Temperance Tarot Card Meaning

An angel stands at the source of a stream, pouring liquid from one vessel into another. One foot rests on dry land, the other in the water. The angel seems to be keeping a balance, or taking care not to step all the way in, and invites us to do the same.

Behind the angel, a straight road leads toward a bright light on the horizon, a symbol of harmony and higher knowledge. This is the path of Temperance. Happy is the person who follows it, for truth will be revealed to them.

Temperance upright means your question or situation will gradually reach a happy resolution, as long as you can hold your nerve. Fate is testing your patience. Don't fail the test!

You can't have everything right this minute. Everything has its time. Don't try to hurry events by going to extremes or stirring up conflict. With Temperance in the reading, that will only bring poor results and bad feelings.

Focus on what matters. Stay flexible, gentle, and balanced. By finding compromises, using a light touch in word and deed, and adapting to circumstances, you'll steadily move toward your goal while keeping your peace of mind and energy intact.

This card can also ask for moderation in spending, eating, and physical pleasures. Keep your passions in check. It doesn't call for giving everything up, just for a little restraint over your appetites and indulgences.

Perhaps you feel like eating more healthily, giving up smoking or alcohol, or saving a little by skipping nonessential purchases or outings. That's Temperance at work in your life.

Upright Temperance: Key Meanings

• Balance, equilibrium, coming together, peace, diplomacy, and forgiveness.
• Patience, composure, compromise, cooperation, and harmony with yourself and the world.
• Saving, thrift, and restraint.

Temperance reversed means the harmony and stability in your life have been shaken. Something is out of balance. You're acting too spontaneously, doing too much, and letting rash wishes and impulses lead the way. Life becomes unsettled and unpredictable. Perhaps you're constantly arguing at home and at work, or spending too much time on trivial details and fruitless pursuits, scattering your energy and wearing yourself out.

This card points to relationship and career problems caused by a lack of restraint. Stop banging your head against a wall. Temperance has another route to suggest.

Stay calm, keep a clear head, and try to look at the situation from a little distance. But don't swing to the opposite extreme and do nothing, waiting for everything to sort itself out. Find the balance between taking action and quietly observing!

Reversed Temperance: Key Meanings

• Fanaticism, a lack of restraint, impatience, thoughtlessness, and misunderstanding.
• Conflict, overwhelming emotions, impulsiveness, haste, excess, and a breakup.
• Struggle, narrow thinking, and a quick temper.
• Excess where money is concerned, stinginess, and greed.

In a love reading, Temperance upright describes a mature, strong, harmonious relationship. There may be a little less passion than you'd like, but there's more than enough care, tenderness, patience, understanding, trust, and willingness to meet each other halfway.

Your personal problems have been resolved and everything has been made clear. Peace and harmony reign. Both partners have accepted each other's flaws, given up trying to remake the other in their own image, learned not to impose their views, and keep their emotions in check.

Reversed, the meaning flips: arguments, disharmony, and a troubled relationship.

How They Love

Upright, the card says this person is almost ideal in love! They know how to create harmony, smooth over difficulties, and compromise with someone they love.

Reversed, it describes a very emotional person. Their spontaneity and lack of restraint attract romantic attention, but eventually cause plenty of problems for everyone.

In a career reading, Temperance asks you to seek compromises in difficult situations and learn to work as part of a team. It also suggests balancing work and rest to avoid unnecessary stress.

No major obstacles or upheavals are on the horizon. Work will be smooth and peaceful. But don't expect huge profits or a rapid climb up the ladder, either. Money will come in steadily at its usual level, with no promotion in sight just yet. Be patient: everything will come in its own time.

Reversed, the card's meaning turns around: difficulty controlling yourself, disagreements with business partners, and an unstable income.

Upright, this is an exceptionally diplomatic, adaptable person with a real capacity for empathy. When they want to, they can find common ground with almost anyone.

Reversed, it describes someone who's no diplomat. Keeping their wishes and true feelings under control is a struggle; every so often, they just spill out.

Upright, the card advises you to lower your demands and find a sensible compromise between your dreams and real life.

Reversed, it asks you to stop trying to get everything at once. It won't work anyway. Learn to show restraint in your wishes, actions, and emotions.

Upright, the outlook is favorable. Tolerance, sound judgment, and a willingness to make sensible compromises will help you get what you want.

Reversed, the outcome is uncertain. Wanting everything at once could get in your way. Ask for a little less!

Venus in contact with Mercury, and Mercury in Virgo: seeking harmony, cutting away excess, and enjoying yourself.

The Fool — A cheerful nature; childlike spontaneity; knowing how to rest and relax.

The Magician — Enjoying your work; steady growth and development; pleasant company or a friend with interesting ideas.

The High Priestess — Harmony; extra reserves of energy; the return of a loved one or romantic partner.

The Empress — Effective saving; physical well-being; emotional stability; an easygoing woman.

The Emperor — Stability or a delay on a journey; no progress; a satisfactory result.

The Hierophant — Building experience; haste that gets you nowhere; a need for understanding.

The Lovers — A wise decision; accepting a compromise; a steady love life; restrained feelings.

The Chariot — A short trip; minor squabbles among relatives or acquaintances; everyday chores.

Strength — Holding back an impulse; waiting for the right moment; taking care of what you cherish.

The Hermit — Keeping a promise; living by your principles; getting used to solitude or ending old commitments.

Wheel of Fortune — Gradual changes for the better; no need to rush your luck; an unexpected opportunity.

Justice — A sensible approach; doing things by the rules; a clear process for resolving problems.

The Hanged Man — A short rest; deferred payments or a loan extension; the need to shake off the blues.

Death — Needing to pick up the pace at work; a possible conflict with your boss or partner; a lack of understanding.

The Devil — A brief romance; a rebellious nature; changes for the worse or pleasures that have gone on too long.

The Tower — Balance disrupted; trouble at home or work; bad news.

The Star — Knowing how to use your imagination; taking your mind off things for a while; preparing for a vacation or visiting a resort.

The Moon — Declining health; troubling thoughts or premonitions; nervousness.

The Sun — Saving a substantial sum; receiving good things all at once and feeling inspired; returning to a partner or keeping a family together.

Judgment — Unexpected changes; reflecting on the past; treatment or recovery.

The World — Luck returning; making peace with a partner or relatives; calming your temper to find harmony.

Ace of Wands — A long-awaited victory; your life's work; a well-considered action or decision.

Two of Wands — Lots of talk and little action; empty rhetoric; fear of taking the first step or starting a relationship.

Three of Wands — Putting your skills to the test; practical training or exams; a step toward independence.

Four of Wands — A stable partnership; understanding between spouses; improving contact with relatives.

Five of Wands — Constructive criticism; discussing plans; knowing how to talk things through and compromise.

Six of Wands — Gathering your confidence; stating your demands; calm that leads to victory.

Seven of Wands — Don't fly off the handle; this is a time to keep quiet; an open confrontation won't get you what you want.

Eight of Wands — A mutually beneficial agreement; diplomacy or persuasive skill; a system that does most of the work.

Nine of Wands — Being on guard or expecting a catch; an inherently distrustful nature; caution or indecision.

Ten of Wands — Losing patience or control; too much responsibility; events taking on a life of their own.

Page of Wands — Knowing when to stop; finding your niche or position; making a useful proposal.

Knight of Wands — Setting a goal; sound planning; steady progress toward success or a promising employee.

Queen of Wands — Receiving support or patronage; joining a large company; being in good standing.

King of Wands — A quick temper harming a shared venture or relationship; overstepping boundaries; attracting unwanted attention.

Ace of Swords — News that pushes you to act; sadness over bad news; dark suspicions confirmed.

Two of Swords — Leaving things to fate; accepting circumstances; a choice that's only an illusion or a passive stance.

Three of Swords — Inner disappointment; betrayal; living through difficult times.

Four of Swords — Fear that holds you back; imagined problems; an issue postponed rather than resolved.

Five of Swords — Dissatisfaction with your position; knowledge you can't use; much thought and little action.

Six of Swords — Running a household or handling practical affairs; organizing something dull; routine.

Seven of Swords — Everyone keeping their own views; ending a contract or relationship; misreading a partner's intentions.

Eight of Swords — Keeping a cool head; a difficult situation; no panic.

Nine of Swords — Returning to the past; going in circles; taking shelter from the world's bustle.

Ten of Swords — Suffering that brings renewal; getting through a difficult phase and strengthening your character; a gentle sadness.

Page of Swords — Defeating enemies or competitors through calm and good judgment; attracting attention; knowing how to persuade people.

Knight of Swords — An honest police officer or other public servant; using authority for good; an intimidating person with a sensitive soul.

Queen of Swords — Special treatment; an unexpected solution; a senior position earned through long service.

King of Swords — A connection to the justice system; a fair decision; advice from someone who knows.

Ace of Cups — Fasting or following a diet; keeping feelings in check; becoming more peaceable.

Two of Cups — A disagreement in a young marriage or relationship; a minor ailment; old friends or acquaintances having a chat.

Three of Cups — Collecting and discussing gossip; vanity; disapproval from society or your household.

Four of Cups — Sorrow, sadness, tiredness, or private resentment without a clear cause.

Five of Cups — A spiritual path; choosing a religion or philosophy; working on yourself.

Six of Cups — Forgiving someone you love; making peace with family or friends; a virtuous path.

Seven of Cups — Growing firmer in your intentions and wishes; seeing the long-term possibilities; making your hopes real.

Eight of Cups — A thoughtful approach to life; knowing how to avoid temptation; unusual ways of solving problems; deliberate restraint.

Nine of Cups — Imagined passions; a brief infatuation; a man who needs to settle down.

Ten of Cups — An unclear family situation; everyone living their own life; passion fading in a long relationship.

Page of Cups — Watching society from the sidelines; giving advice without getting involved; an unattainable young woman.

Knight of Cups — A young man who's hard to interest; a formal reception or celebration; making a good impression.

Queen of Cups — A tender attachment; an emotional person; pleasant company with no romance to follow.

King of Cups — A rush of inspiration and success; luck in creative projects; earning money and recognition through a favorite hobby.

Ace of Pentacles — Having enough for everything; no financial need; a comfortable home life and reasonable working hours.

Two of Pentacles — Happiness that doesn't depend on money; a good-natured person; forgiving a debt.

Three of Pentacles — Starting something new; moving steadily forward; making contacts and earning a modest profit.

Four of Pentacles — A rainy-day fund; setting aside a little money or starting to save; budgeting and looking after your future.

Five of Pentacles — An investment that won't pay off; losing part of your money; a small, risky bet.

Six of Pentacles — Kindness that returns to you many times over; financial support for relatives; conscience.

Seven of Pentacles — Dividends; an account at a state-owned bank; moving funds into gold or securities.

Eight of Pentacles — Steady profits; a good employee; an experienced man or an honest admirer.

Nine of Pentacles — A wealthy bride-to-be; a clever young woman with substantial assets; an entrepreneurial streak.

Ten of Pentacles — Saving pocket money; learning a trade from your elders; gaining experience or studying for a profitable profession; an advantageous marriage.

Page of Pentacles — Your first savings; the pleasure of receiving wages or a scholarship payment; being proved right.

Knight of Pentacles — A well-earned result; teamwork; a business with a capable partner; a possible office romance.

Queen of Pentacles — Being good at your profession; a bonus or professional award; a well-balanced, financially comfortable person.

King of Pentacles — Steady self-improvement; seeing a project through; practicality and careful calculation.