Major Arcana · Card XIV · Fire

Temperance Tarot Card Meaning

Played by The Crying Angel

The Crying Angel pours steadily between two vessels, patient and harmonious, embodying the sacred art of perfect balance between opposites.

Patience, balance, and harmony between opposites.

Upright

Flow. Find the middle ground. Be patient.

Reversed

Slow down. Restore balance. Curb excess.

Number: 14Patient blending
Element: FireBlending, temperance
Zodiac: SagittariusMutable fire, the alchemy
Yes or No: YesYes, in measure.
Character: Crying AngelTears carved in stone

Temperance Terror Tarot card, Original Edition: a weeping stone angel with great wings and a moonlike halo pours water between two goblets beside an old cemetery and a crowned mausoleum.

Temperance Terror Tarot card, Shadow Edition: white line art on black of the winged weeping angel pouring between two cups above a fountain, graves and lilies at right.

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Temperance card description

What's on the card

A weeping stone angel with wings and a halo stands as a fountain, pouring water between two goblets. On the right is an old cemetery, with lilies on the front gravestone. On the left, a winding path leads to a mausoleum with a crown-shaped roof.

From the Terror Tarot guidebook

Temperance, in our words

Patience and parity are the major themes of Temperance; it limns the unification of dualities within ourselves and within life, creating a harmonious balance. In our rendition of this card, an androgynous angel acts as both a statue and a fountain. It stands fixed and immovable, yet water circulates through it. This symbolizes the importance of staying grounded, but allowing ourselves to go with the flow of life. The hermaphroditic gender of the figure further represents the dichotomy of human nature and the importance of reaching inner equilibrium. It is the metaphorical merger of spirit and matter. Though made from stone, the sculpture embodies spiritual presence, depicted through the tears it sheds. The angel holds two goblets in its hands. The offset positions of the cups parallel the superconscious and subconscious minds. The stream of water between them is a symbol of the union and balance between these two forms of consciousness. As there is a give and take in the motion of the water, the same dynamic must exist in our relationship to the physical and metaphysical realms.

A cemetery lies on the right of the weeping angel. The abundance of headstones and weathered engravings alludes to a decrepit burial ground. A bundle of lilies embellishes the frontmost gravestone as they, as well as the grave they are placed upon, are another sign of a converging chasm. These flowers signify fertility and health while the headstones hold a direct correlation with death. On the left, a winding passageway leads to a mausoleum with a roof in the shape of a crown. This represents the journey through life toward reaching a higher path of understanding and staying true to our self, purpose, and meaning.

Terror Tarot guidebook · Temperance · pages 42–44

▲ Upright

Temperance upright meaning

Love	Patience, compromise and a steady, healing love that grows over time.
Career	Steady progress, good teamwork, and a calm hand in a tense workplace.
Money	Moderate spending and a balanced budget. Slow and steady wins.
Feelings	Peace, harmony, steady calm
Action	Flow. Find the middle ground. Be patient.

Upright in love

In a love reading, Temperance describes a relationship that works because both people give and take, like the water passing between the angel's goblets. Nothing here is rushed. If you are dating, let things unfold at their own pace rather than forcing a label. If you are partnered, this card points to compromise, healing after friction, and the quiet comfort of two lives blending well. Love grows here the way stone weathers: slowly, and for good.

Upright in career

At work, Temperance favors the steady hand. You may be the one who calms a heated meeting or brings two difficult teams together. Progress could feel slow, but it is real, and patience now prevents costly mistakes later. Like the winding path to the crowned mausoleum, your route may curve, yet it leads somewhere worth reaching.

Upright in money

Financially, Temperance asks for moderation. Spend some, save some, and keep the flow between them even. This is a good time to build a realistic budget and stick to it rather than chase quick gains. The angel never lets one cup run dry; give your money the same care and it will steadily fill.

As feelings

They feel peace, harmony and a steady calm. Around you they feel balanced and unhurried, and they are content to let the connection deepen naturally.

As an action

Flow. Find the middle ground. Be patient. A person shown by Temperance listens before reacting and blends opposing views with patience and grace.

▼ Reversed

Temperance reversed meaning

Love	Imbalance, impatience, or one partner giving far more than the other.
Career	Overwork, clashing priorities, or rushing results that need time.
Money	Overspending, binges, and swings between feast and famine.
Feelings	Restlessness, excess, inner friction
Action	Slow down. Restore balance. Curb excess.

Reversed in love

Reversed, Temperance shows a relationship where the water has stopped flowing both ways. One of you may give everything while the other only takes, or old resentments keep boiling over. Impatience can also be the trouble: pushing for commitment, or for answers, before the bond is ready. Step back, look at what each of you pours in, and restore the balance before the cup runs dry.

Reversed in career

In career readings, reversed Temperance points to extremes: burnout from overwork, conflict with a coworker, or projects pushed so fast they fall apart. You may be pulled between too many demands with no time to rest. Slow down, cut back what you can, and find the middle ground again before exhaustion makes the choice for you.

Reversed in money

Reversed, this card warns of excess. Splurges, impulse buys, or swinging from strict saving to wild spending can leave your accounts unsteady. The graves beside the angel are a sober reminder that unchecked habits have consequences. Pull back, look honestly at your spending, and rebuild a steady rhythm.

As feelings

They feel restless, excessive and full of inner friction. Part of them wants more and part of them wants out, and they can't seem to settle.

As an action

Slow down. Restore balance. Curb excess. Someone in this position overdoes it. They rush, overindulge, or swing between extremes without finding a center.

Only in the Terror Tarot

Original vs Shadow Edition

Every card in the Terror Tarot comes in two editions, and each edition reads a little differently. The Original Edition speaks to what is out in the open. The Shadow Edition speaks to what is moving beneath the surface.