Are you a person who has mastered the art of finding balance at all times? For most of us, the answer is no. It is part of the human experience to look for harmony and equilibrium. Finding it can bring great joy and relief. Although the Temperance tarot card can appear in a tarot reading for a number of reasons, it often manifests when angel guides want a person to know the following.
You are capable of finding harmony and enjoying well-being, even when faced with challenges. The things you will need are threefold–persistence, patience, and a clear vision of what you truly desire.
Temperance Tarot Card Key Words
Before diving deeper into the upright- and reversed Temperance tarot card meaning, and its connection to love, work, and life, below a quick overview of the most important words connected to this Major Arcana card.
Upright: balance, moderation, good health, cooperating with others, finding solutions
Reversed: Imbalance, discord, hastiness, overindulgence, risky behavior
Temperance Tarot Card Descriptions
One of the most beautiful cards of the Tarot, Major Arcana number fourteen, features an angel standing over water. Known as Temperance, this angle is dipping one of her feet into the pool of water while the other is positioned on the shore.
The background surrounding the water is lush and contains what represents life’s ‘highs and lows’ such as treacherous mountains as well as blossoming flowers. The overall essence of this card is one of peace and harmony.
In the angel’s hands are two cups with water flowing in between. Donning a white robe with a triangle in the center, this spiritual being symbolizes unity as well as healing and the ability to find a middle ground regardless of the situation at hand.
Temperance Tarot Meaning
Avoid all extreme situations when the Upright Temperance tarot card is a focal point in a reading. Although there are times to ‘go for the jugular,’ this is not the angel’s message. Some situations are complicated and require patience and special care, even when your emotions are telling you to react.
Temperance is actually a skill, and like any other skill, practice makes perfect. Hold back from quick judgment. Resist the temptation to react immediately.
Are there areas of your life in which you need to find balance? Could you benefit from learning to remain calm during moments of distress? Temperance has arrived to help you find the strength to do so.
Money and Career Meaning
Temperance advises against big purchases, lavish vacations, massive career shifts, or risky investments at this time. Because Temperance is a synonym for balance, it usually shows up in career, business, and financial readings when things need to be better managed. Do you have a budget? How well are you doing with managing time and resources? What goals have you set for yourself? If the answers to these questions aren’t clear, this is a place to start reflecting.
If you already know what you are working toward, practice patience. Hard work and dedication are always required, but so is good timing. Sit back and assess everything that is involved in what you are trying to do. When you see the right moment, close the deal, go for the promotion, or make the investment. Just make sure you’ve planned ahead.
Love and Relationships Meaning
Especially when paired with the Lovers card, Temperance is one of the most promising Major Arcana cards that can fall in a love reading. Temperance represents harmony, meaning a peaceful and beneficial relationship is on the horizon. If you’re single, prepare to meet someone who is the perfect piece to your puzzle. If you are already committed, your partnership is getting ready to hit a new wavelength.
The only exception here is when you’re involved in a relationship or marriage where tons of fighting is happening. If this is the case, you’ll need to take a much different approach than what’s happening in the present. When things aren’t going right, we tend to point fingers at our partner and complain about every fault and flaw. This is useless since we have no ability to change another person.
Instead of continuing with the battle, the Temperance tarot card suggests putting pride to the side to find a middle ground. Fostering cooperation with your spouse, even if you are the person who has to say ‘sorry’ can mean the difference between success and failure.
Health and Spirituality Meaning
In general, the Temperance tarot card is a sign of good health in the present and future. In health and spirituality readings where physical or emotional well-being is a concern, Temperance points to a problem with moderation. When it comes to alcohol, drugs, unhealthy food, and other things that are harmful to our bodies and minds, the Temperance card suggests cutting these things out completely (abstinence) if a sense of balance can’t be found. Doing so will bring about healing as well as renewed energy. When connected with the Fool, unexpected healing is on the way.
Temperance Reversed Meaning
When Reversed Temperance falls instead of the traditional positioning, things are getting ready to come tumbling down.
Most likely, you’ve felt off-kilter for a while and have been dealing with discord at work, home, and in your own body. You may even be feeling a lack of purpose, and like you just don’t know what you’re supposed to be doing with your life.
If so, don’t worry too much, as this is the exact opposite of what the angel of Temperance would advise you to do. Instead, take an honest look at things as they are right now. Are there areas where you are being too risky or overindulgent? You do not have to make a sweeping change. Consider your own best interest and start with small modifications.
Temperance: Yes or No
Temperance isn’t a tarot card that only speaks of balance but also confidence in a yes or no reading. If you’re ready to take action, you can do so, but proceed with a sense of caution. Rushing and risk-taking can cause mistakes with serious consequences. Temperance can represent a ‘yes.’ What does your intuition say?
Important Card Combinations
In a spread, the presence of one card can influence the meaning of other cards. Certain cards match up well and can change each other’s meaning. Below I wrote down the most important Temperance tarot card combinations. Overall Temperance is a highly spiritual card, that advises you to act with wisdom and prudence.
Temperance and the Chariot or the World
Together, the Chariot and Temperance personify a move or overseas travel. If you’ve been considering relocating, this combination gives a thumbs up. Start looking into options for moving, what it will take to make it happen, and prepare a timeline. The same is true if you’ve wanted to take a trip to somewhere far away. This isn’t something you’ll want to rush into, but a solid plan can make this a beneficial decision for all involved.
Temperance and Judgement
These two cards are often confused and for good reason. Temperance embodies balance while Judgement is about what is about doing what is right. Are you faced with a tough decision? This duo urges you to make the choice that benefits not only you but also everyone else that the outcome effects. With the greater good in mind, you are sure to choose the correct path.
Temperance and the Star
When dancing with the Star, the angel of Temperance brings forth life changes. In fact, this is the Temperance’s goal when this combination appears–to help you get your life together. Let’s face it. We all have areas of our lives that we need improvement. Maybe you need better communication with a certain family member or need to focus a little more on eating right. Perhaps you’ve been spending too much money or haven’t been that productive at work. Now is the time to strengthen these weak points.
Temperance and the Wheel of Fortune
Prepare to go on a journey, but not one in physical nature. Temperance and the Wheel of Fortune are powerful in nature, especially when connected since the joining can mean a quest for one’s destiny. Perhaps you feel you have some great reason for living (we all do,) but can’t quite figure out what it is exactly. Now is the time to put your finger on your purpose and start making decisions that will catapult you in that direction.
Temperance Art
Although I write all the descriptions based on the Rider-Waite Tarot deck, it doesn’t mean that I use other decks too. Below you can find a small selection of my favorite Temperance tarot cards. If you created a card yourself and want to share this, I would love to hear from you!
Temperance Tarot Questions Answered
I am extremely grateful to have interaction with my readers and while I try to respond to every message I get, I’ll also answer the most frequently asked questions about the Temperance tarot card meanings and general tarot card questions here.
The upright Temperance tarot card tells you to avoid extreme situations. Although there are times to ‘go for the jugular,’ this is not the angel’s message. Some situations are complex and demand patience and personal care, even when your gut is telling you to react.
The Temperance card in a love reading symbolizes peaceful and beneficial connections. If you are in a relationship, this card tells you to get ready to hit a new wavelength. If you’re single, prepare to meet someone who is the perfect piece to your puzzle.
Have you felt off-kilter for a while? Do you feel a lack of purpose, like you just don’t know what you’re supposed to be doing with your life? The Temperance reversed foretells that things are getting ready to come tumbling down.
in a yes or no reading, Temperance isn’t a tarot card that explicitly represents a yes or a no. This card tells you that if you’re ready to take action, you can do so, but proceed with a sense of caution. Rushing and risk-taking can lead to mistakes with serious consequences. Therefore the Temperance card represents a ‘yes’ if you’re able to listen to your intuition.
Temperance in a Reading
That’s all for the Temperance meaning! If you have pulled the Temperance tarot card in your spread, I hope you will find harmony and enjoy well-being, even when faced with challenges.
Did the meaning make sense to your situation in life? Our community loves to hear about spot-on readings so please take a minute to let us know in the comments below!
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