Temperance as What Someone Wants (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 What Someone Wants

If you are asking about what someone wants, and you draw Temperance, it suggests that they may be seeking balance, harmony, patience, or a merging of opposing elements in their life. This might imply a yearning for equilibrium among the various aspects of their life, such as work, personal growth, and relationships. It may also signal a desire to harmonize the physical and spiritual realms, or a willingness to patiently wait for life to unfold naturally rather than forcing events or outcomes.

Drawing Temperance when asking about someone’s desires can symbolize their aspiration for moderation, a need for patience, or the pursuit of a harmonious balance in different aspects of life. They may be longing for a lifestyle that isn’t characterized by extremes, but rather a calm, centered existence where everything is in its right place. They might also feel the need to exercise patience in their personal growth or life journey, understanding that good things come to those who wait.

When it comes to a romantic relationship, drawing Temperance means the individual might be longing for balanced emotional exchanges, harmony within the relationship, or patient development of the relationship. They could be yearning for an equilibrium of give-and-take, where both partners’ emotional needs are met in equal measures. They might also be seeking a harmonious partnership, free of conflict and full of mutual understanding, while hoping for a slow, steady, and patient development of the relationship, instead of rushing into things.

If you are asking about an ex, Temperance as what someone wants suggests they may seek balanced emotions regarding the past relationship, or they may desire peace and patience in dealing with residual feelings. They might be trying to find emotional equilibrium after the end of the relationship, not allowing any lingering feelings to consume them. Alternatively, they could be seeking peace with the past and exercising patience as they navigate through the leftover emotions and memories.

In the case of a friend or family member, drawing Temperance implies that they might desire a harmonious relationship, balanced interactions, or they might value patience in dealing with family dynamics. They could be hoping for more peaceful, respectful, and considerate interactions, which are characterized by understanding and patience. They might also value patience in managing familial relationships, recognizing that relationships evolve and change over time.

Finally, if you are asking about career and financial matters, drawing Temperance means the person may seek balance in their work-life, a harmonious work environment, or they may desire patience in financial matters. They might be looking for a better work-life balance, ensuring neither area overshadows the other. They could also be longing for a peaceful and collaborative work environment, free of conflicts. In terms of finances, they may be exhibiting patience, understanding that financial success often comes with time and steady effort.

Reversed Temperance as What Someone Wants

If you are asking about what someone wants, and you draw Temperance reversed, it could suggest that they might be struggling with imbalance, impatience, or extremes in their life. Perhaps they are grappling with an uneven distribution of energy across different areas of their life, or they’re dealing with situations that are far from moderate. They could be impatient for results or progress, or they might be swaying between extremes, finding it hard to maintain equilibrium.

Temperance reversed as what someone wants can symbolize their struggle with imbalance, a yearning for extreme experiences, or a lack of patience. This could suggest that they might feel off-kilter in certain aspects of life, or they could crave for experiences that are more intense or extreme than what they’re currently encountering. Impatience may also characterize their approach to their desires, which might mean that they’re struggling with waiting for results or outcomes.

When considering a romantic relationship, Temperance reversed implies that the person might be desiring more intensity, struggling with an imbalance in the relationship, or lacking patience with their partner. They could be longing for a relationship that is more passionate or consuming, or they might be struggling with a partnership where the give and take are not equal. Alternatively, they might be growing impatient with their partner’s pace or actions within the relationship.

If you are asking about an ex, drawing Temperance reversed means the person might be grappling with emotional imbalance, exhibiting a lack of patience in dealing with residual feelings, or they could desire more extreme emotional responses. They might be oscillating between intense feelings for their ex, struggling to find a balanced emotional ground. Their patience could be wearing thin as they manage their past emotions, or they might yearn for more profound emotional responses, whether positive or negative.

In the context of a friend or family member, Temperance reversed could suggest they are struggling with imbalanced relationships, lack patience in dealing with familial issues, or they desire more intense interactions. They might be experiencing unequal give-and-take in their relationships, or they might be impatient when dealing with family dynamics. Alternatively, they could desire interactions that are more intense or significant than the usual.

Lastly, when considering career and financial matters, Temperance reversed as what someone wants could mean that they’re wrestling with achieving a work-life balance, exhibiting impatience in financial matters, or they might be craving extreme changes in their career or financial situation. They might be struggling to maintain a healthy balance between their work and personal life, or they could be impatient for financial success or improvement. Alternatively, they could be yearning for dramatic changes in their professional journey or financial standing.

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.