The Devil
Material
Bondage
““In this shadow theater of fools
the Devil whispers sweet lies
with every string that they tie,
then makes you play the part of
Pied Piper in a tale of your own demise.
Your demons know
the selfish desires you hide
and tell you they’re just sublime.
The indulgence feels so good,
you believe them every time.
But can you also feel
the burning sting of salty tears
on the freshly cut slit in your tongue?
Live deliciously
with a new craving you can never satisfy
for the taste of blood.”
”
The Devil sits within the same space as the angelic figure of Temperance, but the scene is inverted. The dormant volcano awakens and erupts in an explosion that creates mass destruction. It represents unchecked passion, misuse of power, and lack of control. They command two figures who are tied to them by marionette strings to crawl into the fire towards their dark desires and eventual demise. The inverted pentagram represents putting the material above the spiritual. In the Hermetic Tarot, this card is known as the “Lord of the Gates of Matter.”
This card is ruled by the energy of Capricorn.
In a reading, this card represents bondage to the material and lack of self control. While Temperance represents a calling to your higher self, the Devil is a cautionary tale about giving into your lower, shadow self, the part of you that holds you back from your potential. You may be giving into your baser instincts, instant gratification, or addiction. It may also point to a lack of faith, giving into despair, or willful ignorance. The Devil may represent an unhealthy relationship in your life where there are attachment issues, manipulation, or abuse. In its most positive form, the Devil can represent a strong, binding relationship, but that is generally only a temporary state and if it isn’t put into check it could end in disaster. Of course, sometimes it’s okay to explore the fantasies of your darker, more wild side, and maybe this card is an invitation to do just that, but always remember to set boundaries in what you indulge in so you don’t do more harm than good.
The reversed may appear as an invitation to take on your inner demons. Do some heavy introspection to figure out what is holding you back from being the best version of yourself. You may be suffering from a mental ailment that needs to be addressed by a professional. There may be a dark part of yourself that you’ve been hiding from others that is yearning to come out and play. It may be an invitation to cut the psychic cords between yourself and someone you have an unhealthy attachment to. Try to detach from anything you are too dependent on to set yourself free.
