The Temperance card embodies balance,
Harmony and moderation.
It signifies the merging of opposites,
Fostering a holistic and integrated approach to life.
This card encourages us to blend and synthesize conflicting elements within ourselves in order to arrive at higher truth and understanding.
In this active imagination exercise,
You will embark on a journey to discover your own equilibrium,
Seeking to integrate the various,
Seemingly opposite aspects of your existence.
So first just getting comfortable,
Either seated or lying down.
Close your eyes and just taking a couple of deep breaths,
I'm just going to start this exercise with some basic meditation,
Just to clear out the mind a little.
So keep your attention on the breath for now,
Whether it's the sensation of the air moving through the nostrils,
Or the rise and fall of the abdomen or chest.
If at any point you get distracted,
Simply bring the attention back to the exercise.
Now imagine yourself entering a tranquil garden,
Observe the interplay of elements here,
The balance of lights and shadow,
The design and layouts and the unity of nature around you.
As you explore this garden,
Take note of a particular element that represents a certain desire,
Belief or inclination that you are conscious of in your life right now.
This could be any object at all that you find in this garden,
Perhaps a flower or plants,
Piece of furniture or any other object that comes to mind.
Find this element more closely and acknowledge what it represents in your life,
Perhaps pick it up or reach out and touch it and get a sense for how it feels in your hands and how you feel in its presence.
Have them familiarize yourself with this particular element.
You continue exploring the garden and you come across a second element.
It too represents a particular desire,
Belief or inclination.
Now you may or may not be conscious of what this second element represents,
But all you know is that it appears to be in conflict with the first element and giving rise to tension.
Again examine this element more closely,
See how it feels in your hands and how you feel in the presence of both elements.
You then venture to the center of the garden where you find an alchemical cauldron waiting for you.
This cauldron is a vessel for transformation and integration.
Allow it to form in your imagination and take note of its appearance,
Its size,
Material and its various details.
And now bring the elements you've identified to the cauldron,
Ready to engage in the alchemical process.
One by one,
Place the conflicting elements into the cauldron and as you do,
Imagine how these opposing aspects can be transformed.
What actions or thoughts do you add to the cauldron to facilitate this process?
And now watch as the elements blend and transmute.
Imagine the emergence of a new harmonious form.
This could appear in any way at all.
It might be a new and unified symbol,
A new object,
A particular color or it might present itself as a feeling.
What emerges from this alchemical process?
Having completed this alchemical process,
You can now take this new symbol with you as you leave the garden.
Take note of how you feel now versus when you began this exercise and just allowing the scene to fade.
So just bringing your attention back to the space around you now,
Noticing any sounds or sensations,
Taking a deep breath and in your own time,
Opening your eyes again.
