Definition
Temperance is synonymous with sobriety. It is one of the Seven Virtues: faith, hope, charity, justice, fortitude, prudence, and temperance. The latter four are known as the Cardinal Virtues which are considered central to Christian behaviour by the Catholic Church. Temperance is also an important tenet in some other world religions – it is one of the Five Precepts of Buddhism, for example.
Temperance has three subordinate virtues: abstinence, chastity, and modesty. The virtue of abstinence prescribes the restraint to be employed in the partaking of food and drink.
Interpreted from the sayings of Xenophon (c.430-355 B.C.) we have: "Temperance means moderation in healthful indulgence and secondly abstinence in things dangerous, as in the use of wines".
The name Temperance
Especially in the puritan era Temperance, along with the other virtues, was often used as a girl's name.
In Michigan there is a place named Temperance. It is an unincorporated community in Bedford Township, Monroe County.
The temperance tarot card
Temperance is the 14th trump or Major Arcana card in most tarot decks. It is used in game playing as well as in divination.
Temperance is almost invariably depicted as a person pouring liquid from one receptacle into another. Historically, this was a standard symbol of the temperance virtue, representing the dilution of wine with water. In many decks, the person is a winged person/angel, usually female or androgynous, and stands with one foot on water and one foot on land. In addition to its literal meaning of temperance or moderation, the Temperance card is often interpreted as symbolizing the blending or synthesis of opposites.
In most tarot decks, Temperance stands between Death and The Devil. He or she guides the souls of the dead to judgment. Even though this card is well lit by a setting sun, it is an underworld card often depicting lilies in the background. Lilies grow in Hades, and the lily represents the goddess Iris, another messenger goddess who transcends the individual realms.