Can we talk about the Devil of Tarot?

[Why Syzygy]

I loved all the feedback from the Fool thread. I hope y'all will share your thoughts about the Devil also.

Still involved with my study of Tarot/Astro/Archetype. Probably will be for the rest of my life.

The Devil is XV (1+5=6-community), Saturn, Capricorn. Archetype - the Shadow (things we deny or hide)

I haven't been able to get a grip on this card yet. The standard 'meanings' are: Bondage, Materialism, Ignorance, Hopelessness (from learntarot.com). I have several books and online resources. I can't wrap my head around "addiction". I finally got a glimpse of what I would call "Control", as in control freak (a little bit - no harm to the lovely Caps in our midst).

What else? Please help.

[Matariki]

1. I've often noticed, when it shows up in readings...

...that it is usually referring to a situation where the person has a hand in their difficult or trapped circumstance - and that with a change of perspective they could change. In other words, the 'bondage' they feel themselves to be in is in some way their own making. Or at least it's a situation they could walk out of, but often feel they can't.

Does that make sense? I usually find that when it shows up in a reading I feel the need to point out how loose the chains are around the necks of the man and woman (in the Rider-Waite deck), and how they could simply remove them if they only just realized they could.

It's not that situations in people's lives are ever without hope, but other cards usually come up when that's the case.

Demon est Deus Inversus.

[Why Syzygy]

2. False helplessness?

That would have a relationship to control issues... not being aware of just how much control we DO have .. and .. having those clear boundaries regarding things we do NOT control ...

[Matariki]

6. Yeah.

Feeling bound by external circumstances, when in fact those circumstances are only an outward manifestation of an interior state or choice. Like feeling stuck in a particular job or relationship - and convincing yourself that you have no choice in the matter.

[Howler]

3. To me the devil card represents.......

Primordial passions.Creative fire,Kundilini,Wild side of nature.

[Cleita]

4. To me one of its aspects is that it's the opposite of The Lovers.

It refers to a bond between people, but the bond is base not spiritual. I would assume that if we read cards for Arnold in the past that the devil would have shown up in proximity to any cards pointing to a paramour or relationship in his life or future. It would not be a relationship based on selfless love and marriage but one of selfishness and the pleasure of the moment at the expense of others.

[Sweet Freedom]

5. Don't know if this is helpful...

From lotus tarot
http://www.free-tarot-reading.net/meanings/major_arcanum/MA-15.php

And from one of their emails--

...We are talking about The Devil card and all the temptation it can represent. This card is not entirely bad, although it does mainly represent destructive forces and unhealthy attachments.

On a positive note, The Devil can represent strong and unbreakable bonds, so when it appears in a reading concerning a love relationship, surrounded by positive cards, it can be a good sign for marriage or a serious commitment.

However, that is about the only positive aspect of the card! Usually when The Devil card shows up in any of your readings you need to question your motives. The card represents addictions of all sorts, and seeking pleasure and physical satisfaction even when you know or suspect the experience may prove destructive for you.

When The Devil appears in your reading, stop and ask yourself whether you feel in control, whether the emotions and sensations you have concerning a particular person or issue are positive and nurturing or negative and destructive.

(In the email, "addiction" was defined as being tempted by something you know is not good for you.)

[Melissa G]

7. Addiction. There are those that believe that anytime you precondition your response

and act out of habit or preconceived ideas, you are being addictive and losing the grace and blessing of the Infinite or connection with the Infinite in that moment. Losing touch with Grace is another way of signifying the Devil or Hell to me.

A yogini buddy of mine passed this below along from yet another friend of ours. She used to write the initials on her hand to help her remember to use the wisdom.


J-Judgment
D- Design
R- Rule
C- Condition

"I hereby make it my intention to have the experience of noticing, by the grace of the
infinite within me, if I am even wanting/going in the direction of making a rule, diagram
judgment or applying a condition on whatever comes up in the space of my
relationship with (whatever I am in conflict with)"

Love,
Melissa

[Why Syzygy]

8. Thanks for all the insights.

It really helps. :D

[BlueIris]

9. Indulgence. Sometimes the unhealthy kind. Addiction, or at least, flirting with addictive

substances, behaviors or lifestyles. It occasionally pops up when I'm about to do something...different. It can indicate things as harmless as a "walk on the wild side" for a couple of weeks or a month.

Still, I don't like this card. To me, it screams not so much "Addict!" as "Loser!"

Ahem, sorry. It can also indicate unbridled and guiltless expression of sexuality or sensuality and can therefore be a good thing. I just don't like to see it as the "outcome" card in any reading.

[Why Syzygy]

10. I understand

the "Loser" part. I appreciate your insights, BI.

I've been doing a lot of reading from other resources. Finally feel some comfort using the card.
This forum also helps >
http://www.tarotforum.net/

http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=157797

[davsand]

11. We all are some aspect of the Devil.

In my tradition, hell is something we create for ourselves because we "choose" it as a form of self inflicted atonement. Only in self awareness and self forgiveness do we progress...


The Devil is very often an indicator of what we have chosen to cling to--be it a physical or emotional thing. It can represent our actual physical addictions or maybe even our own attitudes that keep us from moving forward on our journey down the Fool's road. That little voice in your head saying, "You can NEVER do that!" is one small example. That continual mantra (part of my own personal hit parade, I have to confess...) of "What if...?" is also part of the Devil card.

The lesson of the Devil is identifying and then learning to let go of what binds us and keeps us from moving forward. If you can think of it/mentally envision it as the strings on a Fool marrionette, and you as a reader are offering the querant a pair of scissors, you are seeing that card as I do.



Laura

[Mist]

12. Put simply, one's basest inclinations, one's flaws and weaknesses. I think the card from

the Robin Wood Tarot deck (my standard deck, most of the time) is interesting: no devil figure, just two people trapped in a dark place, with chains.



Observe that the people aren't chained--they're insisting on hanging on to the "treasure" so are chaining themselves.

[uberblonde]

13. I call it the "Sex, Drugs, Rock and Roll" card.

And I interpret it as someone displacing their spiritual and emotional needs onto material distractions.