Sagittarius is traditionally
associated with Temperance, which is the thirteenth Major Arcana
in most tarot decks.
In the Rider Waite Tarot
this trump depicts a winged angel standing with one foot on land and the other
in water, while pouring a liquid from one cup to another. The two cups are not
in a parallel position, and their easy flow, which defies the ordinary law of
gravity, is the result of the angel’s gentle focus attention.
The cup held in
the left hand pours water into the cup of the right hand, shifting the
traditional roles of polarity, with the right hand here becoming receptive and
feminine, and the left taking on the active and male role.
Temperance operates as a bridge between
opposite polarities by enhancing mobility and the capacity to alternate their
sphere of influence, whereby nothing remains stuck and the web of life keeps
flowing.
Sagittarius is a mutable sign, and every mutable sign is preceded by a
fixed sign, which in this case is Scorpio. Fixed signs exalt the nature of one
specific side, which they lead to its climax, allowing it to be firm and permanent.
This is the apex of the stage of identification, which is then followed by the
phase of connection of that identified part with other parts that also need to
be identified, in the process of retrieval. Being on a healing path implies
setting an intent and giving it concrete and fixed form, and then surrender it
to the web of life, connecting that form to other forms until the integrity of
the circle is fully re-awakened.
Temperance represents the fusion,
integration and mixture of dissimilar elements aimed at achieving a harmonious
balance and synergy. This principle is represented by the rainbow, associated
with the Sagittarian archer, consisting of seven colours representing the
visible planets of the solar system.
In Hindu myths the rainbow, is the bow of Indra, the god of thunder, lightning
and storms (associated with Jupiter, ruler of Sagittarius), while in Greek
mythology it is the path created by the goddess Iris, who is the angel
depicted in the card, in order to connect Heaven and Earth. Iris, similarly to
Mercury, is the messenger of the Olympian gods and also carries a caduceus. She
travels to the underworld to fill her golden cup with water from the river Styx, with which she puts to sleep those who
perjure themselves.
Although the shining sun and the
radiance of the angel provide abundant luminosity, Temperance is definitely a
card of the underworld and, given its association with Sagittarius’ last stage
of autumn, represents indeed the climax of darkness.
This is also represented by
the lilies
in the background, which are flowers traditionally related with Hades and death, and yet also
emblems of virtue, fertility and the primary symbol of forgiveness in A Course in Miracles:
“Yet will one
lily of forgiveness change the darkness into light; the altar to illusions to
the shrine of Life Itself. And peace will be restored forever to the holy minds
which God created as His Son, His dwelling place, His joy, His love, completely
His, completely one with Him”. (ACIM, W-12.5)
Temperance is one
of the cardinal virtues
enumerated by classical Greek philosophers
and the Christian tradition, together with prudence, justice and fortitude.
The Greek term for “temperance”
is sophrosune, which
means moderation, self-control, soundness of mind, and the harmonious balance of
the soul.
As Jack Crabtree, interpreting
Plato’s definition of sophrosune, puts it in “The Miracle of Sophrosine”,
it is “the virtue of enlightened
self-acceptance, a self acceptance based on an accurate understanding of who
one really is, a self-acceptance which results in a humble and settled
contentment with and pursuit of one’s destined role in human existence.”
This was regarded as the most
important of all human virtues, the model for the maximum expression of life,
encompassing a fulfilment both in the inner and outer world. Applying this virtue
of moderation often entails being able to stand in the midst of extreme
opposites, which also implies, according to circumstances, learning when to
move more towards one than the other.
The reference to moderation was also
found in the inscription of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi,
where the widely renowned maxim “Know Thyself” was preceded by the less known
dictum “Nothing Too Much”, i.e. “Nothing Too Much and Know Thyself”, which
placed the art of moderation as a priority in order to know oneself. For a
video on the mystery of the missing virtue of sophrosune click here.
In
A Gnostic Book of Saints, the companion book to his Tarot of the Saints,
Robert
M.Place
associates Temperance with St. Benedict of
Norcia,
the founder of Western Christian monastic communities, who “unlike many of
the martyrs and ascetics of the early Church, set an example of harmony and
moderation. He was a master of the art of living, who, like Buddha, saw that
extreme asceticism was yet another trap of the ego.”
The
seeker who has travelled many times through the sacred circle, deeply exploring
all aspects of life represented by the zodiac signs, and learning their
lessons, besides becoming a master in moderation, acquires the capacity to
combine the different features of life in a synthesis rather as separate
compartments.
This involves being experientially aware of the simultaneous
dynamics of the Sun and the Moon, so that, for example, during the dark late
autumn cycle, when the Sun is in Sagittarius, he can also encompass the bright
summer cycle and all the other seasons as the Moon transits them all in its lunation.
Typical signs of lack of temperance are the incapacity to integrate business
with private life, serious things with laughter, love with sexual attraction,
friendship with money matters, etc. This results in experiencing life as a
series of disconnecting roles, devoid of any association, and shifting
periodically, without any possibility of assimilation.
Temperance
involves the integration of all elements in life, which may also imply making
specific choices or following a given direction, yet while still holding the
connection with all the others.
It is an exemplification of the Middle Way, the Buddhist Noble
Eightfold Path,
“the way that leads to the extinction of suffering, namely: right
understanding, right thought, right speech, right bodily action, right
livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration" (Samyutta Nikáya. LVI, 11).
In
divination Temperance may indicate an invitation to operate with integrity and
maturity in dealing with a certain matter, which may at times also involve
doing nothing.
“The intemperate person always needs to be doing something, but
very often a situation requires a person to simply wait. The card will
sometimes appear as an antidote to cards of recklessness and hysteria.”[i]
Hence in a reading Temperance can simply tell you to take it easy, be patient
and not carry things too far. Another indication from this trump is to expand
your perception and open yourself more regarding the implications of any matter
relevant to you. It may also suggest the need of letting go and applying true
forgiveness in a situation where action is primarily motivated by fear,
competition and subtle resentment.
Hence
when Temperance emerges in one’s life, this is an invitation to pause and be
available to delve into the profound aspects of our nature, challenging the
assumptions of our ordinary identity, and of all we take for granted in our
perception of others and the world.
Temperance calls for a perspective that
allows all aspects of life to be acknowledged and honoured, bringing benefits
to both apparent polar opposites and reconciling them in a meaningful and
profound way.
[i] Rachel Pollack, Seventy-eight Degrees of Wisdom, The
Aquarian Press, 1980, p. 98
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For a list of movies on Sagittarius themes click here.
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