Symbolizing: Temperance

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 23 May 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Thirteen	23 May 2004
And now we get to some of the really cool/sticky ones as we continue to examine the symbolism in the Majors. What you like and what you don't. What you feel ought to be there...or not. For this thread, Temperance. Just answer one or more of the following: 1) What elements from any Temperance card from any deck do you feel BEST symbolize Temperance? (Example: "I love that Temperance is an angel.") 2) What elements common to most Temperance cards in most decks do you really feel are all WRONG for Temperance? (Example: "I've NEVER liked that Temperance is an angel.") 3) What symbol have you always felt was right for the Temperance Card, but you've yet to see it? (Example: "I'd reather see Temperance as a devil, with bat wings!"). You don't have to answer all the above, but do offer some "why's?" as to what you answer. Why don't you/do you like the angel? What does the angelic figure in Temperance cards mean that it feels/doesn't feel like the Temperance card to you?

TemperanceAngel	23 May 2004
I love that Temperance is an angel..heehee, no seriously I love the woman on Temperance she's so peaceful and I find the card very healing :)

lark	23 May 2004
I love that the Robin Wood~ Temperance is juggling three balls. Gold for material wealth, the conscious mind, and the past. Silver for spiritual wealth, the subconscious mind, and the present. Crystal for mental aptitude, mystery, and the future. The angel coordinates all the balls, handles them easily and can control all of these forces within himself. This card always gives me the best understanding of what Temperance means to me.

Cerulean	23 May 2004
1) What elements from any Temperance card from any deck do you feel BEST symbolize Temperance? The hands pouring the fluids from one vessel to another in a cleansing ritual. I don't mind the angel, but I like best the idea of something mythical, perhaps like Hebe, the cupbearer of the gods, preparing the celestial wine. If it is a woman, I find it prettier, but the winged angel is fine. The feet, one so near the waters and the other on the ground. If there is flowing water and grass and the feet are bare, I feel the sensation of dry and wet, warm and cold and I like it. Long cattails, a flowing stream, cool green grass, a hill or mountain in the background with a daybreak scene--this adds beauty to the scene and I like it all the more. 2) What elements common to most Temperance cards in most decks do you really feel are all WRONG for Temperance? I prefer the human form of Temperance to be female and wingless because I like to identify with the allegory. However the way the Milan Taroccos with winged angels show the card, I actually find it sometimes more charming than the Rider Waite clones that make the angel male or actually as the Connally--I think the Christ figure is Temperance, which doesn't work for me. 3) What symbol have you always felt was right for the Temperance Card, but you've yet to see it? (Example: "I'd reather see Temperance as a devil, with bat wings!"). I have yet to see one of these interesting Greek poems actually illustrated for Temperance, although I believe it would be perfect: Leave Crete, Aphrodite, and come to this sacred place encircled by apple trees, fragrant with offered smoke. Here cold springs sing softly amid the branches, the ground is shady with roses, from trembling young leaves, a deep drowsiness pours. In the meadows, horses are cropping the wildflowers of spring, scented fennel blows on the breeze. In this place, beloved Lady of Cyprus, pour the nectar that honors you into our cups, gold and raised up for drinking. ---Sappho That captures the brightness of a different Eden that I seem to see when I think of my ideal Temperance!

The Symbolizing: Temperance thread was originally posted on 23 May 2004 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.