The Devil card illustrates Baphomet, a creature who is half-man, half-goat. Baphomet originally described as the equivalence between good and evil. The Devil has the wings of a vampire bat, an animal that sucks the blood out of its victim, representative of what happens when you give up to your raw passions. He has a soothing stare which entrances those who come close to him, bringing them under his control. Above him is a pentagram that is upside-down – a sign of the dark magic and occultism. He raises his right hand in a Jewish blessing. In his left hand, he holds a burning light. Near the foot of him stand a male and a female. They are chained to the podium on which the Devil. Both have horns and tails, symbols of their animal and raw instincts, and the fire and the grapes symbolize lust.

Upright
Shadow self, attachment, addiction, restriction, sexuality
Reversed
Releasing limiting beliefs, exploring dark thoughts, detachment
Astrology
Capricorn
Element
Earth
The Devil

Upright Devil

The Devil card symbolizes your shadow side and the negative forces that hold you back from being the best version of yourself. You may be at the effect of negative obsessions, thought patterns or addictions. You have found yourself caught between the momentary pleasure. Just as the Lovers card, Devil also speaks to duality; however, you are choosing the path of immediate satisfaction with the Devil, even if it costs your long-term health. Just like you have sold your soul to the Devil!

The Devil card often arrives when you have been thinking you have no control over your dark side, and that you can never break free from the hold of negative forces. However, deep down, you know it does harm to you, and you are doing it yourself damage when you trap into these needs with lower vibration. You need to accept the hold they have on you to break free of these negative addictions. 

On the positive meaning, the Devil can also present a powerful attachment between two people, such as a new love affair still in its ‘honeymoon stage’. Be careful, because, with the Devil card, this healthy attachment could also turn into a co-dependent bond if you lose touch with your intuition.

The Devil could also signify your wild side and sexuality in a love reading. Also, it can symbolize strong chemistry and sexual attraction with your partner. You may be exploring your darkest and wildest fantasies. If you can do this within a safe space, it could be a very enriching adventure. However, it can easily turn into something that may be threatening or harmful to your being, so, set clear limits ready to go.

Reversed Devil

The reversed Devil card can often be shown when you are on the boundary of a breaking point. You are being invited to your greatest potential, however, you must let go of any harmful habits or restricting beliefs that may hold you back. Let go of concerns and release any limiting beliefs standing in the way of your growth. It is easier than you think.

The reversed Devil calls on you to drop things you know are dangerous to you and your personality. It could be about creating a healthy diet, using less social media, quitting drinking and smoking, spending more time in nature, or focusing more on your purposes. 

The reversed Devil may also be a warning that you are hiding your darkest self from other people as a secret. You may have thoughts or fantasies that you don’t want others to know because you feel ashamed. There is also a need to admit who you are and forgive yourself for the ideas you have.

Finally, the Devil reversed encourages you to train the detachment state, a state in which you defeat your attachment to the longing for things, people or ideas, and free yourself. It doesn’t mean you don’t care for them; you free yourself from dependency.