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XIV. Temperance


Visita Interiora Terrae Rectificando Invienes Occultum Lapidem.
-Inscription on the crypt of Christian Rozenkreuz

(Visit the inetrior of the  Earth.  By rectification thou shalt find the hidden stone)

A very fitting sequel to "Death", this path represents change, but on a deeper, higher, more abstract level.  While "Death" is an involuntary change by the means of the destruction of old, or outdated forms, Temperance is a willed change by the way of perfecting one's art, skill, or an object of focus.  Constant practice. A foot in the stream seems to imply the probing of the waters before diving in. One is always mindful of progress and the direction in which the change is headed.

This is not change for its own sake, this is change for the purpose of attaining a goal.  The goal is drawn in the back of the card as a shining crown with a road leading to it.  The road originates on the shore of the stream in which the angelic figure is perfecting the water by pouring the essence of life from one cup to another.  The waters of the subconscious are nourishing the earthly road which leads to the attainment of the spiritual crown.

An experience when all the elements of one's life come together, and things just 'click'.

What is realization and how does one get there?


Nature tempering of itself provides its support.

ס (Samech) is the Hebrew letter associated with this path.  Spelled in full סמך it has the following meanings:


  1. to depend on, to rely on, to trust ; (literary) to lean on, to rest on ; (literary) to strengthen, to support
  2.  (rare) basis, foundation, reliable sour
  3. (scholarly) to adjoin, to bring close together
The 25th path of ס leads from the Sephira of Yesod (#9, Moon, astral plane, "Foundation") to the Sephira of Tiphareth (#6, Sun, the realization of the HGA, "Beauty").  As Yesod is a lunar, watery sephira, it is more emotional than physical.  The experience of the path of ס, Temperance, is more of a feeling than an actual "happening".  It is balanced on the left side by נ (death) and on the right by ע (The Devil).

Others' experiences of this Path:

  • Hyatt: Combining of forces, orking through the process of realization.  Think of what Tantra really means.
  • A.E. Waite: Pouring essences of life from one chalice to another.  Some part of the secret of eternal life.  Renunciation of conventional emblems. Changes of the Seasons. Perpetual movement of life. Combination of ideas.
  • Sefer Yetzirah: The twenty-fifth path is the Intelligence of Probation, or Temptation, and is so called because it is the primary temptation by which the Creator trieth all righteous persons
  • Crowley: Solve, Coagula@ by V.I.T.R.I.O.L shewn, the tincture, the elixir and the stone. Pour thine all freely from the vase in thy right hand, and lose no drop. Hath not they left hand a vase? Transmute all wholly into the image of Thy will, bringing each to its true token of perfection. Dissolve the pearl in the wine-cup; drink and make manifest the virtue of that pearl.  Combination of forces, realization, action based on accurate calculation, the way of escape, success after elaborate maneuvers.
  • Kabbalah of the Golden Dawn: Represents the development of the hissing sound of ז so hieroglyphically it is a duplication.  The duplicate link forms a prop, not merely joining but supporting.  It is the image of all circular and spiral movement, possibly a deduction from the peculiar movement of a serpent.
  • Lisiewski: Divinatory meanings: upright: unite or wed seemingly disparate concepts, ideas or actions in a positive and beneficial way, the use of temperate or measurable means and ways in thoughts and actions; a balanced approach to a problem, and a judicious implementation of its solution.  Reverse: disparate concepts ieas or actions which cannot be conjoined or united; disagreement; loggerheads; an extreme approach to a problem and its unbalanced implementation  which not only does not resolve the original problem, but which creates additional problems as a result of the extreme measures employed
  •  Lisiewski Intelligibe qualities: "The Tentaive Intelligence"  the individual's ascent to the HGA is implied.  Ascent through the world of Yesod (the foundation for all magic that is to have an effect in Malkuth).

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