Temperance...what it suggests is control of the
appetites...humility in control of the pride of spiritual inflation,
which is the great temptation of mystical life.--Joseph
Campbell
A winged angel, with the sign of the sun upon his forehead and on his
breast the square and triangle of the spetenary. I speak of him in
the masculine sense, but the figure is neither male nor female. It is
held to be pouring the essences of life from chalice to chalice. It
has one foot upon the earth and one upon waters, thus illustrating
the nature of the essences. A direct path goes up to certain heights
on the verge of the horizon, and above there is a great light,
through which a crown is seen vaguely. Hereof is some part of the
Secret of Eternal Life, as it is possible to man in his incarnation.
All the conventional emblems are renounced herein.
So also are the conventional meanings, which refer to changes in
the seasons, perpetual movement of life and even the combination of
ideas. It is, moreover, untrue to say that the figure symbolizes the
genius of the sun, though it is the analogy of solar light, realized
in the third part of our human triplicity. It is called Temperance
fantastically, because, when the rule of it obtains in our
consciousness, it tempers, combines and harmonises the psychic and
material natures. Under that rule we know in our rational part
something of whence we came and whither we are
going.--A.E. Waite
An archangel pours the waters of life between two gold cups. This act
of flowing is symbolic of equalizing the stream of thought between
the conscious and subconscious. Temperance is the exact mix, the
harmonizing of the psychic and material, a synthesis of all things.
The flowing of water can also mean the communication from mind to
mind. Angels are messengers of God who are the links between heaven
and earth. . . . The channeling of information into the mind of
humankind could be "the calling" people hear to enter the priesthood
or other vocations. It occurs as an inner voice that seems to guide
us to make good decisions or to warn us of impending trouble.
Balance, moderation, control, and patience clear the static between
the subconscious and the conscious
mind.--Susan
Hansson
In readings, Temperance can represent a need for moderation,
especially when "extreme" cards are present (such as the Knights).
This card can also indicate a need for balance. In conflict
situations, Temperance suggests that compromise and cooperation are
vital. Look for any opportunity to bring opposing parties together.
In fact, to temper means to modify by adding a new component. By
combining and recombining, we come up with the ideal mixture or
solution.--Joan Bunning
At the bottom of the card, for example, are seen Fire and Water
harmoniously mingled. But this is only a crude symbol of the
spiritual idea, which is the satisfaction of the desire of the
incomplete element of one kind to satisfy its formula by assimilation
of its equal and opposite.
--Aleister Crowley
Pour thine all freely from the Vase in thy right
hand, and lose no drop. Hath not thy left hand
a vase?
Transmute all wholly into the Image of thy Will,
bringing each to its true token of Perfection.
Dissolve the Pearl in the Wine-cup; drink, and
make manifest the Virtue of that Pearl.
The winged angel of 14 suggests "above" and the divine plane; yet its
feet are grounded in the mundane. ... The square = matter, or the
four points and elements of bound nature; the triangle, as the
Egyptians knew, channels the spiritual forces of the universe into
the mundane. Their interpenetration is also the meaning of the flow
between the golden chalices.
The angel, as agent of the heavenly realm, is pouring from one
chalice to another, symbolizing in this act the etheric flow of
spirit into the world. But, at the same time, the exchange is not to
be in one direction only; for through ascent the spiritual essence
will also return above, bearing with it the anima mundi as risen
matter. In a sense, therefore, Keys 5 and 14 both divide and mediate
between spirit and matter ...
From silver and gold chalices we may infer the coniunctio of sun
and moon, but even more than that the number fourteen is significant
because the sun pours its light into the full moon on the fourteenth
day of the lunar cycle. (water and light in
union)--Richard
Roberts
Against either a sunrise or sunset, a Native American woman pours
water between two bowls. The bowls are carved images of the earth.
She is careful not to spill a drop; this activity continues
eternally, as long as nothing is wasted. Experience informs us that
the Earth has an infinite ability to renew itself, but a finite
amount of materials exist for renewal. The placement of her feet on
the earth and in the water emphasize her message of respect for land-
and water-oriented life forms. . . . Temperance teaches us that we
must live simply so that others may simply
live.--Tracey
Hoover
http://www.moonchild.ch/Tarot/major/Art/14Voice.html
Vision
