The Meanings of the 22 Major Arcana Tarot Cards – The Devil:
Introduction to The Devil
The Devil is Key 15 in the Major Arcana of the Tarot deck. This card represents self-imposed limitations and bondage. The Devil is often a negative card but not in every context, The Devil is ruled by the zodiac sign of Capricorn and its ruling planet of Saturn.
The Devil is often depicted in traditional and online spreads as the devil with both horns and wings to suggest true evil with a chance of possible redemption. The Devil is depicted in some online decks as a goat with spiraling horns to represent free and creative sexual energy along with materialism and excess in other Tarot decks. Often two nude figures are shown in this card of the Tarot deck at the Devil’s feet, of opposite sexes and chained to each other to indicate their bondage to each other. The chains around their necks are loose to imply that strength of mind and spirit could conquer evil and free both of them from bondage. The Devil card may be shown on traditional and online decks with eagle’s claw feet to symbolize his worldly domination over the pair.
The Devil card has the usual meanings of greed, oppression and destruction but can also indicate humor, applied energy and sensuality depending on the surrounding cards. The Devil may be used as a birth card for the greedy, the enslaved and those in an abusive relationship. Alone, the Devil card often indicates being overworked or restricted in some manner. The Devil is the birth card for those born under the sun sign of Capricorn. The Devil is also a secondary birth card to those with the Lovers as their primary birth card, as the Devil is Key 15 of the Major Arcana, which reduces to the number six in numerology.
The Devil Upright
The Devil upright is usually a largely negative card that can imply both bondage and self-imposed limitations. The appearance of the Devil card tends to add intensity to Tarot readings, but the effects of this card are negated whenever the Hierophant card appears with the Devil in any Tarot spread. When the Devil precedes the Emperor card, it indicates national agitation and unrest. If the Emperor comes ahead of the Devil, it can denote a threat to a current leader.
The Devil combined with the Hermit card in Tarot readings indicate over-studying and being a slave to one’s job. If the Devil appears before or after the reversed Magician (rx) card in a Tarot spread, the meaning is that love or sex magic may be performed to ill effects, and when the Devil is before the Wheel of Fortune card, it is a clear meaning that one is in the hands of fate. If the Wheel of Fortune is before the Devil, one will end up feeling as a victim of circumstances and sexuality will be expressed to a great degree.
When the Devil comes before the reversed Justice (rx) card in a Tarot reading, an unjust outcome will occur if either are birth cards. If Justice follows the Devil, a miscarriage of justice is indicated. When Justice appears before the Devil in Tarot readings, an accusation will be proven false.
The Devil Reversed (RX)
The Devil reversed has a more favorable meaning than when upright. The Devil in the reversed position indicates a release from bondage and negative thoughts. Healing and freedom are now possible when the Devil card appears reversed in a Tarot reading. If the reversed Devil (rx) is after the Tower card, complete liberation and happiness is indicated. If the Tower is before the reversed Devil card, the near future will be free of all current problems.
When the Devil (rx) reversed is before the Justice card, it can mean a pardon or parole from prison. If Justice comes before the reversed Devil (rx), it can mean a pending legal matter. If the reversed Devil appears in a Tarot reading with the Wheel of Fortunecard in any orientation, time will run out the clock.
The Devil in Regards to Love, Sex and Relationships
The appearance of the Devil card in many Tarot readings indicates an intense and powerful relationship with a heavy focus on sensual and sexual matters. The Devil card can also take on the meaning that one feels trapped in an addictive and unhealthy relationship. Pleasure and abandon is possible in love and sex when the Devil card appears, but there could be a tendency to indulge in excess, The Devil often indicates that a sexual relationship is irresistible but feels free at the same time.
