Temperance — Stop Forcing It. Start Aligning

Balance isn’t passive, it’s a power move. Trust the flow.

Card Essentials

• Number: 14
• Hebrew Letter: Samech (ס) – The Prop; divine support and circular protection
• Astrological: Sagittarius ♐ – Higher wisdom, philosophical balance, spiritual journey
• Planet: Jupiter ♃ – Benevolent expansion, wise moderation, spiritual teaching
• Element: Fire 🜂 – Spiritual flame tempered with wisdom, controlled passion
• Other Names: Archangel Gabriel, Time, The Angel of Temperance
• Archetype: The Healer / The Alchemist / The Divine Messenger / Archangel Gabriel
• Timing (Season): Late Fall/Sagittarius Season (November 22 – December 21) – philosophical reflection, spiritual wisdom
• Yes/No: Yes
• Keywords: Balance, moderation, patience, harmony, blending, divine timing, alchemy, healing, synthesis, middle path, spiritual integration, flow, temperance, equilibrium

The Mythology

Archangel Gabriel – The divine messenger who brings balance between heaven and earth. Like Temperance, Gabriel represents the perfect blend of spiritual wisdom and earthly action, showing how to move forward with divine guidance and healing.

Upright Meaning

Temperance appears when it’s time to find balance and patience after a period of major change. This card is about moderation in all things and having the patience to let things unfold naturally. Do not rush because time will take care of what’s needed.

The word temperance comes from Latin temperare, meaning “to moderate, blend, or mix together harmoniously.” This card used to be called Time, which is key to understanding its deeper meaning. You need patience right now and should embrace it fully. Your plans may move slowly, but the seeds are growing beneath the surface.

You’re patiently waiting and regaining balance after disruption. Patience will reunite the elements – raw materials, resources, people, and ideas – into a harmonious whole. It’s time to temper your ego, and let things unfold as they may so inner growth and outer harmony can occur.

Look at long-term perspectives and maybe create a 3-5 year plan for where you want to be. This is a marathon, not a race, and patience is key to your success. The middle ground is where you’ll find balance, and sometimes doing nothing is exactly the right action to take.

Career & Money

Time to blend different aspects of yourself to find the perfect job or career. Use other skills to generate new outcomes through patience and planning. This card can also indicate a teaching career or advisor role where you guide others.

Love & Relationships

Your relationship has the potential to teach you a great deal about yourself. Focus on balance and let things develop naturally without forcing outcomes.

Singles

Be patient as love is on the way. Focus on your goals and personal growth while you wait. The right person comes when the timing is right.

Reversed Meaning

Temperance reversed shows someone with no balance who’s impatient and possibly dealing with temper issues.

You’re burning your candle at both ends, chasing highs that lead to crash landings. This is a soul-level burnout disguised as ambition. You lack inner awareness and didn’t learn the lessons that were meant to help you grow.

You’ve allowed your life to slide from one extreme to another without finding stability. Now, you’re failing to let old habits and fears die and fade into the past where they belong.

This card is a warning to calm down and avoid extremes in all areas of your life. You might need to go back to the Strength card and learn those lessons until you can properly move through Death’s rebirth process.