The Devil
The Devil represents our material dependencies, passions, and the illusion of control through manipulation. This card embodies a charismatic yet potentially corrupt authority figure who pulls the strings of others, creating the false impression of freedom while maintaining absolute control. The Devil challenges us to recognize our attachments to earthly desires and power structures, whether in relationships, career, or financial matters, and ultimately calls for liberation from these binding influences.
Keywords
Symbolism
The Devil appears in the flesh, draped in red garments surrounded by red colors, everything literally screaming of passion, lust, and temptation. This color conveys the energy of the arcanum - life, vitality, passion. We need not fear the Devil - this is the essence of matter. The Devil is our dependency. He wears a crown on his head, not an ordinary one, but a fiery one, believing himself to be the ruler of everything. He is the puppeteer controlling marionettes who literally 'dance and play' to his tune. Candles show how the spark ignites, the spark of his power. Musicians create their songs, and he ignites them, giving a sense of permissiveness, sweeping away rules and norms. But their freedom is an empty illusion, for they are marionettes. Why he appears as a goat - he is directly connected to Capricorn. Here there is everything: sex, military themes, and moments of celebration. The brightness and passion of existence and how we fall for it, how we become attached to it. The marionette strings are tied to a cross - which very subtly shows the connection with Christianity, as he manipulates not only through vices but also through holiness. Since the church and the devil, excuse me, are business partners. As they say, however much god is in a person, so much devil there is too. According to the artist, the book lying at the bottom left is by Papus.
Card's Message
A bright charismatic personality endowed with power, possibly corrupt, for example, infidelity, suppression, manipulations. This is also simply a strong personality endowed with power, charisma, the ability to control people. Relationships have references to vice, infidelity, extramarital children. This is also a hint at BDSM and other kinks. Breaking out of the taboo zone. Career - A good arcanum, connected with a very large organization, a leader without freedom of choice. Money - Excellent financial position, there can be a lot of money, the kind of money that can take you captive.
Advice
The advice from this card is to free yourself from everything that binds us.
Visual Description
A towering horned figure wearing a ram-skull mask and a military-style cloak dominates the scene beneath a small crown of flame. The figure manipulates thin strings attached to two marionette musicians who wear tuxedos and wide-brimmed hats and play guitars. Candles burn around the dolls, roses and thorny vines frame the red-arched background, and a low platform or stage occupies the foreground. The overall palette is deep red with gold and black accents, giving the image a theatrical, ritualistic atmosphere.
Santa Muerte tarot
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