The Devil Tarot Card Meaning

Devil Tarot Card Keywords

Lust, temptation, anger, weakness of character, greed, entrapment, addictive behaviour.

Devil Tarot Card Description

A winged Devil stands on a plinth lording it over two rather sweet looking demons; one male, one female. The two naked demons have some very funky headgear, which seem to be sprouting cuckold’s horns. The Devil and his associates are a combination of creatures attached to human frames.

Upright Meaning

In most readings, the appearance of The Devil suggests you are bound by your fears, beliefs, or a situation that is no longer good for you. Like the two figures chained to the plinth, you seem to be trapped. The question is, who has laid the snare? The answer is simple, ultimately, no-one but yourself. You may have been ensnared by your own outdated stereotypes and this has stopped you recognizing the qualities and skills of those around you. The Devil also suggests that you do not know the truth or that you have been deceived in some way. You need to be sure you are not compromising you morals or values, although you might need to take time out to reassess your beliefs, viewpoints and goals. It could be that you also need to work out if the values you hold are truly yours, or have you unquestioningly inherited them from your family or society in general? If love is the question, but The Devil is the answer, you need to do some serious soul searching. Are you attracted to a special someone or their extra-special bank balance? Does your heart skip a beat when you see them, or is it simply the desire to soothe a stirring in your loins? It may be that peer pressure or someone dear to you is encouraging you to act in a way you would normally find morally questionable. If so, you should consider finding some new companions. The Devil emphasizes the fact that you need to be aware of your actions and their results for yourself and those around you.

Reversed Meaning

In its reversed form, The Devil’s meaning does not change dramatically from its upright reading, except that the feelings it engenders are more extreme. Reversed, The Devil still shows that you are trapped, either in an awkward situation, by the company of people who are a malign influence, or by emotions and desires which cloud your judgement. Yet, the very intensity of this situation is also its saving grace. Frustrated and miserable, you are more likely to take matters into your own hands and take action to rectify the situation. Whenever this happens, you will break free and use your energies to move towards more positive goals.