The devil tarot card has a rather ominous name, and many people affiliated with the Christian faith might see it in a rather negative light. It is important to stress that the tarot deck is “neutral” in its approach to the various faiths and religions of the world. Here, the devil should not be seen as the Christian devil, but rather as a thematic archetype, like in the works of C.G. Jung
Upright keywords: Self-preservation, survival, self-interest, temptation, and choice.
Reversed keywords: Immediate gratification, lust, wanton abandon, and manipulation
Astrologically, the Devil card is associated with the planet Saturn and the sign of Capricorn.
Most modern renditions of the Devil card depict three characters. These characters resemble those on the Lovers card. The main difference is that the man and woman are chained by the neck to a black stone. Instead of the angel on the Lovers card, a demon stands on the stone. In the traditional Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck, the Devil resembles the Horned Goat of Mendes and Baphomet. He has a reversed pentagram on his forehead and holds one hand up and one hand down in the “as above, so below” occult hand symbol.
The Devil card has many meanings. All relate to the physical body or primal urges and instincts. This card contains a raw kind of violence, which might signal an upcoming fight.
Since the Devil card also relates to primal urges, it has a sexual aspect. If kept in check, this isn’t necessarily bad. However, the Devil card warns you to keep control of the situation. Let your head, not your heart or loins, make important decisions.
The number 15 card of the Major Arcana, the Devil, represents carnal attraction, temptation, and wanton abandon with regard to romance and relationships. Attraction is animalistic, primal, and lustful. “Damn the consequences!”
If you are single, this card can reveal you want to “play the field” and not be tied down by commitment or marriage. You may be pursuing someone hoping for commitment, but they want to be the devil. Enjoying lust and “friends with benefits” is fine as long as everyone is open and honest. There can be some painful consequences if deception and lying are part of the interaction to get to intimacy.
If you are in a relationship, this card could indicate that you or the other person would like to enjoy some carnal pleasures, perhaps with someone other than your current partner. It could also indicate a need to “spice things up” in the relationship. Either way, your libido or your partner’s needs some attention.
Career includes school and education if that is your current stage, necessary work not on your career path, and your actual career path. Regardless of your stage, the Devil represents the consequences of your actions or inactions and your responsibilities, whether you like them or not.
If you are a student and draw this card, consider how your choices affect your education. Are you keeping up academically while pursuing self-interests or following temptations, or are you falling behind? Regardless of temptation, you are responsible for your actions when choices are involved.
If you are working but not in a career, this card forces you to determine if your work meets your self-interests or more likely, your self-indulgences. It could mean justifying the end by the means or sacrificing your integrity for gratifying but potentially harmful rewards.
If you are on a career path, this card encourages you to check if you are still acting with integrity. Has your ego become inflated, needing narcissistic fawning? Are you taking advantage of people or letting yourself be taken advantage of? If so, you need to make some changes.
The meaning of the Devil card is more sinister when reversed. It usually highlights a situation where the warnings about doing the right thing have been ignored. When base instincts and desires take the reins of your decision-making process, your entire being ends up shackled to these urges and leads you away from any kind of objective balance needed in your life.
This is when any healthy desire can turn into obsession and definitely affect and blur your critical thinking process. Free will is nothing but an excuse because you are driven to certain behavior out of need instead of any deliberate decision. This might also be a sign of some physical addiction, like cigarettes or alcohol.
Reversed, this card certainly can indicate wanton abandon, lust, and extremely poor judgment with regard to your relationship or a recent decision that will profoundly affect your relationship (like cheating on your partner). You may also feel you have cause to suspect your partner of cheating but may end up falsely accusing them, making a problem where one does not exist.
When this card appears reversed in a work or career question, you are likely trying to justify a bad decision or behavior. This action may provide you with an unfair gain.
If you are not the cause of the problem, you might get swept up in one. This card appears to give you a warning.
Now that the Fool has learned how to balance the various aspects of their life, they are ready for a more sinister encounter on their path. While the Devil tarot card should not be mistaken for any biblical embodiment of evil, it nonetheless represents an incarnation of ignorance and hopelessness when seduced by the lure of the material world
This card reminds the Fool of their physical urges and sensory information. It warns that these can become a vicious bondage if the Fool forgets the bigger picture and learned lessons.
Acting on impulse can have positive consequences. A wild kind of spontaneity is hard to achieve when constantly overthinking. However, this should not become a permanent driving force in anyone’s life.
While the meaning of the Devil card has little to do with Christian beliefs, it warns against indulging your basest instincts. These instincts might steer you away from balance and reason.
Avoid the binding chains on the arcanum and stay on top of your decisions. The primal energy in this card can offer positive experiences. Balance your mind with your physical needs to harness this energy effectively.
The Mythic Tarot (1986)
The Haindl Tarot (1990)
Osho Zen Tarot (1995)
Law of Attraction Tarot (2011)
Spellcaster Tarot (2016)
Ostara Tarot (2017)
While the Devil is not a common tarot card for meditation, it can be very effective for body-related problems. It helps you step back and look at yourself objectively. Assess the nature of your desires. You can better handle them once you have identified them clearly.
Use this card in meditation when you feel a drop in motivation or interest involving your body. It can also help with any kind of physical connection. As long as you don’t get lost in these urges, it will help you find your way back. This will restore your inner balance.
