Tarot card meanings › Major Arcana
Temperance Tarot Card Meaning
The Temperance tarot card means balance, patience and moderation. Balance, and the right mix.
Upright
- Balance
- patience
- moderation
Reversed
- Excess
- imbalance
- rushing
Yes or no
Yes
Temperance is card XIV of the 22 major arcana.
What the card shows
A winged angel stands with one foot on land and one in a pool, pouring water between two cups. A triangle in a square is on the angel's chest, irises grow at the water's edge, and a path leads to a glow over the hills.
This is the card as drawn by Pamela Colman Smith for the 1909 Rider-Waite-Smith deck, which is in the public domain.
Upright meaning
Temperance is read as the middle way. It points to blending opposites, taking things in the right measure and giving a process the time it needs. It is a healing, steadying card.
Temperance reversed
Reversed, it is read as too much of something, a life out of balance, or trying to rush what cannot be rushed.
Yes or no?
In a yes or no question, Temperance is usually read as a yes. Readers differ on some cards, so treat this as one common reading. You can ask a yes or no question and draw a card for it.
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More Major Arcana cards
The FoolThe MagicianThe High PriestessThe EmpressThe EmperorThe HierophantThe LoversThe ChariotStrengthThe HermitWheel of FortuneJusticeThe Hanged ManDeathThe DevilThe TowerThe StarThe MoonThe SunJudgementThe World
‹ DeathAll 78 cardsThe Devil ›
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