The Devil is the fifteenth card of the Major Arcana in occult Tarot decks. This archetype is associated with human suffering, debauchery and addictions and can be an omen of misfortune, but also with inner demons, which boycott spiritual development and the full expression of the personality. Discover the meaning of The Devil Tarot card, the indications it gives when it comes upright, reversed or combined with other cards and its possible application to the various facets of life and everyday issues.
Index
The Devil Tarot Card Description
- Major Arcana XV
- Zodiacal Affinity - Capricorn
- Keywords - Materialism, slavery, limitation, deception, manipulation, temptation, living a lie, negative energy, bitterness, anger, frustration, self-sabotage.
- Key Expressions - Avarice or desire for absolute power, ignorance within a professional or emotional relationship, unconscious or childish reactions, self-imposed slavery, being stuck in addictive behavior patterns, being obsessed, negative thinking, limited views, generalization, manipulation exercised by others, need to recognize one's limitations, live up to the expectations of others.
- Advice - It can be free. Take control of your life.
- Reversed Meaning - The card's limitations may seem severe, but it is capable of breaking ties that are not beneficial.
The Illustration
The illustration in The Devil's card shows a half-naked demonic figure standing atop a flesh-colored ball that rests on a red anvil. The breasts are female but the sex male, which indicates that she is a hermaphrodite. The hands and feet are claws and have bat wings. On his head, he wears a headdress in the shape of deer stalks. The right hand is raised and with the left he raises a sword. Two small naked devils, male and female, are tied symmetrically to its plinth.
In Numerology, the number 15 is reduced to number 6. The Devil symbolizes instinct, the passion that stirs and leads to a new reality, to progress. In Kabbalah, it corresponds to path number 26 of the Trees of Life: the beauty of material splendor.
The Symbology
The Devil card, despite its name, does not necessarily have a bad meaning. When planning a wedding or a business partnership, for example, it can be a positive sign as it can mean permanence. However, in other situations, it tends to indicate apparently favorable circumstances, but which will prove to be disastrous in the future.
The Devil's archetype brings together everything that is apparently bad. The word "devil" derives from the Greek term "diablos", which means "adversary". This card reminds us that, in most cases, it is our inner "devil" that undermines our personality, that puts obstacles in our way and that prevents us from progressing and being happy. It is our own demons that take away our lucidity, distort our self-image, prevent us from reaching the fullness of our potential and building the life we aspire to.
The symbology of The Devil is also associated with the temptation of the flesh and lust without peace of mind. It can, therefore, point to a relationship outside of marriage or an affair with an unsuitable person.
The Devil indicates all kinds of addictions that, over time, have negative consequences for the person. It can indicate avarice or an excess of material power, of exaggerated consumption to the detriment of spiritual development, which will end up taking the person away from his true essence and from the spiritual plane.
On the other hand, it can mean that the consultant refuses to admit the harm he does to others or that he is being attacked. This card serves as a warning. If, for some reason, the person is having wrong or destructive behavior towards himself or others, now is the right time to change course.
The Devil Tarot Card Meaning
Upright Devil Meaning
- Upright Love Meaning - Lust, hedonism, selfish disregard for lover’s feelings, obsession.
- Upright Career Meaning - Feeling trapped in job, blaming colleagues, self-sabotage.
- Upright Finances Meaning - Bad financial habits.
This card can represent that the consultant is a slave to their own fears, beliefs, or a toxic situation. It may be that he does not want to see reality as it appears or that he has let himself be blinded by the illusion.
When this card comes out in a reading, it is important that the consultant asks himself about the origin of his beliefs: are they really his or someone else's? Is someone trying to dominate and abuse him? Is he attracted to someone who doesn't suit him? Is he confusing sexual desire with love? What really keeps him from being happy? This card can also be a warning about an extravagant lifestyle that one cannot afford.
Reversed Devil Meaning
- Reversed Love Meaning - Feeling more in control of love life, ending codependency.
- Reversed Career Meaning - More accountability in career path, feeling empowered at job.
- Reversed Finances Meaning - Breaking bad financial habits, feeling independent financially.
When The Devil comes out in the reversed position, it means that the tyranny associated with it begins to fade. The bonds that kept the consultant trapped in a situation that didn't suit him began to loosen.
In this position, the card can indicate overcoming bad habits, destructive thought patterns, or harmful addictions. It also suggests attention to avoid new relationships with toxic people and the need to choose friendships well and to take advantage of opportunities that arise, especially at a professional level.
The Devil Combinations with Other Tarot Cards
When combined with other Tarot cards, The Devil brings uncontrollable character and carnal temptation to reading. However, its destructive nature is even more evident when it appears with negative cards like The Tower. When close to this card, it suggests imminent danger. When both appear reversed, it is likely that the disgrace can be avoided.
The Major Arcana Tarot
The Major Arcana, or Great Mysteries, are seen as symbols of great issues, moments or people. Each card represents a human archetype, evoking the most varied feelings, moral positions and behaviors.
- 0 - The Fool Tarot Card Meaning
- I - The Magician Tarot Card Meaning
- II - The High Priestess Tarot Card Meaning
- III - The Empress Tarot Card Meaning
- IV - The Emperor Tarot Card Meaning
- V - The Pope/The Hierophant Tarot Card Meaning
- VI - The Lovers Tarot Card Meaning
- VII - The Chariot Tarot Card Meaning
- VIII - The Justice Tarot Card Meaning
- IX - The Hermit Tarot Card Meaning
- X - The Wheel of Fortune Meaning
- XI - The Strength Tarot Card Meaning
- XII - The Hanged Man Tarot Card Meaning
- XIII - The Death Tarot Card Meaning
- XIV - The Temperance Tarot Card Meaning
- XV - The Devil Tarot Card Meaning
- XVI - The Tower Tarot Card Meaning
- XVII - The Star Tarot Card Meaning
- XVIII - The Moon Tarot Card Meaning
- XIX - The Sun Tarot Card Meaning
- XX - The Judgement Tarot Card Meaning
- XXI - The World Tarot Card Meaning
Reading, Meanings and Interpretation of the Tarot Major Arcana
Tarot is used as a tool for self-discovery and self-knowledge. In this sense, more than guessing the future, it serves to read and interpret all the elements of our life: it describes the current moment, clarifies the motives, desires and intentions, pointing out the path and the energies present in our life.
The possible readings for each Tarot card are practically infinite. There is no unique interpretation for each card, for each layout of cards or for each reading method. Tarot is based on intuition. Each person who reads the message of a card, or a set of cards, intuitively unravels the meaning of the card's message and how it connects with their own reality and circumstances of life.
The word "arcana" comes from Latin and means "secret" and, in the Tarot, the Major Arcana are considered universal, symbolic and figurative: they are considered symbolic of great issues, moments or people. They are archetypes, that is, they represent the most diverse feelings, moral positions and human behaviors. When they appear in a reading, it indicates an important event or decision, whether practical, spiritual, or emotional. They also establish correspondence with the astrological signs and planets.
