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Temperance Tarot Card Meaning
Temperance Tarot card meaning – Temperance is the 14th (XIV) card of the Major Arcana and represents alchemy, balance, flexibility, integration, polarity, and peace.
With Temperance, deep awareness, knowledge, and wisdom meet with expansion, confident optimism, and open-minded creativity.
Spiritually, Temperance symbolizes the artful integration and harmonization of opposites in order to create something new and greater than before. It is a card of great alchemy and creative power, but also of dissolution. Two forces cannot unite if they remain wholly separate – they must each dissolve first.
In this, Temperance offers you a lesson: sometimes creation and harmony require you to break down the polarities in your life and bring them together. Once you combine disparate forces and influences in your life, you may find yourself more creative, inspired, and productive. Temperance teaches that moderation and balance are key; excess of one polarity and a lack of another causes the alchemy of our lives to fail.
Astrologically, Temperance represents the zodiac sign Sagittarius. Both Sagittarius and Temperance are ruled by the Fire element, jovial Jupiter, and active Yang energy. Like the archetype of Sagittarius, Temperance is symbolic of a wise teacher and master mediator; they love exploring new things and are constantly expanding their horizons.
Some questions Temperance asks you to ponder…
- When have you experienced a need for alchemy in your life? What was it?
- Where do you most need balance or moderation in your life? In what way?
- What is your relationship to polarity? How do you go about integrating polar opposites?
- What opposites exist within yourself? How do they reflect within you and your actions? Do they work together or clash?
In this post, we’ll be going over Temperance’s Upright and Reversed meanings, as well as Temperance as a person (or significator), Temperance as feelings, and Temperance as a yes or no. Whether you are a seasoned tarot reader or just beginning to explore the world of divination, Temperance offers valuable insights and guidance for navigating life’s challenges with wisdom, discernment, and inner peace.
One foot in sea and one on shore: to one thing constant never.
– William Shakespeare
Temperance Keywords & Concepts
| Upright: | alchemy, balance, flexibility, integration, moderation, polarity, peace |
| Reversed: | excess, extremes, disharmony, impatience, imbalance, lack of boundaries |
| Energy: | Yang |
| Element: | Fire |
| Planet: | Jupiter |
| Zodiac Sign: | Sagittarius |
| Yes or No: | Yes |
Common Symbols
- Androgynous angel (spiritual qualities of the divine masculine & feminine)
- Crown/Sun (ultimate spiritual Oneness; divinity)
- One foot in the water, one foot on earth (alchemy, integration)
- Fire & Water (also symbols of divine yang & yin; the perpetual giving & receiving of energy in the Universe)
- Sunrise (new beginnings & possibilities)
- Two cups (love, harmony)
- Iris flowers (renewal, spiritual enlightenment)
Don’t have time to read? Check out this helpful video for key meanings of the Temperance Tarot card!
Temperance Upright
In the upright position, Temperance means that you are being invited to create alchemy, balance, and moderation in your life. The Temperance tarot card represents unity and new creation from two very different things. This process requires creativity, flexibility, and trial and error. Practice patience and keep an open mind.
Similar to the Wheel of Fortune, the Temperance card can be a signal to go with the flow of the Universe – let go of trying to force or resist things. Although balance may be required of you now, according to Temperance, this doesn’t necessarily mean an equal or 50/50 split. With Temperance, you are encouraged to find the right mix of elements that works for you. Your sense of balance may look very different from someone else’s – explore what balance personally feels and looks like to you.
Temperance advises you to take the middle path. A balanced or moderate approach may be needed. Even if life is feeling stressful or chaotic, you are being encouraged to maintain your composure and remain calm. This card avoids extremes and values equanimity and tranquility.
Temperance Reversed
Temperance Reversed represents excess and extremes of various kinds. This reversal can come up as a warning that balance has been lost somehow.
You may be experiencing too much or not enough of something; Temperance reversed often appears when you’ve been overindulging, overspending, forcing an issue, or working yourself into burnout. By continuing to do this, you are pushing yourself further and further out of balance. It’s time to stop living in excess or extremes and restore moderation in your life. Stabilize your energy.
Another meaning of Temperance Reversed is that you are trying to force two or more different things that are just not destined to work or to come together (at least for now). Temperance Reversed suggests that the differences are too great to be able to blend successfully – you may need to take a break or find another solution.
Temperance Reversed may also indicate a time of serious self-reflection and re-evaluation of your current life, beliefs, and priorities. You may be feeling conflicted because internally you feel one way, but externally, your life doesn’t match up with what is arising within you.
Bring your inner and outer worlds into alignment; make sure your external world and actions correspond with your new priorities. You may need to re-examine certain aspects such as your career, relationships, living situation, or daily habits, and make adjustments as necessary. Although creating positive change can cause some friction and tension at times, it is well worth it. This is your opportunity to realign with your authentic self and highest potential.
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Temperance as a Person
The Temperance tarot card represents someone who is incredibly balanced and displays moderation in all they do. They usually have a calm temperament and prefer to lead a well-balanced, holistic lifestyle. This person may be a natural artist, healer, lightworker, mentor, or teacher.
Temperance people often enjoy spending their time traveling or learning about the arts, foreign cultures, philosophies, or spirituality. They make solid friends as they are reliable, fair, and wise. They readily lend a listening ear when needed, constructively work through problems, and their advice is always sound. Even under immense stress, they maintain their cool and don’t let little things get to them. The Temperance card signifies some of the most talented, patient, understanding, and grounded people out there. Full of grace.
Temperance (Reversed) as a Person
Temperance Reversed shows someone who can be quite impulsive, energetic, and prone to extremes. They can be stubborn, preferring to rely on themselves and do things their own way. With Temperance in Reverse, they may be somewhat of a misfit, rebel, or loner. It’s possible that they learned to be this way early on due to external circumstances or it may just be their nature. They can be emotionally reactive and direct.
Sometimes Temperance in reverse can suggest someone who has resorted to suppressing or deflecting their emotions in unhealthy ways. This may manifest as reckless impulsive behavior, drug/alcohol abuse, mood swings, or bouts of anxiety or depression. For whatever reason, these people are out of balance and can jump from one extremity in life to another.
Temperance as Feelings
Temperance is generally associated with feelings of balance, harmony, and moderation. In a romantic context, this card suggests that someone may be feeling a strong sense of harmony and balance in their emotions toward you. They may see you as someone who can bring balance to their life and create a sense of harmony in their relationship.
If Temperance appears as how someone feels about you, it means that they might be looking for a balanced and harmonious relationship with you. They are attracted to your calm and grounded nature, and they may see you as someone who can bring a sense of balance and stability to their life.
Temperance (Reversed) as Feelings
When the Temperance card appears in reverse, it may mean that someone is feeling imbalanced, uncentered, and lacking moderation in their emotions. Romantically, this reversal can indicate that someone may be struggling with their feelings towards you, feeling conflicted or unsure about their attraction to you.
In terms of how someone feels about you, Temperance reversed suggests that they may perceive you as someone who is struggling to find balance in your life. They may feel like you’re dealing with addictive behaviors or overindulgence in something, which can create instability in your life and relationships.
Temperance in reverse may also reveal that someone feels like you’re not meeting their expectations in terms of balance and harmony; they could be frustrated with your behavior and find it difficult to connect with you on a deeper level because of it.
Temperance: Yes or No
In a yes or no reading, the Temperance tarot card typically indicates a “maybe” or a “middle way.” Temperance suggests that moderation and balance are necessary, and that a decision should be made with careful consideration and patience.
Therefore, it may not be the best card to give a straightforward “yes” or “no” answer. Instead, it shows that a more nuanced approach is needed to reach a decision and that compromises or adjustments may need to be made to find a satisfactory outcome.
Temperance (Reversed): Yes or No
As a yes or no answer in a tarot reading, the reversed Temperance card means there is a need for moderation and balance in a situation. You or someone involved in the situation is struggling to maintain a sense of equilibrium, possibly due to overindulgence or addiction to something.
Therefore, Temperance reversed leans more toward a “no” answer. The situation you are asking about may not be in a state of balance or moderation at this time, and that it may not be the right time to move forward with your plans. You might need to take a step back and reassess the situation before making any decisions.
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Sage & Moon is a participant in affiliate programs, including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. We may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you if you choose to purchase through these links. Any product we choose is based on personal recommendations that we love and trust you will too. By using these links you are directly supporting us to keep writing + creating. Thank you!
