The devil tarot card meaning is shrouded in mystery and layers. The Devil, typically depicted in a foreboding manner, holds profound insights into human nature, temptation, and liberation. This card’s appearance in a reading can be unsettling, yet it offers valuable lessons about personal power, awareness, and the necessity of confronting one’s shadows. In this guide, we will explore its historical background, symbolism, and the various interpretations that have evolved over time.
The Devil Tarot Card Meaning
The Devil Tarot card, part of the Major Arcana in most tarot decks, is a complex and often misunderstood symbol in tarot reading. It is generally associated with the number 15 and carries deep symbolic meanings.
The traditional imagery of the Devil card depicts a satyr-like figure, often Baphomet, a creature that is half-man, half-goat. This figure is a symbol of earthly desires and physical pleasures. The card may also show two figures, chained, representing being trapped or restricted, often by material or earthly bindings.
Fast Facts
“The Devil card may indicate a relationship where there is an unhealthy level of attachment or dependency.”
Key Meanings of the Devil Tarot Card
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Materialism and Bondage: The Devil card often represents materialism and the excessive pursuit of earthly pleasures. It may suggest a situation where one is feeling trapped or enslaved by materialistic needs or physical desires.
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Addiction and Obsession: This card can point to addictions or unhealthy behaviors, indicating a need to examine one’s attachments or obsessions, whether they be substances, relationships, or patterns of thought.
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Shadow Self and Denial: The Devil encourages the acknowledgment of one’s shadow self, the aspects of personality one might be in denial about or avoiding. It’s about confronting these darker aspects to achieve personal growth.
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Power and Control: The card can symbolize power dynamics in relationships or situations, suggesting issues of domination, control, and power struggles.
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Liberation and Enlightenment: Contrary to its negative reputation, the Devil card can also signify the necessity of recognizing and confronting these chains in order to achieve liberation and enlightenment.
The Devil Reversed
In its upright position, The Devil card typically symbolizes:
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Materialism and Bondage: It often points to being trapped or restricted by material possessions or earthly desires. This could be in the form of addiction, excessive materialism, or unhealthy relationships.
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Shadow Self and Hidden Desires: The card encourages acknowledging and confronting the darker aspects of your personality or life, such as hidden desires, repressed emotions, or unacknowledged fears. [1]
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Power and Control Issues: It can represent situations of domination, control, and power struggles, either being subjected to them or exerting them over others.
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Fear and Restriction: The Devil upright often suggests a state of fear or self-imposed restriction, where you might feel unable to change your situation due to various constraints.
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Obsession and Addiction: It indicates a strong attachment or obsession, whether with a person, substance, or situation, leading to a sense of powerlessness.
The Devil Upright
When reversed, The Devil card often conveys different meanings:
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Breaking Free: It signifies breaking free from bonds and restrictions, overcoming limitations or addictions, and gaining a sense of freedom.
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Awareness and Enlightenment: The reversed position suggests a growing awareness of the negative patterns or influences in your life and the beginning of a journey toward liberation and self-improvement.
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Rejecting Materialism: This can indicate a shift away from excessive materialism or superficial desires, focusing more on spiritual or emotional fulfillment.
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Overcoming Fears: It may represent overcoming fears or insecurities, and finding the strength to face challenges or obstacles in your life.
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Personal Power: The Devil reversed often highlights reclaiming personal power, recognizing your own strength, and taking control over your life and decisions.
In tarot readings, the appearance of the Devil card prompts a reflection on the chains that bind us in our personal or professional lives. It asks us to consider what we are enslaved by and to recognize the power we have to free ourselves. It serves as a reminder that true power comes from understanding and embracing all parts of oneself, including the darker aspects.
The Devil Tarot Card Meaning in Love
The Devil tarot card, when it appears in a love reading, carries unique and profound meanings. This card is often associated with the darker aspects of relationships and personal interactions. Here’s what it can signify in the context of love:
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Unhealthy Attachments or Dependency: The Devil card may indicate a relationship where there is an unhealthy level of attachment or dependency. This could manifest as possessiveness, jealousy, or manipulative behaviors. It suggests a need to evaluate the dynamics of the relationship to ensure they are healthy and balanced.
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Physical Attraction and Lust: In the realm of love, the Devil can often symbolize a relationship that is heavily based on physical attraction and sexual desire. While this isn’t inherently negative, it’s a reminder to also nurture the emotional and intellectual connections in the relationship.
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Power and Control Issues: This card can point to a situation where one or both partners are exerting control or power over the other. It’s important to address such issues, as they can lead to a toxic and unbalanced relationship.
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Fear of Commitment or Intimacy: The Devil in a love reading can also suggest a fear of intimacy or commitment. This might manifest as staying in a superficial relationship due to fear of true closeness or vulnerability.
Fast Facts
“The Devil card often represents materialism and the excessive pursuit of earthly pleasures.”
The Devil Tarot Card Meaning in Career
The Devil tarot card, when interpreted in the context of a career reading, carries distinct meanings. It often addresses the more challenging aspects of one’s professional life, urging introspection and caution. Here’s how to understand the Devil card in a career-oriented tarot reading:
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Feeling Trapped or Unfulfilled: The Devil card can suggest feeling trapped in a job or career path that doesn’t bring satisfaction or align with personal values. This might be due to a lack of growth opportunities, a toxic work environment, or simply being in a role that doesn’t resonate with your true passions and skills.
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Overemphasis on Material Success: This card might point to an excessive focus on financial gain, status, or power in your career, possibly at the expense of ethical considerations or personal happiness. It serves as a reminder to balance material ambitions with a sense of fulfillment and ethical integrity.
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Unhealthy Work Dynamics: The Devil in a career context can represent negative aspects such as manipulation, power struggles, or unethical behaviors in the workplace. It’s a warning to be aware of these dynamics and how they might be affecting your professional and personal life.
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Burnout and Overcommitment: The card may indicate a situation where you’re overcommitted or experiencing burnout. This could be a result of working excessively, neglecting personal needs and boundaries, or feeling like you have to constantly prove yourself.
The Devil Tarot Card Meaning in Health
When the Devil tarot card appears in a health reading, it typically signals issues related to physical or mental wellbeing that may be influenced by unhealthy behaviors or psychological patterns. Here’s how to interpret the Devil card in the context of health:
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Unhealthy Habits and Addictions: The Devil card often points to unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as addictions to substances, food, or behaviors that are detrimental to health. It serves as a warning to examine and address these habits for the sake of your wellbeing.
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Mental Health and Negative Thinking: This card can also signify struggles with mental health, particularly issues stemming from negative or destructive thought patterns. It may indicate a need to confront and manage thoughts and behaviors that are harmful to mental and emotional health.
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Physical Health and Neglect: In a health context, the Devil may suggest neglecting physical health or engaging in activities that are harmful to the body. This includes ignoring warning signs, not seeking medical advice when needed, or pushing the body beyond its limits.
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Emotional Dependency and Stress: The card can point to emotional dependency or high levels of stress that adversely affect health. It highlights the importance of addressing emotional needs and finding healthier ways to cope with stress and anxiety.
Speaking of positive change, have you been encountering the angel number 222 frequently in your life? This might be more than just a coincidence. Angel numbers are believed to be messages from the divine, guiding us on our life path.
If you’re curious about what the appearance of angel number 222 signifies for you, explore its meaning and symbolism in our guide.
Co-Founder, Editor-In-Chief
Cynthia met Brian during one of their aid work on Typhoon Katrina, and they have been inseparable since. They both believe that Living By Example could be the best platform there is to write about subjects that will help people connect with others and give them a deeper understanding of different societies and cultures.