The Temperance card can seem a little boring, but it’s comforting, especially since it’s sandwiched between the Death and The Devil cards. Temperance is all about the peace and comfort that surrounds you when your life is in balance.
This card serves as a reminder to remain patient and go with the flow. You might not control a situation, but you can wait it out. You can’t control others’ actions, but you can wait as they learn from their mistakes. While the message of the Temperance card is simple, it can be tough to apply to your life.
This card encourages you to take a moderate approach and not rush into things, and asks you to take your time and remain calm as you work towards your goals. It says that change is coming, but you have to be patient and wait for things to fall into place. It also supports and encourages moderation.
When you see the Temperance card reversed, it can serve as a warning that you’ve been indulging a lot lately. Maybe you’ve been living a life of excess, and it’s time to dial it back and focus on simpler things.
This reversed card can also remind you to focus on yourself and your desires. It can suggest practicing quiet meditation or self-reflection to figure out what you want. It urges you not to jump into things without taking the time to plan and think them through, and remind yourself that good things come to those who wait.
The reversed Temperance card can also help you realize that something is out of balance in your life. Maybe you feel like something is “off,” but you’ve been ignoring your gut. The reversed Temperance card urges you to look at the different areas of your life and examine the balance between them. Are you equally nurturing your career, love life, and home life? If you’ve been giving one area a lot of your focus at the expense of another, it’s time to rebalance your energy.
Reading this reversed card using the “blocked/restricted” meaning
Okay, so let’s talk about the different ways you can read your reversed Temperance card. First, you can use the “blocked/restricted” reversed card meaning.
When you read your cards like this, you’re looking for an obstacle standing in front of the card’s upright meaning. For the Temperance card, this means something is blocking your patience, tranquility, or ability to balance your life.
Say you pull the reversed Temperance card when thinking about your family. Maybe you’ve recently had your first child. You’re overjoyed, but you don’t feel at peace. In fact, things are pretty stressful, and you’re having a hard time making decisions. There are a lot of choices: cloth vs. disposable diapers, daycare vs. staying at home, breastfeeding or bottles.
You feel you’re being pulled in different directions by your friends and family, and it seems like everyone has an opinion. Here, the reversed Temperance card can show those influences are blocking your tranquility. Your friends and family are only trying to help, but it gets overwhelming when you’re getting advice from a lot of different people.
Take some time out for yourself and think about what you want for your child and yourself. Only you know best, and you can make whatever decisions work for your family. Try taking a step back from outside influences and reflect on your own goals and values. That will help you make the right decisions for yourself and your little one.
Reading this card using the “opposite” reversed card meaning
You can also read your reversed Temperance card using the “opposite” reversed card meaning. When you read your cards like this, you’re looking for the opposite of the card’s upright meaning. So, for Temperance, this means imbalance, hastiness, or excess. You could be rushing into things or indulging in harmful behaviors.
For example, say you pull the reversed Temperance card when thinking about going on a vacation. You’ve just started working a new job, and you’re making good money after years of just scraping by. Your friends have been talking about taking a trip to Hawaii for a long time, and you’re finally making enough money that you could join them.
Here, the reversed Temperance card warns you not to make this decision without considering how it will affect you. Even though you can afford the trip, now might not be the best time. You’ve only just started your new job, and it might not work out.
Also, even though you can pull together the funds, it’ll impact your finances for the new few months. You’ll have to cut corners which can make you feel anxious and overwhelmed. There will be plenty of opportunities for vacations in the future, and it’s best to wait until you’ve been working your job for a few more months before you think about such a big purchase.
Reading this card using the “worse” reversed card meaning
You can also use the “worse” meaning when reading your reversed Temperance card. When you read your cards like this, you take the card’s upright meaning and put it in a negative light. So, for the Temperance card, this means you have patience and moderation, but a little too much. You need to be a little more impulsive or take a chance to get what you want.
Say you pull the reversed Temperance card when thinking about your living situation. You have a roommate you’ve been living with for years, and you enjoy it. You two get along great, and you never infringe on each other’s space.
Still, you’re getting older, and you’ve discussed that it’s time to get separate apartments. Having your own place offers a lot of freedom, and it can be a great way to spread your wings and get to know yourself. But you and your roommate haven’t discussed what’s going to happen when your lease is up, and you haven’t started looking for new places yet.
Here, the reversed Temperance card can remind you that, while it’s good to have patience and take your time, sometimes you just need to go for it. Talk to your roommate about your concrete plan and start discussing those little details (like if you need to split up furniture).
It’s difficult getting out of your comfort zone, but if you want to make changes, you must take the first step. Make sure you have the details taken care of and communicate with your roommate to ensure you’re on the same page.
Reading this card using the “no/not” reversed card meaning
You can also read your reversed cards using the “no/not” reversed card meaning. When you read your cards like this, you put a “no” or a “not” in front of the card’s upright meaning.
For the Temperance card, this means “no balance,” “no moderation,” or “no patience.” You want to shake things up and make a change right away, but it’s important to remember that patience is a virtue.
For example, say you pull the reversed Temperance card when thinking about your career. Maybe you started a new job six months ago. It’s going well, but it’s a grind, and you’re wearing a lot of hats. It’s not exactly what you want to be doing, but you’re gaining valuable skills. You might be frustrated that you don’t have your dream job yet, and you want to look for something new.
Here, the reversed Temperance card reminds you, it’s important to have patience with valuable opportunities. Even though you’re not doing what you want right now, you’re gaining experience. If you hate your job, don’t stay there, but if you’re just getting frustrated that you’re not where you want to be yet, remember that it takes time to gain career skills. This is just a stepping-stone towards the job of your dreams!