ShadowWolf - Temperance
TEMPERANCE
"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 harmonizes
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
Temperance
This is a card that for a long time has never quite appealed to me and I could not figure out why-- well until now.
This card speaks to self responsibility-- no more are the two columns outside
the card's individual, no more are the forces of balance external-- nope, now
the time has come to take responsibility for bringing balance into one's life
and that responsibility falls squarely on- yep, you guessed it-- each of our
own selves.
We often hear that the answers to the spiritual life lie inside ourselves- but
interestingly enough we spend an immense amount of time, energy, money and
'stuff' to find the answers somewhere else. There is always another lecture,
another guru, another path, another charm, another tarot deck that
somehow MIGHT have the answers for us... and always the answer is somewhere
'out there'.
The Temperance card is like a huge 'uhuh-- forget that gig' and tells us with
no uncertainty that the issue of balance, of making our actions and reactions
all as one are quite simply our own responsibilities--no one else can or will
or should do this for us.
In the Waite deck we have an angel who stands balanced by the two large
wings...certainly we see that his/her feet are not firmly on ground- but one
foot is touching the water, one the earth...and the hands are busy pouring one
cup into the other cup--so the wings, ethereal and of air keep the angel
standing tall and straight.
This card speaks of adapting to the circumstances and finding the middle path
to any situation...and speaks of being in the moment, patience in watching the
ebb and flow. Patience- interestingly enough my lack of patience has been
pointed out recently by a wise one--(don't ya HATE to admit that sort of
thing???) and while I realize how true this is, I've not really clicked until
writing this as to how that can be addressed. Being patient to me has always
meant shutting up about something til it happened- all the while mentally
pacing, tapping the fingers, watching the clock. That is not it- patience is
stopping the concentration on one certain thing and putting the focus on the
moment at hand- fully into staying in balance. Now if one does that- then
time of the future disappears in the very act of concentration.
What about the symbolism in the card?
The angel is believed by some authors to be the angel Ariel ("Lion of
God")--an angel of Knowledge (and a 'he' btw). He has a solar disk at the
golden hair- all the sun god, masculine force, light of 'god', the mind
illuminated. The rays increase the knowledge as the balance is found by
focusing...and the angel indicates a higher purpose. He wears the white robe
of purity and freedom from darkness of any sort. There is a triangle found in
the square over the angel's heart- the triangle a symbol of the three
phases of man/woman, the three faces of 'god', the divine three, and much
more-- take some time to look at the triangle as well as the square for its
symbolism throughout cultures and history...the square, the number four-
stability, structure, even times and actions..peace. There is a
tetragrammaton over the triangle, signify a creative and energetic 'god'.
The left foot is on land- grounding with the earth and the basic human/physical
side of each of us, while the right foot in the water shows the connection
with the spirit. Water as the abyss- the foot lightly touching it, part but
no longer succumbed to the pull of the depths of the subconscious mind. All
things in balance.
There are two irises by the pool- Iris, the messenger of the gods in Greek
mythology- and a way to signify the transmission of the necessary lessons to
bring about the ability to focus on the moment, in complete balance.
As in many of the other cards you see a path leading on- mountains in the
distance as well as a crown sun- that this effort will continue you down the
path of growth ands spirtuality...this could be a sunrise- or a sunset--and in
a divination reading you might look at the issues and other cards in assessing
the significance of that symbol...but always a path to the light.
The cups are gold--the left being the subconscious mind pouring into the
conscious mind of the right cup...the blending of water and fire-- a potent
mixture but one that is a needed action for the reaction of balance..too much
of one or the other will not bring calm to a situation or peace to a person's
soul.
If you pull this card in a spread you can see the need for the individual to
take on responsibility for his or her own actions-- and find within themselves
the needed calm, and actions to bring about that balance. Ask them what is not
'right' or what is out of sync in their lives- what do they have TOO much of
at the moment? Or perhaps if reversed you find that there is a lack of
control--someone going into one direction too far, upsetting the needed calm
and balance. What is bothering them? Are they into a habit, an addiction, an
escape?
Yet ultimately- this card says that the answer and responsibility lies within
our own selves- no one else can do this for us-- no longer do we find a nice
comfortable spot between the two columns- a middle ground- the comfort zone.
This time we must take action and find balance to gain access to the place
where peace prevails.
ASSIGNMENT:
Look to your life this week- is there something that is too, too
much right now? Overdoing something- be it pleasure or work, too much focus on
one thing to the detriment of the rest of your life? Assess the situation-
staying away from all the 'other' people or influences and focus on your own
actions- how did you put yourself in this position. Honestly look at what YOU
are getting from it- and then figure out how to move to a place where your
wings balance your entire being.
shadow
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