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XIV.TEMPERANCE Primary
principle--Self-control Sign correspondence-Sagittarius Description---The
primary figure
in the card is an angel. This holy being is neither male nor female but
represents the fusion of the two polar opposites-the angel is androgynous. As
such, he or she has the ability to manifest a greater awareness of the more
subtle structures of life without the conflict of duality. The angel has a halo,
which indicates that Divine Guidance is present in the current situation. The
angel has one foot on land and the other in water, reflecting that an answer or
resolution to the current set of life circumstances contains both heavenly
inspiration (water = intuition) and the possibility of a practical, earthly
outcome. The task
confronting the querent is to integrate and balance the ideal held in the heart
with the more pragmatic circumstances of life. The chalices holding the water
reveal the abundance of feeling and sentiment that are key to the situation in
question. The act of pouring this water from one cup to the other reflects the
need to harmonize and equate spiritual love with earthly existence. The
spiritual cup of water (love) is higher than the earthly cup. Thus the more that
the querent can integrate impersonal and compassionate feelings into the
situation, the better the outcome. The
process of increasing one's use of spiritual insight on the path of personal
development leads one to the Path to the sun (Divinity). The mountains in the
background represent the goal of spiritual initiation, while the irises indicate
the presence of faith (in your own process of growth). Iris is the Greek goddess
of the rainbow. She represents the bridge between heaven and Earth. Please note
that the an- gel has the Hebrew letters for the Divine Name (YHVH) on its robe.
The triangle within the square has the same meaning we saw in The Hanged Man
card: three (the Trinity of active creativity) and four (physical
manifestation). Added together, these two numbers give us seven (a cycle of
growth); multiplied, twelve (a cycle completed). In the reading---The
Temperance card tells us that any personal action taken towards the
completion of a certain cycle or task may appear to be happening at a slower
pace than desired. The querent need not force things because the de- sired
outcome will take place, but not at the speed he might prefer. Recognize that
Divine Intent is at work here. The querent must be patient while learning how to
understand that he or she is part of a greater cycle of activity. Reversed-Conditions
are hindering the fulfillment of one's goal. The querent is frustrated and
impatient with the course of action that circumstances dictate. This lack of
patience may cause him to make poor decisions. If he persists, he may even
prevent a positive outcome to his previous efforts. If the querent can achieve a
certain degree of detachment (especially from the emotional side of things), a
more effective route of action may be created. Exoteric meaning--The
development of patience and the temperance of personal desire is required.
One may learn self- control through discipline and one-pointedness. Esoteric meaning-The
penetration and expansion of the conscious mind into the unknown
(subconscious) realm of life's potential is possible and available through
Temperance.
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