Temperance appears in 2 systems: the same name is used for more than one thing. Both are shown below.

Tarot

Temperance

Tarot

Temperance represents divine balance, the middle path, and the alchemical integration of opposites. This is moderation not as restriction but as harmony—finding the flow between extremes. Patience, blending, healing through balance.

Tradition · Golden Dawn

Correspondences

Number
14
Colors
BlueSilverPale gold

Practice

Life Areas
Love
Upright
Balanced relationship. Harmonious blending of differences. Patience in love. Healing partnership.
Reversed
Relationship out of balance. Discord. Impatience with partner. Extremes in love.
Career
Upright
Work-life balance. Harmonious workplace. Blending different skills. Patient career building.
Reversed
Work imbalance. Discord at job. Career extremes. Impatience with professional progress.
Finances
Upright
Financial balance. Moderate spending. Patient wealth building. Harmonious money flow.
Reversed
Financial extremes. Spending imbalance. Money discord. Impatience with finances.
Health
Upright
Health through balance. Moderate approach to wellness. Healing. Body in harmony.
Reversed
Health imbalance. Extreme health behaviors. Body discord. Healing blocked by impatience.
Advice
Upright
Seek the middle path. Blend rather than force. Be patient—good things take time to integrate properly. Trust the healing process.
Reversed
Something is out of balance. Examine where you've gone to extremes. Is your 'moderation' actually repression?
Magical Uses
Balance magicHealing ritualsIntegration workAlchemical operationsPatience spellsSagittarius work

Nature and meaning

Psychological
Archetype
The Alchemist, The Angel, The Healer, The Middle Way
Represents
Integration of opposites, balance without stagnation, healing through harmony
Shadow
Forced moderation, repression disguised as balance, fear of extremes, wishy-washy avoidance
Growth edge
Finding true balance that allows flow, not rigid middle ground that prevents movement
Question it asks
What needs balancing? Where have you gone to extremes? What opposites need blending within you?
Pairs with
The StarTwo of PentaclesSix of CupsSix of Pentacles

Details

Numeral
XIV
Arcana
Major
Correspondences
Element
Fire
Planet
Jupiter
Zodiac
Sagittarius
Hebrew letter
Samekh
Hebrew meaning
Prop support
Tree of life path
25
Tree of life connects
TipharethYesod
Color
Blue
Timing
Sagittarius season healing periods
Visual Symbolism
Key symbols
AngelTwo cupsWater flowOne foot land one waterTriangle in squareSun pathIrises
Figure
Winged angel standing with one foot on land, one in water, pouring liquid between two cups
Water flow meaning
Flow between opposites, alchemical mixture, seamless blending
Land and water meaning
Balance of material and emotional, grounded and flowing
Triangle in square meaning
Spirit (triangle) within matter (square), alchemical integration
Imagery note
The water flows upward as easily as down—natural law is suspended in divine balance.
Keywords
Upright
BalanceModerationPatiencePurposeAlchemyIntegrationMiddle pathHealing
Reversed
ImbalanceExcessLack of harmonyForced extremesImpatienceDiscord
Meanings
Upright
Core

Temperance represents divine balance, the middle path, and the alchemical integration of opposites. This is moderation not as restriction but as harmony—finding the flow between extremes. Patience, blending, healing through balance.

Spiritual
Spiritual alchemy. Higher self integration. Guardian angel presence. Divine moderation.
Practical
Finding balance in situation. Blending different elements. Patience required. Healing through moderate approach.
Reversed
Core

Imbalance, excess, or extremes causing harm. The harmony is disrupted—either through forced moderation that becomes repression, or through throwing off all balance. Discord where flow should be.

Spiritual
Spiritual imbalance. Ignoring higher guidance. Forced spiritual extremes.
Practical
Life out of balance. Excess in some area. Impatience causing problems. Discord in blending.
Shadow Work

Temperance reversed asks: Where am I out of balance? What extreme am I justifying? Where does my 'moderation' mask fear of fully committing? What needs integration rather than elimination?

Meditation Journey

An angel hands you two vessels. In one, everything you've rejected; in the other, everything you've clung to. Slowly pour them together. What new substance forms from the blend?

Crystals
AmethystAmazoniteKunziteBlue Calcite
Herbs
The SageLavenderChamomileLemon Balm
Affirmation
I flow between extremes with grace. Balance heals me. Patience serves my highest good.
Contrasts with
The TowerThe DevilFive of Wands

Sins & virtues

Tradition · ChristianVirtue
A note on this entry

Temperance is both a cardinal virtue and the contrary virtue of gluttony.

Practice

Magical Uses
BalanceHealingDiscipline

Details

Latin
Temperantia
Opposing
Gluttony
Keywords
TemperanceBalanceMeasureRestraint

One of 3,120 entries in the Grimoire — the whole library, every cross-reference, is free to take. Take the whole thing Is it wrong somewhere?

Referenced by 54

Every entry that names Temperance, grouped by the system it comes from.

☥ Deities 32

✦ Tarot 5

▦ Tarot spreads 4

◇ Workings 3

☯ Archetypes 2

🜔 Elements 1

📅 Weekdays 1

☽ Moon phases 1

♈ Zodiac 1

№ Numerology 1

⚜ Sins & virtues 1

א Hebrew letters 1

ℵ Gematria 1

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