Temperance as External Influences (Upright & Reversed) Tarot Card Meaning

Temperance is the card of moderation, balance, harmony, and patience. An angel stands, with one foot in the water and the other foot firmly planted on land. The angel pours water between two cups, symbolizing the flow and alchemy of life. 

Temperance reminds us that we must avoid going to extremes. We are often best-served by taking a moderate, patient, and balanced view towards life. Temperance reminds us that caution, prudence, and thoughtfulness have their place. They can often bring more reward in the long-term than a passionate outburst based only on a whim. To maintain harmonious relationships, working together to find compromise is often necessary. 

Upright Temperance as External Influences

If you are asking about external influences, and you draw Temperance, it means that balance, moderation, and the need for harmony are key factors influencing your current circumstances. This suggests a time for finding middle ground, blending opposites, and integrating different aspects of your life to achieve greater stability and peace. It’s a reminder that patience and careful consideration of all factors are necessary to navigate the complexities of your situation successfully.

Temperance as external influences can represent people such as mediators, healers, or balanced individuals whose presence encourages harmony and understanding in your life. These figures may offer guidance, support, or a calming influence that helps you view challenges with a more centered and composed perspective. Their role in your life is to remind you of the importance of maintaining equilibrium and to assist you in finding sustainable solutions to conflicts or dilemmas.

If you are asking about a romantic relationship, Temperance as external influences means that patience and compromise are vital to achieving balance and fulfillment within the relationship. This could manifest as a period where both partners are learning to adjust their expectations, communicate more effectively, and give and take equally. The presence of this card indicates that nurturing a sense of mutual respect and understanding is key to deepening the bond and ensuring the relationship’s health and longevity.

If you are asking about an ex, Temperance in the external influences position means that finding emotional equilibrium and understanding the value of moderation is crucial for moving on. This might involve taking a step back to assess the relationship objectively, learning from the experience, and gradually finding peace with the outcome. The process of healing and moving forward requires time and a balanced approach to processing your emotions and the lessons learned.

If you are asking about a friend or family member, Temperance in the external influences position means that their calming influence or advice is helping you find balance in your life. Whether through their actions, words, or mere presence, they are a source of stability and clarity amid turmoil. Their ability to maintain composure and offer wise counsel encourages you to adopt a more balanced and thoughtful approach to your own challenges.

If you are asking about career and financial matters, Temperance in the external influences position means that a balanced approach and patience are leading to steady progress and success. This might involve carefully weighing decisions, avoiding extremes, and steadily working towards your goals with a long-term perspective in mind. The guidance to proceed with moderation and foresight is especially relevant in times of uncertainty, ensuring that you build a solid foundation for future growth and stability.

Reversed Temperance as External Influences

If you are asking about external influences, and you draw Temperance reversed, it means that imbalance, excess, or lack of moderation is negatively affecting your situation. This suggests a period where the absence of restraint or the presence of extreme behaviors is leading to disharmony and complications. It’s a call to seek equilibrium and to reassess aspects of your life or actions that have become unbalanced, emphasizing the need for self-reflection and adjustment to restore harmony.

Temperance reversed as external influences can represent people such as those who live in extremes or lack self-control, contributing to disharmony in your life. These individuals might be influencing you towards unhealthy habits, or their own imbalances could be spilling over into your interactions with them, creating tension and instability. Recognizing the impact of these relationships is crucial for taking steps to protect your well-being and to encourage a more centered approach to life.

If you are asking about a romantic relationship, Temperance reversed as external influences means that imbalance or excessive behaviors are creating tension or instability. This could manifest as one partner’s overindulgence or neglect, causing friction and dissatisfaction. Addressing these issues directly, with honesty and a willingness to make changes, is essential for restoring balance and ensuring that the relationship can grow in a healthy and supportive environment.

If you are asking about an ex, Temperance reversed in the external influences position means that emotional extremes or a lack of closure is preventing healing. This might involve holding onto anger or resentment, or struggling to find a middle ground where you can process the end of the relationship calmly. Seeking a balanced perspective and finding ways to release these intense emotions can facilitate a more peaceful and constructive healing process.

If you are asking about a friend or family member, Temperance reversed in the external influences position means that their excessive actions or imbalance is causing concern or conflict. Their behavior may be challenging your patience or affecting your dynamic in a negative way. Open communication about your concerns and setting boundaries if necessary can help manage these difficulties and encourage a more balanced interaction.

If you are asking about career and financial matters, Temperance reversed in the external influences position means that a lack of moderation or poor decision-making is affecting your financial stability or career trajectory. This could be due to taking too many risks without adequate consideration, or not planning for the long term. Reevaluating your approach and seeking a more balanced and thoughtful strategy can help mitigate these issues and guide you towards more sustainable success and stability.

Conclusion

For relationships and feelings, Temperance reveals the power of patience, compassion, and understanding. When we try to force relationships and people to go the way we want, it can often implode in our face. Temperance urges us to embrace patience, moderation, compromise, diplomacy, and the middle path. When we lean into these qualities, we build trust. Over time, trust solidifies into a rock-solid foundation for a great relationship. 

If you find yourself needing further clarity in your relationship matters that go beyond reading for yourself, Sibyl offers unlimited tarot readings on love & relationships, as a neutral and objective third party.