The Devil
Symbolic Attributes
- Element:Capricorn
- Arcana:Major Arcana
- Suit:Trump
- Archetype:The Shadow, The Other
- Numerology:15 = 1 + 5 = 6 (adjustment, collaboration)
- Hebrew Alphabet:Ayin/Eye/70
Keywords
Description
The design is an accommodation, mean or harmony, between several motives mentioned in the first part. The Horned Goat of Mendes, with wings like those of a bat, is standing on an altar. At the pit of the stomach there is the sign of Mercury. The right hand is upraised and extended, being the reverse of that benediction which is given by the Hierophant in the fifth card. In the left hand there is a great flaming torch, inverted towards the earth. A reversed pentagram is on the forehead. There is a ring in front of the altar, from which two chains are carried to the necks of two figures, male and female. These are analogous with those of the fifth card, as if Adam and Eve after the Fall. Hereof is the chain and fatality of the material life. The figures are tailed, to signify the animal nature, but there is human intelligence in the faces, and he who is exalted above them is not to be their master for ever. Even now, he is also a bondsman, sustained by the evil that is in him and blind to the liberty of service. With more than his usual derision for the arts which he pretended to respect and interpret as a master therein, Eliphas Levi affirms that the Baphometic figure is occult science and magic. Another commentator says that in the Divine world it signifies predestination, but there is no correspondence in that world with the things which below are of the brute. What it does signify is the Dweller on the Threshold without the Mystical Garden when those are driven forth therefrom who have eaten the forbidden fruit.
Light Meaning
- Appreciating the luxuries that life has to offer
- Being comfortable in your own skin
- Enjoying your sexuality
- Splurging on an expensive personal item
- Embracing the fact that everyone has a darker side
- Dealing with unhealthy impulses in healthy ways
Shadow Meaning
- Putting excessive emphasis on appearances
- Always wanting more
- Valuing possessions more than people or relationships
- Allowing base instincts to govern your life
- Being selfish
- Attributing your own dark impulses to outside forces or other people
Questions to Ask Yourself
- •What enslaves me? How can I set myself free?
- •How can I re-evaluate the importance I assign to material things?
- •To what extent do my cravings define me?
Personal Meaning
Make sure you see your situation for what it really is. Take off the blinders and take a long, hard, honest look at yourself and what you are creating.
You have not been seeing your situation for what it really was. Take off the blinders and take a long, hard, honest look at yourself and what you created.
You are not seeing your situation for what it really is. Take off the blinders and take a long, hard, honest look at yourself and what you have created.
Personal Reversed Meaning
Upside down, right side up or sideways, the devil is the devil. Wake up and avoid deluding yourself.
Upside down, right side up or sideways, the devil is the devil. You have been deluding yourself, and it's time to wake up.
Upside down, right side up or sideways, the devil is the devil. You are deluding yourself, and it's time to wake up.
Fortune Telling
- •Adultery and unfaithfulness
- •A string of extremely bad luck is coming your way
- •Beware evil influences and wolves in sheep's clothing
Mythical / Spiritual Context
The Biblical Satan, certainly. Fallen angels, including Lucifer. Bacchus and Pan. Tempters and serpents of every stripe.
How to Interpret This Card in a Reading
A guide to deepening your understanding of Tarot symbolism.
Context is Key
No Tarot card exists in a vacuum. While the meanings above provide a foundation, the true significance of this card depends on where it lands in your spread. Is it in the past position, indicating a phase you are moving away from? Or is it in the outcome position, suggesting a potential future? Always consider the neighboring cards — they often tell a story that modifies or amplifies the message.
Trust Your Intuition
Traditional meanings are the starting point, but your intuition is the compass. When you look at the card imagery, what draws your eye first? A specific color, a symbol, or a facial expression might trigger a personal memory or feeling. That immediate reaction is often the most relevant message for your current situation, even if it differs from the standard definition.
Understanding Reversals
If this card appears reversed (upside down), don't fear it. Reversals often suggest an internalizing of the card's energy, a delay, or a need to revisit the lesson before moving forward. It can also indicate that the "shadow" aspects described above are currently more active, inviting you to bring them into the light for healing.
Connecting with the Element
Remember the suit this card belongs to. Wands speak to passion and action (Fire). Cups dive into emotions and relationships (Water). Swords navigate the mind and conflicts (Air). Pentacles ground us in the material world and resources (Earth). The Major Arcana represents larger life themes and soul lessons. Filtering the card's meaning through its elemental lens will give you a grounded, practical way to apply its wisdom to your life.