Temperance is the fourteenth card of the Major Arcana of the Tarot. It is the embodiment of patience, moderation, and the blending of opposites.
The Symbolism of the Temperance Tarot Card
This card is represented by a woman pouring liquid from one cup into another, representing the dilution of wine with water. She has large, feathery wings, and stands with one foot on land, the other in water, indicating her ability to unite opposites.
Temperance bears the number “14,” and is the teacher of moderation for the Fool after his encounter with Death.
The General Interpretation of the Temperance Card
When appearing in a spread, this card implies a need for the flow of feelings. It also suggests the potential for harmony and unity, perhaps in love, business, or another aspect of life. Moderation is required, however, for this to happen. Moderation is the key to life.
The Fool is challenged to develop a balanced heart. He is also reminded that he cannot remain forever in the safety of Temperance, and must eventually continue with his journey.
The Inner Meaning of the Temperance in Tarot
Temperance is the image of a balanced heart. Unlike Justice, Temperance is kind and merciful, willing to make exceptions to the rules when the situation warrants it. However, she is not overly sentimental, for emotions are a reaction to a situation. This card is connected to feeling, which is an active, fluid process that’s quite distinct from emotion.
The pouring of liquid from one cup to another is significant for more than one reason. It signifies moderation, on one hand, but it also signifies harmony. True harmony requires the constant adjustment of feeling, sometimes positive, sometimes negative. Thus, she continues to pour the waters, eternally seeking balance.
The Fool learns that feeling is a delicate thing; it can be affected by circumstance. However, he also knows that it is an active choice, and that he can use it to his advantage. He can manipulate external circumstances so that he can create his own reality. This is a lesson which empowers the Fool.
He begins to understand that he must temper justice with patience and understanding, and with compassion. Too much of any one thing can yield nothing but poor results. However, if he can but moderate himself and his attitudes, he will reap the rewards. Temperance teaches him balance and integration.
Temperance is what the Fool must encounter after he meets Death, on the path to his meeting with the Devil.
For those who choose to read Tarot cards as reversed (upside down), the Death card of the Major Arcana has a similar meaning whether upright or reversed. This powerful and sometimes dreaded card almost always means that a situation is about to come to and end. However, in its reversed position, the Death card indicates that this situation will take longer to come to an end that you think. Things will be drawn out, sometimes maddeningly so, but they will eventually resolve themselves. Don't rush matters.
Death is the thirteenth card of the Major Arcana of the Tarot. It is the embodiment of an end, though it's usually not representative of the end of physical life. More often, this card symbolizes the end of a relationship, interest, or the end of an important life chapter.
Symbolism of the Death Tarot Card
This card is usually represented by a skeleton riding a horse. Surrounding him are dead and dying people from all classes, including kings and peasants. This perhaps implies that Death affects all equally. The black banner with a white flower symbolizes rebirth.
Death bears the number “13,” and is the symbol of rebirth for the Fool after his encounter with the Hanged Man.
The General Interpretation of the Death Card
When appearing in a spread, this card implies that something must come to an end. This may or may not be a painful process, depending on your willingness and ability to recognize and accept the inevitable. The Death card can herald the coming of a new life, but if you are to embrace the new life, you must let go of the old.
The Fool, prepared to continue his journey, enters the underworld. He is prepared to leave behind his previous life, and meet an as-yet unknown future.
The Inner Meaning of the Death in Tarot
In Tarot, Death is the image of a permanent and final end to a cycle or chapter of life. The old way of thinking, of being, is dead, and will not return. This is a card of finality, a symbol of the mourning which must take place before a new phase of life can begin.
This is not necessarily a bad ending. This card could herald the end of an old phase of life in the form of a marriage or perhaps the birth of a child. The old way of life, that of being single or not yet a parent, is over, and must be mourned, but that does not mean the new life will be any less satisfying. This is not a card of physical death, but rather of the inevitable changes associated with the cycles of life.
The Fool descends into the underworld. He is unable to bring with him the patterns and thoughts of old, and instead must prepare to develop new ways of thinking and being.
Death is what the Fool must encounter after he meets the Hanged Man, on the path to his meeting with Temperance.
Reading reversed (upside down) cards is not a universal choice among Tarot readers. You can decide whether you would like to read reversed meanings when a card appears upside down or simply turn the card so that it is upright. However, you should be consistant in your choice. If you're going to read reversed meanings, you should always read reversed meanings. Don't pick and choose simply because you don't like what a particular reversed card tells you.
When the Hanged Man appears in the reversed position, you should be cautious and prepared for disappointment. Don't make useless sacrifices or wait forever for something that is never going to manifest itself. Instead of focusing on what will not happen, move on and focus on something else.
