The Temperance card is also known as Daughter of the Reconcilers and the BringerForth of life and is ruled by Sagittarius. It represents the binding together of fire and water and the unification of opposites. But what does this mean in real 
terms? She represents unity and harmony of opposing factors, so that what otherwise seem at war are married together in a complementary way instead - conscious and unconscious, active and receptive, male and female, attraction rather than repulsion, a merging of heart and mind in a way that brings peace and balance and joy rather than irritation and conflict. This is a popular alchemical motif, the fiery red masculine essence blended with the cool white feminine essence that results in the alchemist's goal - pure gold. Of course this is a metaphor as Sagittarius (the Centaur) is a metaphor, blending human and animal forms to create something neither human or animal, but a new form. So what does all this point to? It is a sign not to be too one-sided, but to see from both sides and understand that there are always two sides to any conflict, and to take sides is not what is required now. This card is not a practical card, not a card of action nor a card of battling with the feelings. It is a spiritual card and calls you to walk the road that will bring the most harmony to all involved. It is time for a new way of looking at your life, at any issues you have been battling. Resistance just sets up more of the same, so it is time to break the pattern and bring in something new, and to approach it from an angle of fairness and with the ability to look at problems from outside them, where you can see more and have more compassion for the whole. There are more battles coming, more work for you to do and so this card tells you that now it's time to find your inner sense of strength and harmony that you can carry forward into any future situation with a clear heart and emotions. Image from "Book of Shadows Tarot" © Barbara Moore
