Starting today I shall be posting a Tarot Card every Monday that shall set the theme for the week. This week’s tarot card is ‘Temperance’ from the Major Arcana.
The Tarot Deck consists of 78 cards, 22 of which form the Major Arcana and 56 of which are Minor Arcana cards. The Major Arcana cards are more significant than the Minor Arcana cards as they symbolize major changes and lasting influences.
The Mythic Tarot Deck (pictured above) envisions Temperance as Iris, goddess of the rainbow and messenger to Hera, queen of the gods. Iris was the female counterpart of Hermes, Zeus’ messenger, and was beloved by gods and mortals for her kind, loving nature. When delivering her messages from the gods to mankind, she would take the form of a beautiful winged woman, and would travel by gliding down rainbows; the bridge between sky and earth.
On an Inner level, Iris, goddess of the rainbow, is an image of a balanced heart. Iris is connected with the function of feeling as an active, intelligent faculty of choice. The function of feeling is a constantly changing bridge between opposites, a careful sensing of the needs of a particular situation with the goal of harmony and relationship at the end. Thus Iris pours water (in Tarot water symbolizes emotion) ceaselessly back and forth from one cup to another, because feeling must constantly flow and renew itself according to the requirements of each moment.
The appearance of Temperance in a spread implies the need for a flow of feeling in a relationship. Iris, guardian of the rainbow, suggests the potential for harmony and cooperation and challenges us with the issue of learning to develop a balanced heart. She appears to remind you of the importance of a balanced perspective. Bring your life into balance by keeping calm even when the going gets tough.
In daily life, balance translates as moderation. Seek balance in all aspects of your life, and restructure imbalance by adding or subtracting something to bring the situation into balance – whether that means spending less or more time with your friends and family, adding meditation to your daily routine or cutting down hours spent in the office.
The Temperance card also indicates a time of spiritual and physical recuperation. At this time it is important to keep distractions to a minimum in order to allow the process of healing to be completed.
Very interesting
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