Temperance, Key 14 of the Tarot

The Temperance Key, especially the Raider Waite deck with the Angel (Michael) mixing two mugs of water together, makes you think of the modern day association of the temperance movement or the movement to abstain from alcohol.  It pops up in a reading and the reader cautions the client about excessiveness.

It isn’t that.

The Hebrew letter found on the Key in the BOTA deck can tell you a lot about this key.  The letter is Samekh and in action it means to hold up…like a tent is held up by a pole.   When we “hold up” something from a spiritual perspective, we have proven it.  It is “verified” as authentic.  In the story of Tarot (and do remember the Tarot is book and you are shuffling pages) you have reached the point where theoretical knowledge had come to a head and you are ready to apply your knowledge, have an experience and VERIFY it.  All knowledge must be tested.

I find it interesting how so many people want to do magic, but they do not want to do the hard work to be able to actually do magic, rather relying on luck and quite honestly, misperception.  Before you can do magic, you have to change yourself.  You have to know yourself and be comfortable being yourself.  You have to come to a point of acceptance of all others and cultivate reverence for the divine.  This indicates your consciousness has been raised to such a level you can see truth and have a relationship with your innermost self.  This is hard work and on the the path many simply don’t want to do the hard work.

Temperance is your innermost self and it represents the Law of Verification.  The Law of Verification is the tent held up by Samekh or  your holy house fit to carry the energy of the divine and as a foundation for the divine work you do.  Just like in yoga, students of the occult are to cleanse and purify their mental, physical and subtle fields and build a fit foundation to carry the creative and dynamic vital life force energy of the universe which brings all into manifestation.  Ofter we call this Kundalini  (Key 8, Strength) and it helps us to do the Great Work which, quite simply, is to be yourself.

If you looked at the letter Samekh, you would see it looks like an Ouroboros or a serpent biting its tail.  This represents mastery of Kundalini.  Kundalini is often depicted as a snake.  ?  This is because (1) a snake can shed its skin and (2) they slither and it looks like vibratory energy.

14 composed of 1 (The Magician) and (4) The Emperor.  The Magician concentrates his will and the Emperor uses reason.  So verification is mastery of the vibratory energy through concentration and reason.  1 + 4 = 5 which is the Heirophant calling you to “listen” to your inner voice.  5 also represents adaption.  We are to adapt to our environment and we do this with a shift in vibration.  Concentration, reason and adaptation will support us through our many failings on the path.   To “temper” something is to make it strong.  We temper steel with fire to make swords.

Archangel Michael is the figure in this key.  He has a sword which is the flaming fire.  (We use “he,” but “he” has no sex and is androgenous).  Michael personifies the life breath of the divine as do you.   He is solar as indicated by the solar symbol on his head.  It is round as well as the sun, but also think of the Ouroboros….the energy eating its own tail.  This image may also make you think of key 10 or The Wheel of Fortune.  The energy goes round and round.  So what is the Life Breath of the Divine or the “One Identity?”  Is it the personal self?  Is it the personal self guided by a higher self?  Does this ideology create separation from the One Identity?  Of course it does so think of the personal self or ego as guided by a higher self or Angel flowing with the energy of the One Identity.  It is a big circle or perhaps we should think of it as simply spiraling out.

You see one foot is rested in water and one foot is rested on the land.  Water we know to be from the High Priestess and is the collective unconscious and your self conscious as well as your memory.  The land or earth represents the material world.  We have manifested from the cosmic mindstuff.

Michael wears a white robe to indicate his Sattvic or pure nature.  The name Jehovah appears in Hebrew letters on his robe, however, indicating he is beyond Sattva and in the realm of Kings.  On the Tree of Life this places him in beauty.  Beauty, Tiphareth, is the seat of the personal ego.  It is also the point of manifestation.  Manifestation establishes man’s dominion over the earth world and its creatures, but only a person who understands the circular nature of his being can truly manifest.    (YOU HAVE A GUARDIAN ANGEL)

Michael wears a seven pointed star.  This is a man made figure because it is quite odd and can only be drawn by a compass.  There is no formula for it.  The star is found no where in nature and is not natural.  Man’s ability to utilize a compass or a tool represents his ability to control the fiery life breath energy.   In working with a compass you are working in the world of circles or planetary influence.  You are in the realm of angels.   (YOU MUST WORK WITH THE GUARDIAN ANGEL)

Occult Maxim:  Nature unaided always fails.

Isn’t that interesting?  Contemplate that for some time.

Michael holds a torch (fire) and the flames flicker into 5 yods.  A yod should make you think of the Hermit and the sign of Virgo ruling digestion.  The fire god is Agni and lives in your digestive system.  Well stoked, you can digest everything including mental patters.  Five is the number of elements and should make you think of the seed from Death.  The seed was a big clue into manifestation.  If you recall the oval within the oval with the 5 rays.   The flame (digestive fire of Virgo) is pointed at the head of an Eagle (Scorpio).  This is the creative world AND Scorpio rules the sex organs as we learned in Key 13 or Death.  Control of the vital life force energy through appropriate breath work and in use of the energy of the Sex organs is a deeply guarded occult practice.  Nothing more can every be written of that.  It is a secret.

The Chalace represents personal consciousness.  It is indicating you must have control of the personal ego.  The Higher Self must control the personal ego.  The water pouring in reverse from the chalace makes you think of the Hanged Man and means the same think.  Samahdi or bliss.  We have suspended our “I am” ness.  Thy Will, Not My becomes the mantra.  The Lion or Leo representing the archetypical world is tamed just like in Key 8, Strength.

The Rainbow is vibration and is also God’s promise to man.