The Devil XV
Keywords & phrases
- Shadow self
- Dependance, co-dependance
- Excess, addiction
- Darker impulses
- Lack of will
- Illusion, delusion
- Scapegoating
- Choice
Keywords & phrases
- Shadow self
- Dependance, co-dependance
- Excess, addiction
- Darker impulses
- Lack of will
- Illusion, delusion
- Scapegoating
- Choice
First impressions
Fear and loathing.
What is happening in the card?
Here we see the figures of a man and woman, naked and chained by their necks to a plinth upon which squats The Devil – Pan.
A menacing figure that dominates the space with bat-like wings, goat features and clawed feet. Above his horned head floats an inverted pentangle, his right hand is raised and the other points downwards, holding a flaming torch.
The Devil’s piercing gaze is directed straight ahead.
The two hapless naked souls in bondage at his feet have devil’s horns and tails, his tipped with fire and hers with a bunch of grapes.
Their chains hang loosely from their necks, so why do they chose to stay?
How can we relate to this card?
The Devil appears when it’s time to take a good look at our choices, with eyes open.
Elements, numbers, symbols & imagery
- Element – Earth
- The number 15 → 1+5=6
- Pentagram – dark magic, occult
- Fire & grapes – lust & excess
- Goat – sure-footedness
Emotions expressed
- Fear
- Self-loathing
- Shame
- Lust
- Desire
- Weakness
Other associations
Tree of life:
Ayin – Eyes
Path 26 Tipheret – Beauty, harmony, balance, heart centre → Hod – humility, gratitude, surrender, splendour, glory, conscious mind, ego
Thoth:
The Devil, Saturn in Capricorn
Golden Dawn title
Lord of the Gates of Matter, Child of the Forces of Time
Astrology:
Ruled by Capricorn
Minor Arcana:
The Devil rule the 6s
Major Arcana:
Linked with The Lovers VI
Message & affirmations
Today, I acknowledge and accept my shadow self, my darker impulses. I love and accept myself as I am and I make healthy loving choices that are aligned with my highest good in mind, body and spirit.
“The devil doesn’t come dressed in a red cape and pointy horns. He comes as everything you’ve ever wished for.“
~ Tucker Max, Assholes Finish First
“By not being aware of having a shadow, you declare a part of your personality to be non-existent. Then it enters the kingdom of the non-existent, which swells up and takes on enormous proportions. When you don’t acknowledge that you have such qualities, you are simply feeding the devils. In medical language, each quality in the psyche represents a certain energic value, and if you declare an energic value to be non-existent, a devil appears instead“
~ Carl Jung
My personal experiences of this card
Ah, The Devil. I feel like I know him well.
It seems to me that it’s ok to dance with The Devil for a while, just so long as you are aware that is what you are doing. Eyes wide open. And, of course, you need to know when to stop before you surrender yourself entirely to those darker impulses.
And there’s the problem. Knowing when to stop and then stopping. Knowing when The Devil has got you and being brave enough to admit it.
This requires an amount of self-knowledge, acceptance and forgiveness (humour even)… to overcome feelings of shame that would keep you trapped in self-destructive, unhealthy patterns.
Events, situations & readings
In a relationship spread:
The Devil may point to co-dependance in a relationship. Examine your part, your responsibility. How are you showing up in this relationship? What’s keeping you there? Are you bonded or in bondage?
In a work, business or finance spread:
In a work reading The Devil may indicate a situation where you feel blocked or trapped, perhaps a bad contract. He is showing you that you always have a choice.
In a health and wellbeing spread:
The Devil calls on you to face your darker impulses in order that you can address them, take responsibility for yourself and start to heal.
People & interaction with other cards
When The Devil appears with The Lovers you are invited to examine your closest relationships and to identify patterns and behaviours that may be hurting you and others.
With cards such as 7 of Cups and 9 of Cups, The Devil points to over-indulgence, excess and even addiction. And with Temperance it a signal to moderate our behaviour in order to restore or promote physical, mental, emotional and spiritual balance.
Questions, prompts & insights
Who or what are you a slave to in your life?
If you find yourself in a dark place, what unhealthy behaviours and thought patterns are keeping you there?
Featured decks & credits:
Main image from The Rider Waite Tarot and featuring images from Aleister Crowley’s Thoth Tarot and The Urban Tarot by Robin Scott.
The other featured image of The Devil is part of an ongoing AI art Tarot project by Still Small Voice Tarot.
Explore the Tarot deck with me
This is a work in progress, a project far from complete. I’m exploring traditional and personal meanings for the Tarot cards in a semi-orderly fashion. Please take a look by clicking on the cards below. Or you can pick a card to see what comes up for you today.
