Temperance
Major Arcana · XIV
- balance
- moderation
- patience
- blending
- excess
- imbalance
- impatience
- clashing
In the picture
A winged angel with one foot on land and one in a pool pours water between two cups. A path leads from the water toward a glowing crown in the mountains, and irises grow by the bank.
Upright meaning
Temperance is the art of mixing things in the right measure. The card favours patience, moderation and finding the middle way between extremes. It often points to healing, cooperation, or a situation coming together slowly when you don't force it.
Reversed meaning
Reversed, the mixture is off: too much of one thing, too little of another. The card may point to overdoing it, rushing, or people and plans that won't blend. Step back and look for the balance again.
About the Major Arcana
The 22 Major Arcana are the trump cards of the deck, numbered 0 to 21 from The Fool to The World. Read in order they tell the story of a journey, and in a reading they tend to point to big themes and turning points rather than day-to-day events.
