Tarot has been a part of Barbara Moore's personal and professional lives for nearly twenty years. Right from the start, tarot intrigued her with its marvelous blending of mythology, psychology, art, history, mystery, and magic. She has studied under...
Temperance is usually interpreted as balance or moderation. That is a good start, but it's overly simplistic. Temperance is not about balance in terms of "equal parts"; instead, it has a more alchemical approach. This is about the right combination of parts, which may or may not be equal. For example, the idea of a balanced life usually means making room in our daily lives for work, rest, and play. However, there are times when such a moderate balance is not the best approach. Training for a marathon, studying for an exam, or planning a party or large event, for example, may call for more concentrated focus, for more time and attention. This card is about the right parts coming together in a kind of magical way to create something wonderful. Like alchemy, it is the transmutation of lead into gold.
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The Universal Waite card shows the angel with one foot on land and one in the water. The perfect balance allows magic to happen: the water is flowing between the cups in a way that defies gravity. The angel's halo represents serenity, and the red wings are power; both are in exquisite balance.
Core meaning: The right thing at the right time in the right place.
The Legacy card represents a balance of apparent contradictions: the angel is suspended in air yet stationary, and she holds fire and water. Blending opposites in perfectly equal parts would negate both. This angel can mix them to create something that is neither.
The Shadowscapes card illustrates the blending of opposites: scales and feathers, fire and water. Her creation resembles a yin/yang symbol. Everything holds the seed of its opposite.
