Tarot Card Temperance

The tarot card Temperance is a peaceful symbol of balance and patience. That's not to say that it is an easy process to arrive at this point.

If you think of blending oil and water, there is a lot of shaking and force required to achieve anything close to homogenization. That same shake, rattle, and roll can take place internally as part of the quest to achieve harmony.

Miss L has never known anyone to describe themselves as a 'patient person'. Patience is usually a quality that is admired in others and thought to be deficient personally.

Patience feels so difficult to cultivate, especially because we don't live in a patient world.

In advertising, work, driving, shopping, eating, living, everything is supposed to be better faster. In the rush, rush, rush, that's come to be expected, does it feel like patience is not only impossible to cultivate but stupid to explore? Why be patient!

Patience is so crucial in personal expansion because it is a conscious act to slow down. Who cares if you can't learn something overnight - almost no one can.

Temperance hints that is is better to take the time needed, for happiness and skill both to develop than to plow ahead willy-nilly.

The idea isn't to use patience as an excuse to wait until destiny presents itself or to flit from idea to idea but rather to sample a little of both of these energies and move at a measured pace.

The tarot card Temperance suggests that movement is required for balance. It doesn't have to be fast or fancy but it is very necessary. Think of it as movement to mix things up.

If you'd like a more complete definition for the tarot card Temperance or to see the meaning of each tarot card, visit the Tarot Card Meanings section.

Miss L and many, many others have spoken before about the need to focus on the journey, not the destination. Emersing yourself in the journey is a great way to cultivate patience because you are anchored in the present.

Temperance asks gently:

• Do you think of yourself as a patient or impatient person? Have you always been this way?

• How do you think that having more patience could benefit you? If you were more patient, do you think you'd experience more happiness?

• If there doesn't seem to be much balance in your life currently, what new energy do you think you need to mix things up? What new activities could you cultivate to stir it up?

Temperance is the blending of opposites to create harmony. Start slowly, pay attention and you could experience the same level of balance.