Major Arcana cards：XIV Temperance

Card Interpretation

The card depicts an angel holding two chalices in their hands, which represent materiality and spirituality respectively. The angel continuously pours water between the two chalices, striving to keep the water levels balanced. This card admonishes us that when faced with all kinds of temptations, the most important thing is to keep our desires in check. Unlike other cards that brim with joy and success, this one embodies a quiet, understated beauty—for after all, a plain and peaceful life is the true essence of happiness. It also signifies that a person’s capabilities are composed of both the knowledge they possess and their understanding of that knowledge. Every endeavor should have a clear purpose; through these experiences, we mature and our careers thrive.

An angel is pouring water, the symbol of soul and life, from one chalice to the other. Some say the water in the right chalice represents consciousness, while the water in the left stands for the unconscious; others argue they symbolize materiality and spirituality respectively. Regardless of the interpretation, at the very least, we see a state of mutual exchange in the card’s imagery. No matter where the water comes from or where it flows, it keeps moving—and isn’t this flow itself a form of harmony and purification? The angel stands with one foot in the water and the other on the shore. According to Western cultural symbolism, water represents the inner spiritual world, while land symbolizes the external material world. Thus, the angel’s stance foreshadows the human condition of navigating between these two realms. With the foot in water as the "substance" and the foot on shore as the "illusion", the card’s core theme is underscored—it urges people to temper their desires and purify their souls.

Upright Position

When drawn upright, the card signifies: Simplicity, adjustment, smooth progress, mutual benefit, the transition from fondness to love, pure love, and deep affection. In your career, you proceed with great caution, and your rational approach to work puts your colleagues at ease. Your relationship right now is simple and uncomplicated, marked by tranquility and purity—it is precisely the open communication between you two that keeps this romantic journey so smooth and unobstructed.

Reversed Position

When drawn reversed, the card signifies: Depletion, decline, fatigue, loss, anxiety, disharmony, and poor compatibility in love. In your career, you have fallen into a vicious cycle of constantly changing your mind and plans. You might want to follow the Fool’s example of forging ahead courageously—this might lead you to greater success. Emotionally, even though you and your partner keep trying to communicate, you always end up feeling unfulfilled after each attempt. It is precisely because of this that the distance between you two continues to grow.

Sagittarius

Sagittarius corresponds to the Temperance card in Tarot. Sagittarians are enthusiastic about challenges and embrace life with a proactive spirit.