Temperance - the Card

The Aeclectic Tarot is helpful in understanding how this card could represent the fourteenth century - possibly the worst century in human history. This was the century when the Black Death wiped out, conservatively, half of Europe's population. The people were already in bad shape before it came along; in fact, it might not have gained such a foothold had the population not been in bad health generally because of overpopulation and gross inequities between the few wealthy and the mass of poor.

So how could a card representing one of the virtues be representative of this century? Here, from the Aeclectic Tarot's page on Temperance part of the answer:

Temperance may be, at first glance, a warning to the Querent to "temper" their behavior, to cut their wine with water. But it may also be a reminder to the Querent that seemingly irreconcilable opposites may not be irreconcilable at all. Belief that fiery red and watery blue cannot be merged may be the only thing standing in the way of blending the two. Change the belief, measure out each with care, and you can create otherworldly violet....

This is one of the hardest cards to interpret. I think, perhaps, Crowley is most helpful in understanding it, as he calls the card: "alchemy." It sometimes works best for me to imagine the Angel wearing a lab coat and very carefully pouring measured amounts of colored liquids into beakers rather than cups....

This card really does seem to be less about moderation then about ... blending opposites, achieving synthesis...