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The Key 14-Temperance card is named the Intelligence of probation or trial, by Dr. Paul Foster Case, founder of the Builders of The Adytum (B.O.T.A.). He is referring to the testing through which every aspirant must pass before they can reach the heights of Initiation (the mountains behind the Temperance Image). The object is to determine one's temper and/or strength, much like the act of tempering metal and thereby, creating the right combination of flexibility and strength. There is a distinct quality of equilibration, as the aspirant must be perfectly balanced with reference to all their vehicles (Spirit-Mind-Body).

The Angel in the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot illustrates a blue sky, free of clouds and a halo of wisdom around the head. Here, the middle path between two extreme courses of action must be chosen.

The Temperance card, of the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot, displays the vital life force shown as water that is poured from one cup to another, implying that one opposite is tempered or mediated by the other. This principle is far reaching and practical, since within the context of any given experience we learn to consciously bring opposites into play.

At the most mundane level, this card implies "counting to ten" when anger flares, helping us avoid doing anything rash. Or it can mean counting our blessings when life is going wrong. At a more subtle level, this is an invocation of another point of view. This inner self-debate helps us to realize and neutralize the emotional or intellectual significance of a situation and to see as an observer. This card points out the realization that there are dualities in everything, and that we function in pendulum swings from happy to sad, from love to hate, and from thoughtful to emotional.

The 3rd level of this card is much more refined as it refers to the wave interaction of those positive and negative sexual energies consciously through Tantric Yoga, or certain little understood Jewish or Christian meditational practices.; a process symbolized in the past by using alchemical and other symbolic terms.

The White Robes of the Waite- Angel and of the Connolly Tarot represent purity. At the breast of the Rider-Waite-Smith figure, is shown the displays white square with a red triangle in its center (a "secret" symbol for Tetragrammaton). This is shown as a golden triangle on a blue background on the Connolly Tarot Card. This also is an example of the underlying meaning of Tempering. On the Rider-Waite-Smith Angel, the white square is the "symbol for the 4 square world of mankind" and the red triangle is the symbol for the universal element of fire. Temperance is the uniting of the male (animus) and the female (anima) principles.

On the Connolly Tarot- Key 14-Temperance, a woman instead of an angel is shown in stain glass art. The bringing together of spirit and matter has awakened the woman's inner eye by the force surrounding her head. The balance of humanity and spirituality having been achieved causes the red cloak of individuality to fall away. Love (the red rose) has caused her to be surrounded by a new cloak of vision, gifting her with patience and the ability to see things clearly. The process of tempering is shown by her pouring water from one cup to the other---displaying the fact that energy, like water, seeks its own level when shared between two containers and/or two polarities (male/female). The key words are, Patience and Moderation.

On the Rider-Waite-Smith card the Angel rests one foot on water, signifying the cosmic mind stuff and the other foot is on land, signifying the "solid" world of physical manifestation. The Connolly Woman and Rider-Waite-Smith Angel pours water from the cup in its left hand to the right. The cups are gold, because they represent the golden radiant light that all living creation comes from. The upper cup represents the self-consciousness, corresponding to the man in Key 6-The Lovers. The lower cup represents the Woman and Subconsciousness. The stream of mind stuff flows/vibrates between them in equilibrium.

On both cards, the Angel or young Feminine is the I AM and/or the Greater Ego of the Soul-Tiphareth the 6th Sephiroth on the Tree of Life. Therefore, the Temperance figure is shown adapting and modifying the personal stream of psychic energy in the actions and reactions of the self-conscious and subconscious aspects of human personality. The belief here is that the Holy Guardian Angel (Higher-Self), makes all the tests and trials which lead us along the path of attainment. Personalities must be tempered to handle the fiery emotional force of the Inner Sun/Son of God/Horus. The only correction necessary is the intellectual correction of both thought and emotion. Therefore, the wise man acts as if all tests, and tempering of intellectual corrections are his alone. Even though he knows better.

The twin mountain peaks (on both cards) represent Chokma-Wisdom and Binah-Understanding, and the crown above them represents the Primal Will of Kether (God name of Eheieh-I Will Be).

When the Key 14-Temperance card is thrown in a divination. It implies:

• Dissolve and bind.
• Reunification of that which is dissolved (0=2, 2=1)
• The philosopher's stone is the goal.
• The search for the innermost core of being.
• The proper measure.
• Proportionality and harmony.
• Anima and Animus, blending into One.
• Achieving a beautiful balance.

If reversed:

• Excess (conflicts and dissipation).
• Tendency towards extremes.

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