Devil Tarot Card Meanings
At first the Devil card can look quite scary. The image of a goat headed winged Devil takes up most of the card and before him are two chained people. The Devil is crowned with a reversed pentagram. So what does the Devil represent? Well, popularly we would associate vices and our baser instincts with him. I think it is definitely correct to assume that the Devil does not represent anything good. He opposes all that is good and embodies the negative in every sense.
The Devil in the image has the two people chained to the plinth on which he sits. But the devil in the image does not seem so threatening on closer inspection. He is not menacing or causing any harm, but that is the thing about the Devil, his greatest ability is to tempt others to sin. The chained man and woman do not seem either upset or distraught to be there. In fact the chains around their necks are quite loose, so they could remove them at any time. This leads me to believe that they have chosen to remain there.
The Devil appears to represent some negative behaviour on the part of the chained individuals. They are naked and unlike the couple in the Lovers card, there is nothing innocent about these two; this fact is emphasised by the horns and tails on them. Their nudity seems to speak of their shame at being involved in the vice the Devil represents.
The story this card tells is therefore about some unhealthy vice or addiction, as represented by the Devil, and our choice to stick with it rather than to give it up. I don’t think it is the Devil that should be feared here, or even what he represents, be it a bad relationship, negative behavior, cigarettes, drugs, alcohol or whatever. It is a bold card confronts the negative aspect and urges us to do the same and to address the problems so we can free ourselves.
These are the Devil tarot card meanings we use in the Free Readings on Aquarian Insight:
Key Words: Bondage, Materialism, Ignorance, Addiction
General: Are you feeling stuck? Tied down? This may be by a person, a situation or even a substance in the form of an addiction. The Devil is here today to tell you that the only chains that hold us back are the ones we allow to. Don’t lose hope, there’s a way out that you haven’t figured out yet and you do have options.
Love: Have you been feeling stuck in your relationship? Do you feel like you’ll never be in a relationship? Whatever the case, the Devil is here to show you that you have choices available to you and you are not as trapped as you think. Don’t fixate on what’s wrong, try to look at what you’d like to change and take the necessary steps.
Work: In the current economic climate it seems that very few jobs are truly secure. So you may find yourself enduring a job you’re not truly happy with and hence find yourself feeling trapped. However, you are not trapped unless you allow yourself to be trapped. If you decide to stay in your current job, try to make whatever changes, no matter how small, to improve your working life, and remember this is your choice. If you want to leave, then start looking and have faith that something will come up.
What is holding you back? Are you addicted to some substance, situation or a person who is not good for you? The Devil reminds us that the only chains that hold us back are the ones we allow to hold us back. The key to freedom and release lies within us. On the other hand, have you been holding yourself back? Is it time to embrace your freedom and have some fun?