The essential meanings of this Major Arcana card from the Rider-Waite-Smith deck.

Upright: Temperance upright stands for balance, moderation, and harmony. It suggests that patience and careful blending of elements will bring about the best outcome – much like the angel mixing water between cups. In a reading, this card indicates it’s time to practice self-control and to find the middle ground in a situation. It encourages cooperation, good timing, and a calm approach, showing that healing and equilibrium are achieved by integrating opposites and avoiding extremes.

Reversed: Temperance reversed points to imbalance, excess, or conflict. You might be overdoing something – working too hard without rest, or indulging in excesses – and losing your sense of harmony. This card reversed warns that impatience or lack of moderation could be causing issues. It encourages you to identify where your life is out of balance and to slow down, re-center, and be patient as you work to restore peace and order.

Three Possibilities

The secrets of this card for heart, mind and soul.

Love: In love, Temperance pours the sweet waters of harmony between two cups (two hearts). This card speaks of balance and patience in a relationship, suggesting that differences are being blended into a beautiful, unified whole. It encourages healing and compromise with compassion — finding a peaceful middle ground so that love flows gently and steadily, like a calm river nourished by both sides.

Career: In your career, Temperance is the alchemist mixing elements to achieve perfect synergy. It advises finding balance between work and rest, or between differing projects and priorities, ensuring no aspect overwhelms the others. Through moderation, cooperation, and patience, you’ll create a productive workflow and a harmonious environment, leading to sustainable success without burnout.

Spirituality: On the spiritual path, Temperance is a guiding angel of equilibrium and integration. It encourages you to blend various teachings and experiences into a cohesive whole, finding the middle way rather than swinging to extremes. By practicing moderation and healing any imbalances (emotionally, mentally, or energetically), you cultivate inner peace and harmony with the divine, as your soul’s elements come into perfect balance.