The Devil

Card Theme: Bondage
Element: Earth

The Devil card shows a bearded man sitting above a tiny door. A man and a woman who resemble Adam and Eve, standing naked with chains around their necks. But if you take a closer look, you will notice that those chains can be removed easily by them if they wanted to walk away from the Devil, they could.

The Devil is half man and half goat: his presence is dark and has a dominant feel. He controls the card. With his right hand raised. He is affirming his control over Adam and Eve. They are becoming demons, shown by the little horns sprouting from their heads.

People usually compare the Devil with evil.

In the Tarot, he is signifying temptation. Traditionally the Devil doesn’t have a lot of power over himself.
His strength lies in his ability to tempt you into doing something that might lead to your downfall. This card suggests that if you have anything to really fear, it’s actually yourself.

The Devil is a reminder that you might find yourself trapped by your own vulnerabilities. And getting yourself into dark places, being trapped in your own personal bondage.

The reason you might feel stuck is that you are no longer in charge of your destiny. If you are a heavy drinker, it’s the bottle that’s in charge. If you are someone who is a compulsive pessimist, it’s your negative thoughts that are in charge. When you see this card, it is often to warn you of an unhealthy situation where you lose control.

The Devil card suggests that you may be feeling overburdened with a responsibility or a circumstance that you think you cannot control. For example, you may be in a job that you don’t enjoy or in a relationship that you feel unable to leave. Walking away from something that you genuinely know is not right for you takes extreme courage.

The Devil card may appear when you have allowed a person with a strong personality to control your thoughts or control your actions. Leaving you with that feeling that you no longer can control your destiny because it’s being directed by someone else.

In a reading, the Devil card suggests, it’s time to consider how you have gotten yourself into your current situation.

If you find that you can relate to this, then you need to work on your confidence.

The Devil card suggests that you may be tempted. This temptation could be from an outside source or simple from inside yourself, or a mixture of both. If you can look candidly at your inner Devil and find the strength to fight him, you will not only find yourself back on the right path but also feel a great sense of accomplishment and pride.

Remember that tests are there for you to pass, and at the end of a test, you get an award.

Frequently the Devil card is thought of negatively. But this card does offer you choices. Sometimes it’s like “Hobsons Choice.” It may seem that any way you turn, it appears that the alternative options are no better than those you are already dealing with.

The saying ” better the devil you know than “the Devil you don’t” is real. If you choose to stay in a negative situation for the wrong reasons.

If you are not happy with your life, then you need to find ways to change things. You do not have to start making important decisions at this time, but maybe it’s time to start looking at your options to prepare for the future.

Maybe You need to look at how you have become your own worst enemy. Do you have any self-destructive trends?

If things are not going well for you at present, is it you that are sabotaging yourself?.

It is too easy to blame other people for your problems. But the truth is that you can only truly move forward if you can take accountability for your life. Then you will gain a sense of personal calm and the knowledge that you are in control by doing this. By facing these aspects of yourself, you will find that you can make peace with them and experience breakthroughs.

It’s essential to keep a lid on your temptations: passion and lust, desire can often lead you to the negative side of this card. Suppose you find yourself heading down a destructive route. In that case, it’s essential to recognize that you and you alone are responsible for liberating yourself and have the means to stop and change your path.

The Devil can also indicate your overindulgence and your addictions. Now is the time for you to take back control if you are overeating, drinking too much, or using drugs, or letting something or someone control you.

It’s time to take definitive action and not allow the energy of The Devil card to tempt you into a place of no return.

Affirmation: “I will not allow myself to become trapped by my own demons.”

 

Blocked Meaning

Card Theme: Extremes

The Devil card in the blocked position is one of the few cards that become more hopeful. Then when the card is upright, it tells you that it’s time to acknowledge how you may be trapped and start to find a way out. But when the card is shown in reverse, the Devil suggests that the decisions you need to make will be easier than you think.

Turned upside down, the chains around Adam and Eve’s neck practically fall off, showing you that a situation isn’t as drastic as you might think, and you do have free will. You are in total control of your life.