What Does The Temperance Tarot Card Mean?

The Temperance tarot card is about that very sweet spot on the tip of the perfect ocean wave where everything is in balance. The surfer taps into the energy of the wave and there is a feeling of perfect synergy. Not a muscle is strained and all that speed and motion are active and balanced but effortless.

The Temperance card is about that feeling.

For example, think about a top spinning at top speed. All the forces acting on it come into equilibrium. 

Oddly the faster you go the more peaceful things become.

In our fast-paced world with screens and deadlines and distractions we probably don’t value that sensation enough.

Temperance in the Rider Waite deck usually shows our fool as an angel with a toe in the water and two cups balancing a fluid between them. Beneath his feet, there is a path from the ocean leading to a crown and lilies planted at the water’s edge. However, I believe; that was just because no one had invented surfing in the 15th century when these cards started circulating around.

Regardless of the Art of the Temperance tarot card the generally agreed-upon meaning has to do with healing, harmony, environmental concerns, and creative expression.

If the temperance card falls into your reading it may be encouraging you to find your own point of internal balance.  

Prayer or meditation may be called for. Additionally, getting out into nature for quiet contemplation to assess the forces around you will help you figure out how you can better get into the flow.

Life becomes art when a harmonious balance is achieved.

This card may also be calling you into larger environmental concerns.  The great pacific garbage patch is not going to clean itself up.  The Radiation being poorly contained by Chornobyl or Fukushima can be mitigated by several generations of mushrooms and fungal life but so much more study is needed.

The world needs heroes like never before.  

Even if you are not a mycelial expert or Radiation engineer you make decisions every day that affect the environment.  Are you limiting your use of plastic or mindlessly consuming it?

No one can change all the challenges in one fell swoop. However, many people making small changes can create a big impact.

Temperance doesn’t call on you to put on a cape and run to the other side of the world; it calls you to find a life in balance where you are and to make good choices that lead to great riches down the road.

This card also calls on you to appreciate and be grateful for the beauty of nature you find all around you.  

As you get out for walks in the neighborhood to enjoy the sunset and maybe decide to pick up 3 pieces of trash on every walk, you may start a revolution as you set an example and others follow suit or you may bring a neighborhood in decline back from the brink as someone one gets out and cares for it.

After all, “All that is necessary for evil to flourish is that good man do nothing.”  You don’t have to do everything, just do something,

Getting out in nature will have a healing and harmonizing effect on you. Which can only be good for your health.

Bad news; this is a message that you are in fact That Guy.  You are being an inconsiderate jerk and need to reign that in a bit.  

You have lost your sense of balance are caught up in consumerism, waste excess, and are just generally spun out of control.

Reign it in bro or you are going to find yourself on the wrong side of some very powerful forces and you are headed for a big WIPEOUT.