Temperance Tarot Card Meaning
Temperance is card XIV of the Major Arcana. Upright it means balance, moderation, patience; reversed, excess, imbalance, haste.
Temperance
Upright meaning
Blend opposites with patience. Moderation creates lasting harmony.
Reversed meaning
Reversed, Temperance suggests excess, imbalance, haste. Its energy is blocked, delayed or turned inward; ask what is holding it back.
Love
Compromise and calm healing.
Career and money
Steady progress and teamwork.
Yes or no
Temperance leans yes in yes-or-no readings.
Temperance in a three-card reading
- Past: recent events shaped by balance.
- Present: you are in a phase of balance and moderation.
- Future: a favourable outcome, if you act on its message.
Astrology and number
Temperance is card 14 of the Major Arcana. In the Golden Dawn tradition it corresponds to the symbol ♐︎ shown on our card. In numerology, 14 reduces to 5, the number of versatility.
Temperance upright vs reversed
| Upright | Reversed | |
|---|---|---|
| Keywords | balance, moderation, patience | excess, imbalance, haste |
| Advice | Lean into balance. | Watch for excess. |
| Yes or no | leans towards yes | yes, after a delay |
Reflecting on Temperance
When Temperance appears, sit with these questions for a few minutes before acting:
- Where in my life am I being asked for balance?
- Am I showing any signs of excess?
- What is one small step I can take this week that honours this card?
Write your answers down; a tarot card is most useful as a mirror for your own thinking, and reading your notes later shows how its message played out.
Frequently asked questions
What does Temperance mean?
Upright: balance, moderation, patience. Reversed: excess, imbalance, haste.
Is Temperance a yes or no card?
It usually leans yes.
What does Temperance mean in love?
Compromise and calm healing.
What does Temperance mean for career?
Steady progress and teamwork.
What does Temperance reversed mean?
Reversed, it points to excess, imbalance, haste.