TEMPERANCE - Revelations Tarot
First impressions
A “pale and interesting” card, full of feathers !
From the book
Upright
Effortlessly the angel brings a balance between air, water, and fire. Creation finds birth in its vessel.
Once again the theme of balance, similar to justice, comes into play in one's life. Here, the balance achieved extends into the resolution of issues outside of just legal matters, such as life and love. This card heralds the ability within oneself to bring together differing elements to work in unison. Calm and serenity along with ease will be experienced when this card is drawn.
In terms of an individual, this card brings to light the presence of a person who exhibits qualities of being a counselor, a creator, or a well-rounded individual who knows everything. He or she can be an artist who brings new media together, an instigator who brings people together, or an inventor who merges ideas to form new and exciting avenues of exploration.
In terms of situations, any arguments will be resolved with happy endings. Relationships will blossom under this card as balance and union will be achieved. This card may also advise seeking out a third party to bring closure to any resolutions, such as a mediator, a counselor, or even a diplomat.
Reversed
The elements work against the angel as conflict comes from within.
The reverse often implies that things are out of balance within oneself. Tasks do not seem to work out. Relationships with others do not seem to meld. Ideas and concepts cannot live harmoniously inside your head. Life seems to overrun you with little to no balance between your work and social life.
In terms of an individual, this card would reflect upon a person who has too many things on his or her palette and is trying desperately to balance everything at once and not succeeding very well. This person burdens him- or herself, and eventually you, with his or her dilemmas while frustration takes his or her emotions on a roller coaster ride. This person may come across as unstable and erratic as he or she desperately tries to settle all of his or her issues at once.
In a situation, this card indicates an atmosphere of tension from this imbalance. There may be arguments, quarrels, or competitiveness between teammates and factions. In a relationship, there could be the same restlessness and tension, which will prevent one or both partners from living harmoniously. This card advises one to look within to find the source of the imbalance first before anything can be resolved.
Images and Symbolism
The angels of this card represent the high level of energy within each of us. We draw upon this energy to bring elements together and to form objects of beauty and of use. The liquids represent water and fire. Unlike some of the extreme elements that cancel each other out, when water and fire are brought together they form useful forces such as steam. The synthesis and dance, orchestrated by the angel, illustrates this. This synthesis represents the fine art of balance and patience.
The reversed side plays on the idea of chaos that comes from imbalance. Here the forces do not work harmoniously. The background of random shapes also lends to the uneasy feel of this card. The frustration shows on the angel's face as the elements do not meet eye to eye.
Traditional meanings
Upright: Moderation, temperance, patience, harmony, fusion, good influence, confidence.
Reversed: Discord, conflict, disunion, hostility, frustration, impatience.
My impressions:
UprightAn angel with palms upturned stands in front of a streaming cauldron. The smoke/steam from it forms a ring around him, and also forms a caduceus up the centre of the image. All is very pale purple and green.
Reversed The angel in the reversed image is similar, but dancing and with half folded wings. he has a somewhat agitated face, but still appears in control and relatively calm - - perhaps dancing to get something back into balance – dancing way the problem perhaps.
The upright image is very static – almost
too balanced. I think such a degree of temperance could be excessive; almost obsessive. The caduceus is interesting though – it suggests healing as an aspect of the card. (Temperance for an alcoholic, for instance, on a very basic level !) On the other hand the reversed gives more on an unbalanced view than many; it is full of movement; not something I would expect from a temperance card somehow. But the paleness and a degree of calmness hold up throughout the card.
All the cards from this deck can be viewed
here.
