Temperance

This week I have been reading about Tarot archetypes in the book Seventy Eight Degrees of Wisdom by Rachel Pollack and was surprised by this passage in the description of the card Temperance: "As time goes by, this ego becomes more rigid; slowly behavior becomes less a response to reality and more a string of habits. The purpose of the second line of the Major Arcana is to free of us from this artificial personality, and at the same time give us a glimpse into the greater truths of the universe." Reading this, I was surprised by how similar it is to the thinking in the Feldenrkais method, how we learn to recognize our habits and make choices that suit the situation at hand, rather that whatever situation the habit was learned in.

The chapter goes on to say, "Temperance indicates the ability to combine spontaneity with nowledge." This, again, is our project: to gain self-awareness but not self consciousness, to know ourselves well enough to make choices, but not to become solely focused on ourselves to the exclusion of the world, to increase skill and grace, but not at the expense of joy.

"The Tarot Temperance (however) does not go to extremes because extremes aren't necessary. Not an artificial inhibition according to moral code, but exactly the opposite; a true and proper response to all situations as they arise." 

How do archetypes aid in self knowledge? How can I better learn temperance in my daily life without becoming puritanical or self-critical?