Learn the Tarot: Temperance Meaning
Learn the Major Arcana with That Oracle Guy Patrick. Together we’ll dive into the meanings, symbolism, and history behind each card — with affirmations, journaling prompts, and theme songs to help ground the lessons into your daily life. The Wisdom of the Major Arcana is yours to claim.
#14 Temperance, Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot Deck
Meeting Temperance:
The Fool had been walking for what felt like eternity.
He had leapt without looking, danced without rhythm, trusted the wind to guide him, but now he stood at a crossroads between exhaustion and inspiration. That’s when he saw her.
She stood near a gentle river, cloaked in white and gold, one foot on land, one in the water. In her hands, two cups moved in a slow, steady rhythm — back and forth, never spilling.
"Who are you?" The Fool asked.
“I am Temperance,” she replied with a voice that sounded like water over stones, “and I am here to show you the middle path.”
“The middle path? I don’t know that one. I’ve only ever known how to leap, to hope, to trust the next cliff will catch me.”
“And that trust has brought you far. But your fire burns too hot. You scatter your gifts by pouring them all at once. Let me teach you how to pour slowly. Let me teach you the alchemy of presence.”
The Fool sat on the riverbank, watching her move the liquid from one cup to the other — precise, rhythmic, intentional.
“You mix them so carefully,” he said, mesmerized.
“That is the way of the soul,” she replied.
“Fire and water, action and rest, giving and receiving — nothing must dominate, or it will collapse the whole. Even miracles take time. Even angels wait.”
He looked down at his own hands. They trembled slightly — not from fear, but from speed. From always moving too quickly.
“How do you know when to act?” he asked.
“When you are no longer reacting. When your breath is steady, your heart unclouded. Only then does action become divine.”
The Fool sat in silence. He had thought that wisdom was a mountain to climb or a puzzle to solve. But Temperance showed him it was a song to listen for — a quiet song inside that revealed itself only when he stilled the noise.
“I think I’ve been living like the spark,” he realized.
Temperance nodded. “Then it’s time to become the flame.”
She handed him one of the cups. It was half-full — or perhaps half-empty — he couldn’t tell. But it was enough. Balanced. Measured. Ready.
As the Fool stood up to continue his journey, he walked slower this time. Not from fatigue, but from intention.
He was learning to walk with his whole self — not just his wonder, but his wisdom too. And behind him, by the water’s edge, Temperance poured once more, smiling into the flow.
Keywords for Temperance:
Balance
Moderation
Harmony
Patience
Alchemy
Healing
Integration
Flow
Associations:
The Element: Fire (passion, energy, transformation)
The Planet: Jupiter (expansion, wisdom, higher learning)
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Card Symbolism:
The Angel: Represents divine guidance and spiritual balance. The angel serves as a guardian, assisting in finding harmony between the physical and spiritual worlds.
The Cups: The two cups in the card signify the merging of opposing forces or elements. This alchemical act represents integration, blending energies harmoniously.
The Water Flowing Between the Cups: This symbolizes the emotional or spiritual flow that must remain steady and unimpeded, representing balance and emotional intelligence.
The White Robes: Represent purity, virtue, and wisdom. The robes suggest that balance is attained through a higher level of spiritual or moral understanding.
The Sun in the Background: The sun suggests illumination and clarity. The sunlight represents enlightenment that comes with the practice of moderation.
The Path: This symbol represents the journey toward balance and growth. It implies that finding harmony is a gradual process, one step at a time.
The Landscape: The serene and harmonious landscape represents the inner peace that comes from balanced living.
Roman Numeral XIV: It’s a reminder that balance is both an active process (1) and a steadying force (4). In essence, this number points to the harmony between progress and stability, expansion and containment.
Upright Meaning:
Now is the time for you to restore a sense of balance and moderation in your life. Temperance is a willful act, an intentional act — you can allow your life force to flow without interruption, without expectation. It’s a symphony of all that you are — finding that perfect pitch. It recovers you.
Avoid extremes. You don’t need to sacrifice one aspect of your life to uplift another — they can work together in harmony. You have the skills, the talent, the experience to make it all happen for you. When we combine the elements, we can create something that hasn’t existed before — there’s alchemy in this kind of work.
Don’t rush. Don’t force. Don’t worry.
Take your time. Take a deep breath. This will help you reach your goals. The shift happens when you find that internal peace within yourself. Be patient and listen to your own internal harmony, the rest will come together.
Reversed Meaning:
Now is the time for you to meditate on the idea of excess — what feels like it’s a little “too much” right now in your life? Are you working too hard and not relaxing enough? Are you thinking too much on one topic, hyper-fixating, in a way that’s create disharmony in other areas of your life?
The first step is identifying the excess element. Otherwise, it will continue to persist and gain more power as the days and weeks go on.
What are your priorities right now? It’s okay to want to achieve something, but are you overly compromising another aspect of your life just to “get there?” You don’t have to choose one or the other, they can exist in a beautiful flow if you slow down and do some sincere evaluation.
This healing is a willful act. You have to put in the effort to recognize the excessive patterns, and bring them into a flow state. Small, intentional steps. Your future self will thank you for it.
Journal Prompts for Temperance:
In what areas of my life do I need to find more balance or moderation?
How can I integrate opposing forces within myself (e.g., work and relaxation, ambition and peace) to create harmony?
What practices or habits can I incorporate to support steady emotional and spiritual growth?
When was the last time I felt truly balanced, and what steps can I take to recreate that sense of peace?
Affirmations:
“I find balance in all areas of my life and trust that patience will guide me through.”
“I integrate my emotions and actions in harmony with my highest good.”
“I honor the natural flow of life and remain centered in times of change.”
Theme Song:
Breathe Me by Sia, 2004
About The Author
Patrick is an evolutionary tarot reader specializing in deep, transformative tarot sessions that empower clients to gain clarity, break limiting patterns, and navigate life with confidence. As a lifelong believer that there are no coincidences, he knows firsthand the power of tarot and oracle cards as a north star for your personal growth.
Ready to experience a deeper tarot journey? Book a reading today or explore more articles and resources at: ThatOracleGuy.com
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