Liberation from Extremes

From the Middle Way Arcana, Temperance; from the Vertical Oracle, Monkey Mind:

The Buddha's message was simple but profound. Neither a life of self-indulgence nor one of self-mortification can bring happiness. Only a middle path, avoiding these two extremes, leads to peace of mind, wisdom, & complete liberation from the dissatisfactions of life.

~Henepola Gunaratana

Buddha lived many years as an indulged prince, but when he acknowledged the inevitability of sickness, aging and death, he decided to try ascetism to find meaning. Neither approach showed him how to live a content and purposeful life until he sat down under a tree with a fed belly and meditated without expectation. He realized a path that accepts the pain inherent in life yet also offers a way to avoid dumping more suffering on top of it. He taught a Way that didn't involve extremes. Monkey Mind is a reminder that these extremes can be mental as well as physical. Ever found yourself making pointless lists of things or traveled down a rabbit hole searching the internet? It's all forms of intoxication, and Buddha would encourage us to seek mental clarity and peace instead.

Shades of Gray

From the Idiosyncradeck, Temperance; from the Mixed Emotions Cards, Confusion:

The spaces in between, where absolutes blur, are where growth and understanding thrive. 

―Liz Durden-Myers

The creator's comment on this card was, "Even when it's dark, there's light." We have been trained to think that our security and stability comes from choosing what is right and good and avoiding what is wrong and bad, as if things were clearly marked and defined. Confused is what happens when we experience cognitive dissonance, realizing that two different beliefs could both be true. While binary thinking may be helpful in making quick decisions, Durden-Myers explains that it stifles our creativity, creates societal divisions and overlooks the complexity of life. There's a lot of good in seeing in shades of gray rather than only black or white.

Do This First

From the Tarot of the Abyss, Temperance; from the Nature Mandala Cards, Change:

Combine the extremes, and you will have the true center.

―Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel

In the fires of rage, the depths of despair, or the icy clutch of fear, what we think we should do is usually some extreme reaction. It's not that we should eliminate these feelings, as they may contain useful information. But we need to let them mix with a bit of calmness, hope, and courage to give us a clearer, more balanced view. Somewhere between "Off with his head!" and "I'll just be hiding under the bed covers," there is a solution that might be more effective. Effective Change is not brought about by getting hooked by our emotions, allowing our old habits and patterns to take over. It comes when we allow the mud to settle. As Jimi Hendrix put it, "In order to change the world, you have to get your head together first."

Contrasting Togetherness

From the Deirdre of the Sorrows Tarot, Temperance; from the Victorian Flower Oracle, Tea and Coffee:

Why be a star when you can make a constellation? 

―Naomi Murakawa

This angel seems to encourage us to mix our personal goals with spiritual values. Doing so will require an other-centered approach rather than a self-centered one. We must be willing to add other views and ideas to our own, to create with a mix of colors rather than just one hue. Tea and Coffee represent friendship - a pairing of differences that make for a lively and interesting companionship. As Margaret Mead wrote, "If we are to achieve a richer culture, rich in contrasting values, we must recognize the whole gamut of human potentialities, and so weave a less arbitrary social fabric, one in which each diverse human gift will find a fitting place."

Stuck in Our Stance

From the Ellis Tarot, Temperance; from the Brownies Oracle, Revolution:

The people—confused and excited—hear only the strident voices of the audacious and refuse to listen to the voice of wisdom which, being wise, is temperate.

― Lloyd C. Douglas

When holding an extreme view - and we're so focused on being right, we rarely see it as such - we automatically close our mind to any other viewpoint. We think that to mix our opinions with another perspective only cancels them out, yet we actually cut off any avenue to the wisdom of reality. An open, temperate mind doesn't dump one view for another but sorts through, examines, and finds the best of both. Revolution suggests change, which will never happen (even beneficial change) if we can't soften our beliefs and attitudes. Who know what we might be missing by staying stuck in our stance?

Calmness and Clarity

From the Herbcrafter's Tarot, Temperance (Camellia); from the Green Wheel Oracle, Salmon:

Calmness is the cradle of power. —Josiah Gilbert Holland

Temperance advises us that mindfulness leads to clarity and the ability to discern appropriate action. Camellias are known for their lovely ornamental blooms in the fall, but Camellia sinensis is known as the ‘tea plant.’  It is the most common plant in the world to be used to make tea (green and black), usually from young leaves. Making and sipping tea gives us a chance to slow down and widen our tunnel vision. Salmon invites us to return to the internal source of an issue. As Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche suggests, " If an emotion or a disturbing state of mind is too painful to look at directly, seek the underlying condition that holds it in place. You may be surprised at what you discover."

Mindful Courage

From the Wheel of Change Tarot, Temperance; from the Oracle of the Dreamtime, Ochre:

From a peaceful center we can respond instead of react. Unconscious reactions create problems. Considered responses bring peace. With a peaceful heart whatever happens can be met with wisdom. 

— Jack Kornfield

We are constantly being influenced by what is going on in our heads and in our environment. How we relate to these things will determine whether we choose an emotional reaction or a wise response. Rather than being fueled by impulsiveness, a response is thoughtful and deliberate, seeking to improve the situation. Temperance suggests we choose what is constructive rather than destructive. The Dreamtime story of Ochre tells of a murderous, giant lizard and a brave dingo who faced it. When the lizard was killed, its blood soaked the earth and created ochre. In celebration, the tribe used this earthy pigment to paint their bodies. Mindful courage will take us down the middle path, avoiding any excesses that only create more problems.

A More Colorful Life

From the Tarot of the Sidhe, Temperance; from the Green Man Tree Oracle, Ash:

The aim of ideology is to eliminate ambiguity.

―Margaret Atwood

Temperance is a warning that we could be shifting to extremes in our ideas or actions. This slide is easy to make when we form a tight circle with people who think and behave as we do. Our attitudes seem normal when there is no one different with whom to compare them. As Gustave Le Bon explained, "they are always inclined to exaggerate the worth of their principles, and to push them to their extreme consequences." Nuin (Ash) is associated with part of a weaver's loom. Weaving in what is diverse allows for more wisdom and creativity, leading to a fuller, more colorful life.

We need diversity of thought in the world to face the new challenges.

―Tim Berners-Lee

What's in the Mix?

From the Out of Hand Tarot, Temperance; from the Seashells Playing Cards, Humphrey's Wentletrap:

If one oversteps the bounds of moderation, the greatest pleasures cease to please. 

―Epictetus

Jamie sees Temperance as a bartender, asking what we want mixed together for our day. "Will that be neat - sitting on the couch in a funk all day - or would you like to add a slice of taking a walk and a splash of calling a friend?" In statistics, moderation occurs when the relationship between two variables depends on a third variable, the effect modifier. That modifier might be to consider how continuing to do what we are doing is going to make us feel in 24 hours. Will we feel better or worse? The Humphrey's Wentletrap has a succession of coils that have tall rib-like structures running up the sides. These ribs may offer some protection against other predatory snails, making it difficult or impossible to bore a hole in a shell with such obstructions. We often react to external situations as if we needed to shield ourselves from them. Yet what often hurts us more is the thoughts that drive our reactions to them. We may need to protect ourselves from the unfounded beliefs we think are true.

Tempered Transformation

From the Cosmic Tarot, Temperance; from the L'Oeil de Lotus, Interdiction:

And where two raging fires meet together,

They do consume the thing that feeds their fury

―William Shakespeare

Temperance mixes elements in order to create something useful and beneficial. We see it in cooperation, when each person doesn't demand doing everything their way. It is seen in compromise, when countries give up some things in order to reach an accord. Temperance is transformational, helping us avoid extremes so that we can live more skillfully and peacefully. Yet Interdiction - the act of forbidding something in order to prevent something - suggests that Temperance can also save us from overindulging in anything that might cause us or others harm.

Wise Choices

From the Llewellyn Tarot, Temperance; from the Beasts of Albion, Weasel:

Craving creates tunnel vision: We see only what we yearn for. Mindfulness allows us to see that and much more, giving us the choice not to act on our desires. 

—Joan Duncan Oliver

According to legend, Cantre'r Gwaelod was a low-lying, fertile land fortified against the sea by a dyke with a series of sluice gates that were opened at low tide to drain the land. Seithennin (now known with the subtitle "of the feeble mind") - a drunkard and carouser - was responsible for the sluices. In the first version of the tale, he got drunk and failed to open the gates, flooding the village. In another, he forced himself on the well's guardian, and as a retaliation, the well overflowed and consumed the land. Temperance is a reminder that desires without discernment rarely cultivate good fortune. Weasel has a reputation as a fierce, agile and efficient hunter. He is the "Holder of the Strength of Mind;" the ability to help us focus the mind can help us overcome challenges and avoid dire situations. 

As Best As I Can

From the Middle Way Arcana, Temperance; from the Vertical Oracle, Reality Check:

The Buddha's message was simple but profound. Neither a life of self-indulgence nor one of self-mortification can bring happiness. Only a middle path, avoiding these two extremes, leads to peace of mind, wisdom, & complete liberation from the dissatisfactions of life.

~Henepola Gunaratana

Buddha began life as a pampered prince and later led a life of austerity as an ascetic. Neither approach led him to enlightenment and contentment. In our search for happiness and satisfaction, we often take an extreme approach, thinking it to be the fast track to our goal. But as Buddha found, it is a middle path between fundamentalism and excess that will light our way to liberation. Reality Check suggests that we have resorted to imbalance and need to find clarity. We might be trying to control a situation we have no influence over, demanding that things be different, and arguing with what are the facts. Instead, we might take the words of Vidyamala Burch to heart: "Out of acceptance grows a new phase, which I call flourishing. When you let go of the battle, let go of fighting with your spirit, then more energy will rise up. Let me love this life as best as I can."

  

The Swing of the Sword

From the Tarot of the Hidden Realms, Temperance; from the Heart of Faerie Oracle, the Hero:

That which offers no resistance, overcomes the hardest substances. That which offers no resistance can enter where there is no space. ―Tao Te Ching, Chapter 43.

Temperance is a reminder that when we take an extreme stand, we cause suffering to ourselves and others. We can easily find ourselves in the camp of fundamentalism, having a long list of things and people we are against, but very few groups or issues that we focus on healing or being benevolent toward. Our self-identity can easily become linked to our cause, further separating us. The Faerie's Hero is a feminine form; she does not fight battles fueled by intolerance and hatred. Her sword of truth swings like a cool rain falling on a parched land, bringing love, kindness and justice. 

Men build too many walls and not enough bridges.

― Joseph Fort Newton

One Shoestring

From the Roots of Asia Tarot, Temperance; from the Mahjongg Oracle, Fisherman:

Our true nature is like the infinite sky, unmarked by whatever drama temporarily appears in its vast space. —Kittisaro

Adulthood generally brings fixed ideas and behavior patterns, with a great divide between what we think is good and bad or right and wrong. Such is the foundation for a a feeling of discontent and unhappiness with the way things are. But instead of a chasm between what we cherish and what we abhor, imagine seeing them on a continuum - two ends of the same shoestring. The Fisherman is a symbol of patience and tolerance, qualities that are necessary if we are to see and hear the world beyond a rigid mindset. We rest in a mind that is as vast as the sky. Then we might follow Kofi Annan's encouragement to "confront ignorance with knowledge, bigotry with tolerance, and isolation with the outstretched hand of generosity."

Tea and Tenderness

From the Granny Jones Australian Tarot, Temperance; from the Button Oracle, Fawn:

We humans tend to have an aggressive response to intense emotions. The extremes of anger may even seem normal to some of us, but we even do it with fear or sadness. We might hide from outside contact, run up a huge credit card debt, or eat box after box of candy. We desperately want to be rid of this feeling, this edgy energy that invades our body and mind, but the actions we take often hurt more than help. Granny, pouring out some lemon balm tea, tells us to sit for a spell, allowing our energy to naturally dissipate instead of revving it up with our thoughts and body in constant motion. The quote for Fawn comes from Leo Buscaglia: "Gentleness can only be expected from the strong." Instead of making endless strategies and reacting in useless ways, we might ask, "What would tenderness in this situation look like?"

Until the Mud Settles

From the Anna K Tarot, Temperance; from the Meditation Cards, "Be Like Water:"

This is one of my favorite depictions of Temperance because it reminds me that each situation requires a slightly different balance of things. In one instance, a firmer, more assertive stance might be needed; in another, a more tender and kind response would most beneficial. A celebration might be time for less moderation while a health requirement might require discerning choices. Yet as the "Be Like Water" verse from the Tao Te Ching implies, some quiet and stillness might be needed to see clearly what would be appropriate:

Do you have the patience to wait

till your mud settles and the water is clear?

Can you remain unmoving

till the right action arises by itself?

Softening

This week I'll be using the Fey Tarot, created by Riccardo Minetti and Mara Aghem and published by Lo Scarabeo. The oracle deck I'll be using is the I Misteri della Sibilla (The Mysteries of the Sibyl), created by E. Maiotti and published by Dal Negro. Today's draws are Temperance and Messenger (Jack of Diamonds):

This Temperance card shows a mix of water, air, earth and fire - the elements flow together rather than work against each other. Here there is a restful softening, a receptiveness that doesn't grasp or push away but allows. This fey would explain that it is our rigidity that causes us to break. The Sibilla's Messenger indicates information that comes that we may or may not welcome. Will we remain soft and flexible or become unyielding in response? However if we take 'self' out of the picture and allow our emotional energy to dissipate without fueling it, the message simply becomes information that we can deal with appropriately. 

Extreme Constriction

From the Vision Quest Tarot, Temperance; from the Bird Cards/Ascension to Paradise decks, Tanager:

We are often so identified with who we think we are that it not only determines how we live, but it limits how we can be. ―Lama Surya Das

Our labels often define us in ways we don't realize. Yet this world is relative and always in process; anything that refuses to change or adapt eventually won't fit well with reality. Go back several decades and the term 'working mother' didn't exist - either you did one or the other. Does our religious, political or cultural identity mean we can only think from within one box? How limiting and extreme that would be. Tanagers are often brightly colored and feed on fruits and insects in the upper canopy of the forest. They are regularly found foraging in mixed groups of other birds. Their message is that life is too rich and beautiful to constrict our experience of it. Who would want a black and white rainbow?

Short-Circuit

From the Stone Tarot, Temperance; from the Buddhist Quote Cards, a verse from the 17th chapter of the Dhammapada:

The Online Etymology Dictionary had some interesting notes for the verb form of this card (temper): "to moderate, bring to a proper or suitable state, to modify some excessive quality, to restrain within due limits, mix in due proportion." In the last few hundred years, Temperance has come to be associated with inebriation, but I have to admit my emotions have intoxicated me in far greater measure than any drug or drink. When that jolt of anger goes through me, it can be hard to remember this is just energy; I don't need to feed it a story line, I just need to let it dissipate without acting on it. The Dhammapada's verse seems to underscore the need to train the mind - not so I won't feel, but so I will realize my brain has been temporarily short-circuited:

The one who keeps anger in check as it arises, as one would a careening chariot, I call a charioteer. Others are merely rein-holders.

 

Fixed vs. Flexible

From the Russian Lubok Tarot, Temperance; from the Marseille Oracle, Wisdom:

All fixed set patterns are incapable of adaptability or pliability. The truth is outside of all fixed patterns.

~Bruce Lee

The shoulder yoke on this lass implies that we must constantly adjust our stance and behavior based on each situation rather than having a fixed position. If my neighbor's dog runs loose and digs up my yard, I might speak to her about keeping her dog on a leash or in a fenced area. If that same dog is hit and killed by a car, she does not need my input on leashes or fences, she only needs my compassion. Wisdom suggests something more than the facts and figures of knowledge, which can be gathered simply through education and learning. Wisdom includes knowledge as well as other traits: a wide perspective, experience, and discernment - all of which form sound judgment.