The Devil Tarot Card Meanings

The Devil Upright Meaning

The Devil Tarot card expresses the realm of the taboo -- the culturally rejected wildness and undigested shadow side that each of us carries in our subconscious. This shadow is actually at the core of our being, which we cannot get rid of and will never succeed in taming. From its earliest versions, which portrayed a vampire-demon, The Devil evoked the church-fueled fear that a person could "lose their soul" to wild and passionate forces.

The Devil image which emerged in the mid-1700s gives us a more sophisticated rendition -- that of the "scapegoated goddess," whose esoteric name is Baphomet. Volcanic reserves of passion and primal desire empower her efforts to overcome the pressure of stereotyped roles and experience true freedom of soul.

The Devil Reversed Meaning

The Devil card reversed suggests that you are enjoying creating chaos and resistance for no particular, positive reason. Your sense of humor could be a bit twisted. Your motive may be vengeance or you are simply being an irritant.

The juvenile prankster streak in you must be corralled and changed before it gets you into further trouble. Suppress those impulses until you successfully engineer a shift away from this careless behavior. Such antics will cost you in the long run even though they seem amusing in the moment.

The Devil Advice Position

The Devil card advises that you show some spunk. There may be nothing to be gained by trying to be subtle or strategic in this situation. Assert your agenda, express yourself honestly, and let the chips fall where they may. Your best bet could be to express your true emotions, possibly even including anger. Acknowledge that you have whatever feelings you have. While it may not be necessary to act out what you feel in every situation, accepting the power and depth of your inner experience enables you to remain true to yourself.

The Devil Love Position

The Devil card symbolizes letting those parts of yourself that have been repressed or shamed out of the closet. It represents hidden parts of ourselves, what Jung referred to as "Shadow." In general, we fear its emergence, but this card is reminding you to face your shadow stuff. Whenever we reveal hidden inner dynamics, we fear we will be seen as ugly, demanding or excessive, even monstrous.

We are conditioned to mistrust passionate desires and basic instincts, because we are afraid that we might go too far, slipping into hedonism or addiction. To become a charismatic individual who can make a difference in your forthcoming love relationship, however, you need to outgrow fearful inhibitions placed upon your personally and self- expression. In every generation there have been those who push these limits. They may have been demonized in their time, but later generations understood the honesty, courage, and healing power of their daring.

The Devil Career Position

The Devil card in this position suggests that you may be facing a level of responsibility on the job that you dreaded in the past. If so, consider it an educational opportunity. Refrain from judging things in black and white terms, or as good and bad, and you will be able to tap the tremendous energy that is available in the current situation. Emphasize what you have in common with others, rather than the differences.

The ultimate outcome could evolve in a number of different directions and through several related projects, depending upon how you apply your will and act in the situation. A surge of potent energy could find expression through creative achievement or it could degenerate into a self-centered power trip. If you are sensitive to how the life force wants to move, you can refrain from interfering with it. Otherwise, you might stand in the way and then be tempted to believe that all the important movement is about you.

The Devil in a Yes or No Card Reading

The Devil is a card of feeling trapped. If you're looking for simple Yes or No guidance and receive The Devil, the answer is NO. Think through the unintended consequences of whatever you're considering.