Tarot Cards - Major Arcana - Temperance - 14
Temperance is card XIV in the Major Arcana of the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot. It comes after Death (XIII) and before the Devil (XV). In the Fool's journey, this card marks a time of blending and balance, when opposite forces are asked to work together rather than fight.
In the upright position, Temperance speaks of patience and a steady middle path. In the reversed position, it warns of extremes and a loss of harmony. Both meanings matter, because the card is about the way we mix the parts of our life.
Upright Meaning
Upright, Temperance is a card of balance, moderation, patience and purpose. It asks the querent to slow down and to pour their energy into one clear direction. Key words include:
- Balance between opposite forces.
- Moderation in food, work and emotion.
- Patience with a process that cannot be rushed.
- Purpose, meaning and a sense of direction.
- Healing through gentle, steady effort.
- Harmony in relationships and projects.
In the Fool's journey, Temperance comes after Death. The journey has passed through a major ending, and now the seeker must learn to mix what remains. The card is not about returning to the old life. It is about building a new one with the lessons of the ending.
The Image
The Rider-Waite card shows a winged angel standing in a shallow stream. The angel is both masculine and feminine. The robe has a triangle inside a square on the chest, a classic sign of the human spirit held within the earth and natural law.
One foot rests on the rocks, which expresses the need to stay grounded. The other foot stands in the water, which shows the need to move with the flow of life.
The angel pours water between two cups, one gold and one silver. Behind the figure, a path winds up toward a range of mountains. Above the peaks, a golden crown rests inside a glowing light. This crown is a symbol of the higher path and of staying true to one's purpose.
The deck was published in 1909 by the Rider company, with artwork by Pamela Colman Smith and a text by A. E. Waite. Their images were meant to be read as a visual story. Many later decks follow the same pattern, which is why Temperance is so easy to recognize across the tarot tradition.
Reversed Meaning
Reversed, Temperance shows imbalance and excess. The water spills out and runs onto the earth, and the careful mix is lost. Key words include:
- Imbalance and extreme behavior.
- Excess in eating, drinking, spending or work.
- Impatience and rushed decisions.
- A lack of harmony between people or ideas.
- Clashing elements that do not mix at this time.
- A need for self-healing and realignment.
You may feel tired in the body, frayed in the emotions or scattered in the spirit. In partnerships and projects, the reversal signals friction caused by a lack of compromise.
Guidance and Remedy
The remedy for the reversed card is to return to the center. Cut back the excesses in diet, work and emotional reactions. Practice stillness, and let the turbulent waters settle until clarity returns. Ask whether two goals can be pursued one after another instead of at the same time. Often, the answer is yes.
Closing
Temperance teaches that the best results come from a steady mix, not from extremes. The card asks for patience, purpose and a willingness to pour carefully. When it appears, it invites a quiet review of what is in the cup and what is spilling onto the ground.
Related Esoteric Inquiries
- Tarot Cards - Major Arcana - Judgment - 20
- Tarot Cards - Major Arcana - World - 21
- Tarot Cards - Major Arcana - Judgement - 20
Lux Esoterica.
2026.
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