Tarot: The Devil
from Episode 36
The 3 Phases of the Major Arcana
The Self or Personal Awareness – The Magician —> the Chariot, cards 1 through 7
In these cards we explore identity and ask the question, “Who am I?”
The Collective or Personal Influence – Strength —> Temperance, cards 8 through 14
Here we explore the concepts of morals and influence and ask the question, “How do I want to be in this world?” This is exploring a deep understanding of how our actions, choices and even our thoughts effect others and the world around us
The Cosmic and Spiritual - the Devil —> the World, cards 15 through 22
Here we start to examine and explore who we are in the scope of the universe, how we fit in and ask the question, “what is my greater purpose? And “How do I open up to the universe?” This is a concern with evolution and transformation on a cosmic scale and how we grow in response to our experiences. These are bigger and boarder ideas compared to the cards that came before…
and we begin with the Devil…
The Devil challenges us to consider our own destructive behaviors or indulgent choices, which sometimes drive us and asks us to consider how much control we truly have over these things - or anything for that matter.
It symbolizes:
1. Bondage and Temptation: It represents feeling trapped by desires, attachments, or negative habits that hold you back from your true potential. It warns against being seduced by short-term pleasures that might lead to long-term problems.
2. Facing Your Shadow: This card suggests confronting your inner fears, doubts, and unresolved issues. It's a call to acknowledge and integrate your darker aspects rather than ignoring or denying them.
3. Liberation and Awareness and Transcending Limitations: Despite its unsettling imagery, the Devil card also offers a chance for liberation. It reminds you that you have the power to break free from self-imposed limitations and regain control over your choices and actions.
The Devil Card Imagery (RWS Systems)
At the center of the card stands the Devil, often depicted in the most archetypal form, that of the horned Baphomet – a half human, half goat, bat-winged creature.
This figure draws inspiration from various mythological and religious sources, including images of Pan, Baphomet, and the devilish tempter.
The horned and winged attributes signify primal instincts, animalistic desires, and the juxtaposition of earthly and spiritual elements.
The Devil is usually depicted holding chains that bind two human figures, ones you may recognize from the Lovers card actually, by their necks. These chains symbolize bondage and captivity to material desires, addictions, and negative patterns.
The chained individuals are also sometimes depicted as horned themselves or even half-human, symbolizing the struggle between our higher, rational selves and our primal instincts, or having been transformed into demon like figures by their master.
Something of note – and very important – is that if you look closely at the chains binding the couple, you will see they are very loose, showing that if they have in fact given themselves over to their baser instincts, they’ve done so by choice.
The Devil perches on a low pedestal or block and the occult symbol of the reversed pentagram can be found on the pedestal, on their forehead or just above their head. This pedestal represents the material world, indicating that the devil's influence is strongest in the realm of the physical and materialistic pursuits.
Behind the Devil, there are usually flames that symbolize passion, transformation, and the fiery energy of desire. This suggests that while desire can be a powerful force for change, it can also be consuming if left unchecked.
There is an overarching quality of Inversion with the Lovers card. In many tarot decks, the Devil card is a reversed image of the Lovers. It’s a reminder that the energy of love and connection can be distorted when taken to an extreme or when solely focused on material and physical pleasures.
Symbolic Message: In essence, the Devil card embodies the complex interplay between our primal urges and our higher consciousness. It seems to starkly warn against becoming enslaved by materialism, addiction, and negative behaviors, urging us to recognize our inner struggles and make conscious choices that align with our deeper values and spiritual growth.
But how did we get here?
We were just at temperance learning about balance and stability, to blend opposing forces in order to bring harmony into our worlds - a soothing respite after death and rebirth.
As we know now, the Death card symbolizes transformation, letting go, and rebirth. The Fool has experienced a profound change, shedding old beliefs, attachments, and patterns. In the Temperance card, the Fool encounters the Angel of Temperance, who teaches them about balance, harmony, and the integration of opposites. The Fool learns to combine different elements of their life in a harmonious way, understanding that moderation and patience are essential for progress. This card represents the Fool's growing awareness of the need for equilibrium and self-control in their journey.
So then the transition from the Temperance card to the Devil card involves a shift from finding balance and harmony to facing the challenges of materialism, desires, and ego-driven motivations.
The Devil card represents the entrapment of the Fool's consciousness in the material world and the temptations that arise from excessive attachment to material pleasures. It's a card that exposes the shadows of the Fool's psyche, revealing the darker aspects of their desires, fears, and illusions.
The journey from Temperance to the Devil can be understood as follows:
First we have temptations and illusions: After experiencing a sense of balance and harmony in the Temperance card, the Fool may start to become more confident in their ability to navigate their journey. However, this confidence can lead to overconfidence and a sense of invulnerability, which can pave the way for temptation and illusion.
Next comes attachment to material desires: As the Fool continues their journey, they might find themselves becoming increasingly attached to material pleasures, ego-driven goals, and superficial desires. This attachment can blind them to the consequences of their actions and divert their focus from their spiritual path.
This tends to remind me of the guru turned cult leader, unfortunate but often found in spiritual communities where leadership can degrade from a trusted, safe and well meaning individual to one that is drunk on power and influence. This is an extreme example but I think it helps paint the picture of how someone can go from seemingly spiritually enlightened to prisoner to impulses and desires through the power of influence.
Then we have confronting the shadow-self: So the Devil card serves as a mirror, reflecting the Fool's hidden fears, insecurities, and desires. The chains and bondage depicted in the card symbolize the self-imposed limitations that arise from succumbing to these temptations. The Devil represents the darker aspects of the Fool's psyche that they must confront and transcend in order to continue their journey toward self-discovery and enlightenment.
Finally we come to breaking free: While the Devil card can appear ominous, it also carries a message of liberation. The chains around the figures' necks are loose and can be removed voluntarily. This symbolizes the Fool's power to break free from their self-imposed limitations and the materialistic trappings that hold them back. The Devil card challenges the Fool to acknowledge their own role in creating their entrapment and empowers them to reclaim their agency.
In summary, the transition from the Temperance card to the Devil card in the Fool's Journey represents a shift from achieving balance and harmony to facing the challenges of materialism, desires, and illusions. It's a pivotal moment where the Fool is confronted with their shadow self and must make a choice to either succumb to their ego-driven desires or rise above them to continue their journey toward self-awareness and enlightenment.
Numerology 15
In the Major Arcana the Devil Card is the 15th card. The number 15 holds symbolic significance in various contexts, including numerology and Tarot. In numerology, the number 15 is often associated with certain qualities and meanings due to its component digits.
In numerology, numbers are often reduced to a single digit through addition. So, for 15: 1 + 5 = 6. This reduction reveals that the core energy of 15 is influenced by the qualities of the number 6.
Number 6 is generally associated with harmony, balance, family, home, responsibility, nurturing, and domestic concerns. It's often considered a harmonious and caring number, focused on the well-being of others and a sense of community. In the context of relationships, 6 tends to emphasize harmony and responsibility in partnerships and family dynamics.
In the Tarot, the number 15 is associated with the Major Arcana card known as the Devil. This card represents themes of bondage, materialism, temptation, and the shadow aspects of the self. The Devil card often depicts two figures chained to a pedestal, representing the idea of being enslaved to desires, addictions, or negative patterns.
The number 15 in the context of the Devil card can symbolize the challenges and conflicts that arise from the pursuit of material pleasures and unchecked desires. It suggests the need to confront one's inner demons, address hidden fears, and liberate oneself from self-imposed limitations.
So, in both numerology and the Tarot, the number 15 carries themes of balance, responsibility, challenges, and confronting one's inner struggles. Whether it's through the harmonious qualities of the number 6 in numerology or the complex symbolism of the Devil card in the Tarot, the number 15 invites reflection on the dynamics of desire, bondage, and personal growth.
Correspondences:
Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
Capricorn, the sea-goat is ruled by disciplined and restrained Saturn and can be hardworking, ambitious, responsible and extremely grounded in reality – especially when it comes to making their dreams come true. However, these positive traits can sometimes lead them into an all-consuming pursuit of material success… too much of a good thing. Some shadow traits are pessimism, an obsession with work, projects, or specific ways of doing things and stubbornness. Much like in the Devil card, the Capricorn can become chained to their own ambition and desire for control.
Element: Earth
The earth element rules over all earthly themes, like nature, but also the material realm and even the avenues of abundance and money, things that are extremely tempting to us humans. However, there is nothing wrong with craving material wealth, as long as we can remain in control of them.
The earth element is also a grounding element that can help us see that our roots go deeper than we may think - and we may be ignoring important roots because their darker nature scares us in some way.
The Devil Card in a Reading
The Devil card in a Tarot reading can carry a range of meanings depending on the context of the reading, the question asked, and the surrounding cards. It's a complex card that often points to themes related to bondage, materialism, desires, and the shadow aspects of the self.
Here are the themes and lessons that could be coming up in a reading:
1. Bondage and Limitations: The central imagery of the Devil card often depicts two figures bound by chains to the Devil's pedestal. This represents the idea of bondage and feeling trapped by external circumstances or one's own habits and desires. It suggests that the querent (the person seeking the reading) might be held back by unhealthy attachments, addictions, or patterns that are preventing them from moving forward in their life.
2. Materialism and Temptation: The Devil card can signify an excessive focus on material wealth, status, or pleasures. It warns against being consumed by the pursuit of physical desires and possessions to the point of neglecting one's spiritual or emotional well-being. It could suggest that the querent is being tempted by short-term gratification and needs to reevaluate their priorities.
3. Shadow Aspects and Unconscious Patterns: The Devil card can symbolize the shadow aspects of the self – the hidden fears, desires, and negative patterns that reside in the unconscious mind. It's a call to confront these darker aspects, acknowledge them, and work towards integrating them into one's conscious awareness. This card might indicate that the querent needs to address their unresolved issues or past traumas that are affecting their current situation.
4. Self-Imposed Restrictions: The chains on the figures' necks are often loose, suggesting that the bondage depicted is self-imposed. This signifies that the querent might be voluntarily restricting themselves due to limiting beliefs or fears. The Devil card prompts the querent to examine the ways they might be sabotaging their own progress and to consider breaking free from these self-imposed limitations.
5. Temptation and Choices: The Devil is often associated with temptation. In a reading, this card could suggest that the querent is facing a choice between immediate pleasure and long-term well-being. It urges them to be mindful of their decisions and to consider the consequences of giving in to their desires.
6. Liberation and Awakening: While the Devil card has dark and ominous elements, it also holds a message of liberation. The figures can remove their chains voluntarily, symbolizing the power to overcome the binds that hold them. This suggests that the querent has the ability to break free from their self-imposed limitations and transform their situation. The card invites the querent to recognize their own agency and take responsibility for their choices.
7. Personal Transformation and Growth: Ultimately, the Devil card can be seen as a call for self-awareness and transformation. It prompts the querent to delve deep into their psyche, confront their fears and desires, and work towards personal growth. It encourages the querent to embrace their shadow self as a part of their whole identity and to strive for a more balanced and authentic life.
In a reading, the Devil card's interpretation will be influenced by its position, the surrounding cards, and the specific question asked. It's important to approach this card with an open mind and a willingness to explore the deeper layers of the situation at hand.
Remember, the devil is in the details….
Plant Magick: Wormwood - from Episode 35
