Tarot Cards Meanings - Major Arcana - Temperance - meaning in detail
Temperance - tarot card meaning in detail
The Daughter of the Reconcilers; The Bringer Forth of Life
Card Number: 14
Key Number: 25
Rulership: Sagittarius
Hebrew Letter: Samech
Translation: Prop
Numerical Value: 12
Astrological Associations: Taurus
Full Meaning
The Temperance card on the face of it is one of moderation, keeping portion sizes small and a 'little bit of what you fancy does you good' and keep a lid on your temper. However the Temperance card goes much deeper than this and it is often symbolic of bringing opposing elements or factions together and by skillfully combining them a positive end result is can be achieved. This is a card of skillfully combining spiritual wisdom with the impulsiveness of temperament. It is a card about achieving balance which will be obtained by a careful blend of both patience and self control.
If you are already in a relationship this card may mean that developments in that relationship are about to take place. Choose your tools wisely particularly if you are trying to resolve family matters or bring together opposing factions. Just like a pen and a piece of paper, on their own they are simply objects, but use them together to write and you can produce something else better than the individual objects themselves. Moderation in all areas of your life is brought by Temperance, but also the ability to bring joy, harmony and balance to any stressful situation.
Traditional Symbolism
A winged angel, with the sign of the sun upon his forehead and on his breast the square and triangle of the septenary. I speak of him in the masculine sense, but the figure is neither male nor female. It is held to be pouring the essences of life from chalice to chalice. It has one foot upon the earth and one upon waters, thus illustrating the nature of the essences. A direct path goes up to certain heights on the verge of the horizon, and above there is a great light, through which a crown is seen vaguely. Hereof is some part of the Secret of Eternal Life, as it is possible to man in his incarnation. All the conventional emblems are renounced herein.
So also are the conventional meanings, which refer to changes in the seasons, perpetual movement of life and even the combination of ideas. It is, moreover, untrue to say that the figure symbolizes the genius of the sun, though it is the analogy of solar light, realized in the third part of our human triplicity. It is called Temperance fantastically, because, when the rule of it obtains in our consciousness, it tempers, combines and harmonises the psychic and material natures. Under that rule we know in our rational part something of whence we came and whither we are going.
The Major Arcana suit.
