Temperance - Tarot Card Interpretation by A. E. Waite

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.

Divinatory Meaning: Economy, moderation, frugality, management, accommodation.

Reversed: Things connected with churches, religions, sects, the priesthood, sometimes even the priest who will marry the Querent; also disunion, unfortunate combinations, competing interests.

 

Tarot Card Intertpretations by A. E. Waite

Cards of The Tarot Major Arcana

The Fool  The Magician  The High Priestess  The Empress  The Emperor  The Hierophant  The Lovers  The Chariot  Strength  The Hermit  Wheel of Fortune  Justice  The Hanged Man  Death  Temperance   The Devil  The Tower  The Star  The Moon  The Sun  Judgment   The World

Cards of The Tarot Wands

Ace, Two, Three, Four, and Five of Wands  Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, and Ten of Wands  Page, Knight, Queen, and King of Wands

Cards of The Tarot Cups

Ace, Two, Three, Four, and Five of Cups  Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, and Ten of Cups  Page, Knight, Queen, and King of Cups

Cards of The Tarot Swords

Ace, Two, Three, Four, and Five of Swords  Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, and Ten of Swords  Page, Knight, Queen, and King of Swords

Cards of The Tarot Pentacles (Disks)

Ace, Two, Three, Four, and Five of Pentacles  Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, and Ten of Pentacles  Page, Knight, Queen, and King of Pentacles