Temperance
Tarot Card Meaning – Upright & Reversed
About the Temperance
An angelic figure — neither fully male nor female — stands with one foot on land and one in water, pouring liquid between two golden cups. The flow never spills. On their chest is a triangle within a square: spirit mastered within the bounds of physical law. Irises bloom at the water's edge and a golden path stretches toward distant mountains. This is the card of divine patience and perfect balance.
Upright Meaning
Upright, Temperance calls you to find the middle way. Excess in any direction — too much work, too much pleasure, too much isolation, too much company — is disrupting your flow. Bring balance, patience, and measured action to your situation. You are being guided toward a higher purpose and the path forward requires careful blending of seemingly opposite forces into something harmonious.
Reversed Meaning
Reversed, Temperance points to imbalance, excess, or misalignment with your deeper purpose. You may be overindulging, running hot and cold in relationships, or feeling fundamentally out of sync with your own values. Slow down. Examine where you have been going to extremes and begin to deliberately reintroduce moderation and patience.