The Devil
☽ ☾
The Devil ☽ ☾
The Devil
Key Meanings
Upright: temptation, addiction, codependency, obsession, controlling, materialism, lust, hedonism, bad habits
Reversed: vulnerability, freedom, detachment, awareness, sobriety, self-control, reclamation
The Devil:
Archetypes
The Villain, The Opportunist, The Shadow
Examples: Sauron (Lord of the Rings), Mephistopheles (Faust)
The Devil:
Description
The traditional winged, half-goat, half-man figure with crazed eyes sits atop a black throne and wears a reversed pentacle crown. He raises his right hand, revealing a glyph to represent Saturn, the planet of discipline and order. The male and female figures stand naked and vulnerable below, chained to the Devil’s throne. Their horns and tails represent their corruption. The grapes on the woman’s tail symbolize indulgence and addiction, while the flames from the man’s represent unhindered passion. These two humans have given in to their basest, most hedonistic desires, revealing that the desire for unchecked “freedom” can be a trap.
The Devil:
Upright Meaning
The Devil arrives upright as a warning that you are about to or have already fallen into the grips of temptation. Take an honest look at your life and ask what habits may be sabotaging your health and success. Eating too much, doomscrolling, substance abuse, romantic obsession, procrastinating, and micromanaging are just some examples of the very real patterns humans fall into when trying to self-soothe. You may tell yourself that your particular habit is harmless, but over time, if you leave it unchecked, it can start to take over your life.
No one typically loves the process of uncovering their shadow side and admitting one’s faults, but this is the key to taking back the reins of one's life. What may feel like easy freedom one day can end in a crash and burn, or a “Tower moment” as it is known in Tarot. The work will not be easy, but it is worth the beauty in the end of meeting who you are when embodying your highest energetic expression.
The Devil:
Reversed Meaning
The Devil reversed has a wide range of interpretations depending on what is coming to the surface for you at the present moment. You may have finally acknowledged that you or someone you know has a problem, opening the way for real healing. You have broken free from whatever chains were holding you down, whether that be a romantic partner, a soul-sucking job, or a victim mentality.
Whatever your circumstance, this is a vulnerable moment. Reclaiming who you are means admitting that you lost sight of your self-worth and morals. This is a huge step on the journey to recovery, and the Divine wants you to continue down this path. You are not out of the woods yet, but the potential is there for a major upturn in your life. Even if it has only been a few days of steering clear of an old habit, this small shift is encouraged. Keep doing the work.