| The fifteenth card in the sequence of the tarot deck | | | | angel's ability to fly. Both together are needed in |
| is that of Temperance. Following the cycle of | | | | order to form the composite of what the angel is in |
| destructive change that the Death card brought | | | | and of itself. The figure is situated with one foot |
| before it, Temperance represents a force that seeks | | | | upon the earth and one upon the waters, further |
| to rebuild and reconstruct so that a new, more | | | | underscoring the union of dualities. It also holds a |
| productive existence can begin. This is achieved | | | | chalice in either hand and pours the holy waters of |
| through the reestablishment of balance, as all things in | | | | life from one to the other. |
| the universe seek to exist in harmony with one | | | | When the Temperance card makes an appearance in |
| another. | | | | a tarot spread, it signifies the imminent presence of a |
| The concept of temperance itself deals with the | | | | situation in which two separate distinctions must |
| joining of dualities and separate elements to create a | | | | come together to create a whole. In many cases, it |
| stronger whole that is better equipped to exist in the | | | | will refer to a relationship between the querent and |
| world around it. In order to temper something, you | | | | another person. The other person involved can, of |
| must introduce a new outside element to the mix to | | | | course, be a romantic partner, but it can also be a |
| help make it stronger and this can be done with | | | | friend, a family member, or another member of a |
| human spirits in a figurative sense just as it can be | | | | business partnership. In this case, Temperance |
| done in metallurgy or cooking in a literal one. People | | | | signifies a need for both parties involved to come |
| have a tendency to feel that the goal in | | | | together through compromise and cooperation in |
| self-betterment or success is to become a being that | | | | search of a middle ground between them. The |
| is completely positive and composed entirely of light. | | | | sooner the matter at hand is taken care of, the |
| However, Temperance teaches us that true success | | | | sooner the balance in the relationship can be restored. |
| and enlightenment comes from the achievement of | | | | Temperance can also appear to signify the need to |
| balance. Completely discarding imperfections and dark | | | | find balance in the querent's relationship with himself |
| places within the soul is not the answer. One must | | | | as well. The need to find peace within oneself is just |
| accept his or her shadow side and integrate it into | | | | as great as the need to find peace in relationships |
| the self to achieve true enlightenment. | | | | that involve others. An excess of positivity and |
| The traditional tarot image of Temperance depicts an | | | | optimism can be just as counter-productive as an |
| androgynous, angelic figure clothed in white and with | | | | excess of pessimism, so the objective here is also to |
| a pair of red wings. The white of the robe | | | | find the balance between extremes instead of leaning |
| represents the angel's inherent purity - the stuff of | | | | solely toward one or the other. This can be achieved |
| which he is made. However, the red of the wings | | | | by turning within and becoming quiet so as to listen |
| stands for the desire inherent in every being. In fact, | | | | to the little voice within us all that shows us the way |
| the wings themselves are the very source of the | | | | to go in the face of any dilemma. |