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A Little Temperance
By Claire Coleman, Art by Robin Ator
What a lovely card to follow Death! If you look at the card you can see an angel pouring water from one cup to another. It’s all about balance. Temperance symbolises finding balance in your life, learning that excess will drain and not sustain you.
The temperance movement in the USA lead to alcohol prohibition; they misunderstood the real meaning of Temperance. Temperance is about moderation not abstinence.
Moderation can be far harder than abstinence; try having one square of chocolate and stopping there! It’s a challenge and one that this card suggests we rise to--especially over the holiday period!
Of course it's not just our consumption of food and drink that we may need to temper. It can be any excess: shopping, arguing or any self-destructive behaviour. Our excesses can also impact others; perhaps we neglect the people in our lives when we indulge our desires to excess. The angel is trying to show us that if you keep things flowing and don’t go to extremes, life will feel much more hopeful and peaceful.
So how does this card apply to you? All of us do something to excess whether it is harmful to us or not. Think of something you do. Now consider if it harms you in any way. Does it harm others either actively or by neglect? If you find something that does cause harm in some way, then try this week to moderate it. Any reduction is a good result. Move closer to balance, to Temperance, and you’ll see how much better you feel.