The Devil
The Devil card represents the choices we make that bind us to negative influences and harmful behaviors. While it may invoke fear, its true meaning lies in the realization that we are often our own worst enemies, chaining ourselves through fear and self-doubt. The card urges us to recognize these chains and take responsibility for breaking free from the cycles that hold us back. Inverted, it symbolizes a time of hope and impending liberation from these negative patterns.
Keywords
Introduction
I am choosing.
Fear and Initial Reactions
There are a few tarot cards that will freak people out if they’re new to tarot. The Tower, Death (means change), the Three and Ten of Swords, the Moon, and some others are a bit foreboding.
Why The Devil Freaks Us Out
The Devil card freaks everyone out. Everyone. I’ve been doing this for over twenty years, and it still gives me the wiggins. It’s unnerving, and I’m not sure what the artist could have done to make this more freaky. Have the Devil kicking a puppy or something? Maybe.
Understanding the Devil's Symbolism
The thing is, this tarot card isn’t about the Christian construct of 'the devil.' At least not in the traditional sense. The Devil was based on Pan, who was quite the licentious god. Booze, freedom, and lots and lots of sex. Pagans loved this stuff. Christians—not so much. So our fun-loving Pan got a new name and a new role. And a scowl, and apparently chicken feet. And bat wings. And he seems to be holding a huge spliff.
Self-Inflicted Chains
I don’t know any adults who are scared of this guy. I could poll about a hundred of my friends and say, 'Okay, you behave like a bastard—is this guy going to come and get you?' I’d bet that they’d all say no. So what is this about? Do you see how the people are chained to his throne? Those are pretty thick chains and look fairly sturdy. Look at their necks. They could slip those off at any time, but they’re choosing not to. That’s what this is about. Who could create a better hell for us than ourselves? Who knows our weaknesses? Who knows how to make us feel low and dirty and worthless? Who is ready to exploit these vulnerabilities and hurt us at a moment’s notice? Yep. Ourselves.
Choices and Responsibilities
We don’t always chain ourselves up without help. Peer pressure, poor guidance from parents, whatever your path is—at some point you have a choice to make. Do I wear this chain or not? Do I drink to excess? Do I treat this person like crap? Do I hurt someone just because I can? Do I steal? Do I judge? Should I take this action or make this choice just because I can and then run over whoever might get in the way?
The Burden of Chains
These choices are ours to make, and I have the feeling the older we get, the heavier the chains get and the harder it is to take them off. So while the picture freaks me out, the card and its meaning just makes me sad. This is not the scary, oogie-boogie devil of mythology but is almost scarier than that. This card is about chaining yourself to those things that pull you down. We turn ourselves inside out and pick and pick and pick until our insides are a bloody mess. I wonder why we allow that. When does it become okay to verbally and emotionally abuse ourselves? In what context and in what fashion does saying horrible things to ourselves become permissible and even expected? I think it comes down to two things, fear and doubt. Fear that we’re not as good as everyone else, and the doubt that allows that fear to trickle in. If we are confident and strong, what someone else says about us bounces away.
The Devil Inverted
Inverted, this card tells about a foggy time. You’re not sure where to go or what to do, but you’re about two steps away from the fog lifting. Breaking free of negative influences and bad habits. The chain is nearly off you—don’t give up. Don’t give up.
Hope and Rebirth
I found this quote that I really liked from The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore by Tennessee Williams: 'Devils can be driven out of the heart by the touch of a hand on a hand, or a mouth on a mouth.' Broken things can be mended. There is always hope.
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