We are now a quarter of the way through the Tarot, Myth and Astrology Series.  Last month we looked at the zodiac sign Scorpio and how it is associated with the Death card in the Major Arcana. This post will explore how the mutable fire sign Sagittarius is associated with card number 14 in the Major Arcana, Temperance. 

Sagittarius Astrology 101

From the Latin for archer, Sagittarius is the ninth sign of the Western zodiac falling between 22 November and 21 December. It is ruled by Jupiter, the biggest planet in our Solar system, which is associated with expansion, optimism, wisdom, success, justice, happiness and luck. It was traditionally referred to as the ‘great good fortune’ (p, 102, Farnell).  Sagittarius is a fire sign, mutable and masculine.  The symbol associated with the sign is the archer or archer centaur - half man, half horse.  Sagittarius is said to enjoy adventure, travel, and intellectual pursuits such as philosophy, law, and higher education. Often, good teachers, some say that Sagittarius is the sign of the mystic, and they enjoy delving into big questions surrounding spiritual matters and religion.  They enjoy the finer things in life, sex, food, wine, and music, and above all else, they must be free to do as they please, freedom and independence are very important to them. Physically, Sagittarius rules the legs and thighs. 

Temperance connection 

Temperance is one of the four cardinal virtues in Western classical philosophy. Its appearance in a tarot reading often suggests that moderation, restraint, patience and balance are in order. The etymology of the word temper comes from old English, which loosely means to mix, adjust, and combine into proper condition and from the Latin, temperantia, meaning moderation.  So how the hell does that correlate with Sagittarius when they are known for loving the finer things in life? 

As mentioned above, Sagittarius is a fire sign. In the tarot, the element of fire is associated with primal energy, initiation, creativity and spirit.  The centaur, the symbol associated with Sagittarius, is a liminal being. Half man, half horse, they are said to contain the ‘wild’ energy of the horse and the ‘civilised’ energy of the man. In the Rider Waite Colman Smith version of Temperance, the archangel has one foot in the pool in front of him and the other on land, suggesting a liminal space, from water to land, bringing the unconscious into the physical world.  

This idea of connecting or balancing two different elements is further highlighted by the Iris flowers in the background of the Rider Waite Colman Smith card, which hints at ancient Greek mythology and the goddess Iris.  Iris, the messenger between gods and mortals, is represented as a rainbow -  connecting heaven and Earth.  In Western classical mythology, Jupiter was the Roman god of the sky and Jupiter is also the ruling planet of Sagittarius. Jupiter’s equivalent in ancient Greek mythology is Zeus. Legend has it, that whenever a god was to make an oath, Zeus would send Iris to the river Styx to collect its waters.  An oath sworn by the waters of Styx would have been unbreakable and have unfortunate consequences should the oath be broken. 

If we follow the Major Arcana in a linear fashion, we have to go through Death, card number 13 to arrive at Temperance number 14. We have to die to be reborn. When we come out from our trials in the Underworld, we have a divine understanding of who we are and are greeted by a serene being. This being is depicted as the Archangel Michael on the Rider Waite Smith card. He is pouring water from one vessel to another.  Something magical is occurring with this task as the vessel below is offset from the one above & by the laws of nature the water from the top vessel should not meet the vessel below. It is almost as though the water is magnetised in some way.  We are witnessing some sort of alchemy. 

On the breast of the angel, we see the alchemical symbol of fire, a triangle. Our Sun, a giant ball of fire, is an emblem seen on the Temperance card as the sun disk on the angel's head.  Our ocean’s waters low and high tides are caused by the gravitational force of the Moon and water as an element is essential for human beings to survive. These two elements cancel each other out - water puts fire out, but fire can evaporate water. One of the most beautiful spectacles to behold in nature is that of a rainbow, created by a combination of fire and water, as the rays of the fiery sun refract through water droplets in the air.

An essential message of this card is learning to channel the ego aspect of the self with the soul.   It is about stepping back into the world, being reborn after death and being your true authentic self with both sides in balance.  This is where the Temperare, Latin for mix or combine properly comes in - we are mixing our ego with our inner self, the soul to become whole. Iris as the rainbow signifies the peace that comes after the storm - death. The Angel is tempering, trusting that those elements will come together. 

I’ve received this card a couple of times this year for myself.  I believe this is partly due to starting my own business and creating artwork again. I’m consciously listening to my soul and trying to nurture it as much as possible while balancing the practical aspects that come with running a business and being a mother. I have had to trust myself and the universe that things will work. To create and then let go, even if I want to hold on to them due to my insecurities.

Major Arcana cards contain so much wisdom, connected to myth, healing, and the spiritual nature of our existence that it is near impossible to sum up in a couple of articles. To learn the tarot is to be a student for life, as it is essentially about life and as we grow we uncover more of life's secrets.

Bibliography

Farnell, Kim,  Astrology (2002)

Pollack, Rachel, Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom (1997)

Case, Paul Foster, The Tarot, A Key to the Wisdom of the Ages (2006)