Temperance

[Gazel]

It is a new addition.

That's quite interesting. Wonder when it was added, by whom it was added and why, or based on what

 

[HoneyBea]

Temperance has always been female for me, but looking at her in the RRW I see she/he has a substantial Adams apple. I have never given it a thought but I guess that is because of my Visconti decks.

By the way the Albano-Waite has no crown in the sun, nor do the pre 70's R/W or even the Swiss made US games NY NY 10016 postal code decks.

It is a new addition.

That's interesting, although my observations are based on the Original Rider Waite - I must admit that I do not know the Albano-Waite

 

[The crowned one]

That's interesting, although my observations are based on the Original Rider Waite - I must admit that I do not know the Albano-Waite

What year is your deck? My newest is early 80's. Most of mine are older.

 

[HoneyBea]

What year is your deck? My newest is early 80's. Most of mine are older.

my edition is 1999 but I assumed the Original Rider Waite was as Pixie drew them - am I wrong then?

 

[Sulis]

I've always thought of the crown and the light on top of the mountain in the Temperance card to represent a goal or a purpose.

Temperance is an active card even though it's often thought of as a card of gentility and patience. The angel is mixing the two liquids together to get something new. He's being pro-active, he isn't standing around waiting for something to happen, he is using alchemy to get something new from the two things he has already.

I think that the path leading to the crowned mountain represents the ultimate goal of all this mixing.

 

[HoneyBea]

I've always thought of the crown and the light on top of the mountain in the Temperance card to represent a goal or a purpose.

Temperance is an active card even though it's often thought of as a card of gentility and patience. The angel is mixing the two liquids together to get something new. He's being pro-active, he isn't standing around waiting for something to happen, he is using alchemy to get something new from the two things he has already.

I think that the path leading to the crowned mountain represents the ultimate goal of all this mixing.

I like you thoughts here sulis, just for interest though I'll quote what Robert M. Place says in his Book Tarot, History, Symbolism and Divination

Also note that while the sun is on the angel's head, a glowing crown appears in the sky where the sun should be. The landscape wears the crown and the head wears the sun. Temperance mixes the inner world of the psyche with the external physical world. This connection between the internal and the external is what Jung calls synchronicity.

Waite says of Temperance in Part 11 the Doctrine Behind the Veil PKT

A winged angel, with the sign of the sun upon his forehead and on his breast the square and triangle of the septenary. I speak of him in the masculine sense, but the figure is neither male nor female. It is held to be pouring the essences of life from chalice to chalice. It has one foot upon the earth and one upon waters, thus illustrating the nature of the essences. A direct path goes up to certain heights on the verge of the horizon, and above there is a great light, through which a crown is seen vaguely. Hereof is some part of the Secret of Eternal Life, as it is possible to man in his incarnation. All the conventional emblems are renounced herein.

So also are the conventional meanings, which refer to changes in the seasons, perpetual movement of life and even the combination of ideas. It is, moreover, untrue to say that the figure symbolizes the genius of the sun, though it is the analogy of solar light, realized in the third part of our human triplicity. It is called Temperance fantastically, because, when the rule of it obtains in our consciousness, it tempers, combines and harmonises the psychic and material natures. Under that rule we know in our rational part something of whence we came and whither we are going.

Now unless I have understood this wrong, Waite also associates it with psyche with the external physical world. - "tempers, combines and harmonises the psychic and material natures."

This is what I like about the study of the symbolism of Waite and Pixie smith and how they at times not always in all cards but at times make it clear what they were going on about.

~HoneyBea~

 

[re-pete-a]

Sulis..and others...Thanks for the inspiration,,,,,,,the waters of life will go from one extreme to the other on the path to light,,,,,,,,,,,today all devil tomorrow all light ,,,,,,,,that's the balance,,,to gain the maximum from life one must be ALL!!!!Judgements against one or the other are still judgements,,,,,understanding that we're all one is the circle completed!!!!TEMPERANCE ,understanding on all levels

 

[Gazel]

I've always thought of the crown and the light on top of the mountain in the Temperance card to represent a goal or a purpose.

Temperance is an active card even though it's often thought of as a card of gentility and patience. The angel is mixing the two liquids together to get something new. He's being pro-active, he isn't standing around waiting for something to happen, he is using alchemy to get something new from the two things he has already.

I think that the path leading to the crowned mountain represents the ultimate goal of all this mixing.

I think this makes perfectly sense - and it too indeed extends my knowledge and understanding of this card. Thank you.

Gazel.

 

[re-pete-a]

if this mixing and blending is in progress,perhaps it lends to knowing the right balance between the mental world and the physical worlds,and experiencing the two as the same,AS YOU THINK SO YOU ARE......Interesting!!!