. Both are moderation. But here's the big difference: JUSTICE has a SWORD. TEMPERANCE has cups. So Justice will always look at what you've got and slice it in half. It will part the mess in the middle and put half on one side of the scales, half on the other side. Here, you've gone to court to settle the matter and it's going to be settled, coldly, logically, fairly, inequivably. Like it or not, you get half a glass of wine, because that's right and fair and balanced. Temperance, on the other hand, will take what you've got, toss it into the cups, and mix them together into a whole new brew (again, like it or not). Here, you've gone to a bartender to settle the matter ;) And the bartender is going to say, "Hey, why not just toss in some fruit juice with a half-glass wine and we'll make you up some Sangria--maybe mull it with some spices. It'll be moderate--but also completely new and different." Which, by the way, is a VERY Sagittarius way of doing things. Can't do it all? Well, then, let's do it wildly different. Let's go in a whole new direction with our half-glass of wine. Put it another way: Temperance is moderation combined with TRANSFORMATION. Justice is just moderation.

Demonesse	06 Nov 2002
Check out Joan Bunning's interpretation of Temperance on her site and you'll know what I mean - see below :) Temperance as a word doesn't always signify combining two into one either, does it? I mean, in 19th century England to be "temperate" meant abstaining from drink...metal can also be "tempered" by fire? being temperate finding the middle ground showing moderation avoiding excess mitigating a harsh position looking for the golden mean reaching a compromise offsetting an extreme maintaining balance experiencing harmony achieving equilibrium bringing together opposites recognizing all sides fostering cooperation feeling centered and secure experiencing health renewing energy and vigor healing enjoying well-being recovering flourishing combining forces gathering together what is needed joining with others consolidating finding the right mix creating synthesis getting it all together

amber_wish	08 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by XLCR Sorry... : D to much time at the computer was confusing with the tower card...but sometimes see sex in temperance also...mixing of fluids...uh maybe I'm just hormonal hahah! this is so funny...never wud have thought of that! To me this is a neutral and peaceful card. Howover it can sometimes signifys boredom if upright and if reverse I usually read it as a sudden release from a stand still or stale mate position. Blessings

Seed Crystal	17 Oct 2004
I looked up the etymology of Temperance today: 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, timely and seasonal.

The Temperance - a Difficult Card? thread was originally posted on 04 Nov 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.