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Our modern world is troubled with many imbalances: pollution of air and water, political strife, prejudice, judgments, over stressed bodies, and, mostly, a pervasive lack of love for ourselves and one another. These problems perpetuate dis-ease in our eco-system and prfoundly effect the direction of our future. If we are to visualize a New Earth, we must attempt to understand our connection to earth (our mortality) and heaven (our immortality) in innovative and pioneering ways. How do we embrace a way of life that equalizes the yin and yang forces, teaches us the right use of will and power, and heals the polarity that splits humanity and nature? How might we build a New World that commits itself to a system of natural laws that includes subtle energies, elemental forces, and higher consciousness?
One way I believe this can be done is to realign our will and power to Universal Chi. In the Chinese language chi has two definitions, one, cosmic or universal, and the other, human. It is said that chi spirals around earth, constantly moving, ever changing, expanding and contracting. Individual, or personal chi, is influenced by both the chi of heaven and the chi of earth, and is the inneffable force which animates us; moves us to live fully the passion of our life in harmony and grace.
On the Royal Road to Wisdom through the ancient wisdom of the Major Arcana, the Temperance card is the point on the journey where one is guided toward the integration of the "middle way", the path of moderation. Card number fourteen, this card mediates between Death, number thirteen, and The Devil, number fifteen. As we dare to die to the old ways, Temperance acts as bridge between our deepest fears of Death and that which we think we must cling to, The Devil. Temperance dilutes the toxic waters of our emotional past opening a new door within our psyche where we may find a stabilize individuality and a balanced heart. To temper is to mix. No wonder this cards often portrays a woman blending waters between two cups or chalices.
This card has been called "Art" in the Alistor Crowley deck where he prefers to see this card as the initiation toward personal alchemy. Vickie Noble in her Mother Peace Deck chooses to coin Temperance with the keynote, "grounding cosmic energy." It is at this stage of development that one is on the path of True Will, and is offered the ability to overcome contradiction, ascending from the bondage of matter, bringing light back into the soul force, and ultimately, illuminating the earth with love.
Each individual has the potential to contribute to the building of a new ecosystem that declares balance and love to be its guiding light. Temperance, ruled by the zodiacal sign Sagittarius, is the point on the astrological wheel that offers new knowledge and vision, beckoning an adventure into the creation of new goals.
We can build a New World together when Universal Chi, expressed through the personal, is balanced and cups overflow with a rainbow of possibilities for the future. The rainbow is a symbol of the Rainbow Covenant, the Higher Power's covenant to love humanity. It is formed in the same way that color occurs at all intersections of light and dark reminding us of the eternal link between earth and sky. Temperance is a card of Balance. This must be a primary building code for the new millennium. Praise Be.
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