“Temptation is the fire that brings up the scum of the heart.” –
William Shakespeare

A situation not in your best interest

As terrifying as The Devil appears, he is only the embodiment of evil in some translations. The Devil holds the chains that bind you to the material world. Regrets, guilts, pleasure, addictions. When this card appears, it indicates a situation that is not in you favor.

Black; that’s all that’s in the background of this card. On a black block with an eye hook, a horned creature is perched, hovering over a nude man and woman. The creature has the legs of a bird, thighs of a goat, trunk of a man, bat wings and head of a goat. The sign for Saturn is in the middle of his palm and his hand is open facing front. The other hand faces down with a torch in it. The couple have grown red horns, and tails. The woman has a berry at the end of her tail and the man a flame. They are chained to the eye hook with slack around their neck and chain. They don’t appear in a rush to be anywhere and seem to be in casual conversation.

Meaning

All that holds us accountable in the material world can be seen in the meaning of The Devil. They are the pleasures we surrender ourselves to at the cost of our own destruction. Sins, temptation, addiction, sexual pursuits, superficiality, psychological and physical warfare. Without caution we’ll walk right into his chains, blinded by whimsical situations.

The definition of The Devil is quite simple: A situation that is not in your best interest. Sometimes it seems like this card only shows up when we are already ensnared and starting to feel helpless. There maybe people manipulating a situation; a silver-tongued sociopath, poor management, or corrupt authority.

If you see the Devil and decide to find an exist, trust the Universe will support you in your decision every step of the way.

The creature symbolized in the Waite deck is symbolic of the devil in Christianity, which derives from a God that is seen across polytheism. This god is symbolic of male fertility, wealth, animals, and the underworld. He goes by many names: Osiris, Cernunnos, Pan, Herne, Dionysus.

Influence on Suites

Cups

You fell in love when in a situation that wasn’t supposed to be that deep. While seeking a body to cure some loneliness, you over stayed your welcome.

Wands

The pursuit you are on Is for selfish gain, and your approach should be reconsidered. There could be a crucial structural issue to your plan, or this plan could be built in wrath. Think of everything including the consequences

Pentacles

The job is causing you to feel trapped, maybe due to resources or social status. Consider your material attachments and if they are beneficial to your happiness

Swords

The chaos in your thoughts runs the risk of rolling off your tongue. As much as you want the last word, it won’t help the situation. Ignore the situation unless you can find a kinder way to communicate your anxieties without blaming someone else for your shortcomings.

Coming Soon: The Devil Reversed
Coming Soon: The Devil Card Combinations