XIV.
TEMPERANCE
This is a card of…
Grace
Equanimity
Health
Flexibility
Harmony
“It is the power of temperance, the steadying hand of wisdom, and the warmth of love for all that shapes my words even in the midst of the most heightened of disagreements. For if I allow temperance, wisdom and the warmth of love to guide any engagement… I will have set the stage for a place where seemingly unassailable walls can come down, hands can be extended in unexpected friendship, and the impossible is made impossibly possible.”
-Craig D. Lounsbrough
A beautiful card! In the previous card we stared into the dark sockets of death long enough to see it as a necessary part of the vibrant world in which we live. With that revelation comes a release from fear, a feeling of renewal and lightness.
Temperance is about being present in the now, about the wisdom of the Middle Way, about trusting ourselves to make decisions based on present circumstances rather than dogmatic rules. The card above in the first line, the Emperor, liked rules and boundaries. In the second line those rules and boundaries soften to fit what is right for the moment at hand.
With the true clear presence-in-the-moment represented by Temperance, we don’t have to rely on knee-jerk responses. We assess our environment and put ourselves in harmony with it. This card is about moderation, good health, and steady temperament. There are times when our ideology has become unyielding, or when our thinking goes to extremes; this angel wants to step in to help us view the world with more equanimity. That is the energy of Temperance.
Notice the flow and lightness of this card- nothing is forced to fit or stand still. Our angel, with a calm and attentive gaze, blends her chalices to create harmony. Emotion tempered with Reason. Passion tempered with practicality. Justice tempered with Mercy.
Advice:
Err on the side of empathy and compassion.
Take care of yourself.
Seek wisdom, not winning.
Be a peacemaker.
Warning:
Rigid mindsets create their own conflict.
Pride goes before a fall.
Neglecting your own mental and physical health damages your self-respect.
Meditations/ Questions for a Temperance Day
Where in your life are your opinions rigid? Can you allow some flexibility? Can you understand why others’ differ?
Is there an aspect in your life that is out of balance- an obsessive concern, over-devotion to work or politics, etc.? How can you bring it back into harmony?
Do you honor the health of your body and mind?
The middle ground is difficult at first, you have to keep in open mind and consider things on a case-by-case basis. Like anything else it becomes easier with practice. Rigid extremism feels easier but costs us more in the long run.
