Tarot Secret
The Devil in Tarot – Meaning, Symbolism & Spiritual Message
Reversed: Liberation · Letting Go · Awareness · Regaining Control
There are things in our lives that we hold onto.
Not because they’re good for us.
But because letting go feels more dangerous than staying.
Maybe you know that feeling.
Video: The Devil – meaning explained
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The Devil – Historical Context
The Devil in the Rider-Waite is Baphomet — half human, half animal, with bat wings and a pentagram. At his feet, two figures bound by chains — but the chains are loose. They could free themselves. Waite emphasized: the Devil isn’t evil itself — he’s what we believe ourselves to be when we don’t know our own shadow.
Symbolism of the Card – What the Image Tells Us
| Symbol | Possible Meaning |
|---|---|
| Baphomet figure | Union of opposites — not purely evil, but shadow as part of the whole |
| Loosely fitted chains | The bond is self-chosen, or at least self-maintained — freedom is possible |
| Bat wings | Night, the unconscious — what lives and rules in the dark |
| Inverted pentagram | Matter over spirit — when the physical dominates |
| Torches pointing downward | Fire that destroys instead of illuminating — passion without control |
| Chains with pomegranate and flame | Sensuality and passion that bind |
| Black pedestal | The material world as the only reality — when spirit is forgotten |
The Devil as an Archetype
This card embodies several universal archetypes:
- The Shadow (Jung) — the repressed part of ourselves
- Pan — animal lust and instinct without moral judgment
- Dependency — what binds us because we believe we’re bound
- The unconscious that rules — when we don’t look closely
- Material temptation — mistaking having for being
The Devil Upright – Meaning & Message
The Devil towers over two figures — a man and a woman, bound to his pedestal by loose chains. The chains could easily be slipped off: they’re loose enough. But the figures don’t look up, don’t look sideways, don’t check whether the chains actually hold. That’s the real point of this card: captivity built on beliefs, not on real fetters.
This card stands for dependencies, addictions, toxic patterns, and the beliefs that keep us in situations we could theoretically step out of. The Devil doesn’t lie — he exaggerates, he seduces, he shows the pleasant side of a situation and hides its cost. This can be substances, destructive relationships, material greed, or limiting self-images.
When the Devil appears, the crucial question is: where do you consider yourself more trapped than you actually are? And what would happen if you actually tested whether the chain really holds — or whether you’ve simply never questioned it?
The Devil Reversed – Shadow Side & Warning
Reversed, the Devil shows the loosening of bonds — an addiction being overcome, a pattern recognized and broken, freedom from a situation held onto for too long. That’s a positive development — but it requires honesty about what was.
It can also point to denial of the shadow — refusing to look at your own dark sides, projecting the Devil onto others while believing yourself to be clean. Sometimes it also shows overcorrected impulse control: the complete suppression of natural needs that then breaks out some other way.
The question: which chains are you actually loosening right now — and are you truly doing that, or just trading one dependency for another? Liberation begins with honestly naming what you’re freeing yourself from.
The Devil in the Areas of Life
The Devil in Love
Upright: Passion and sensuality are alive — but check whether freedom is present. Sometimes this card shows an intense but healthy attraction.
Reversed: Toxic bonds or co-dependency. A relationship that harms but can’t be left — or is believed to be unable to be left.
The Devil in Career
Upright: Intense work phases, or a project that’s addictive in a good way. Energy and passion for your work.
Reversed: Overwork, a toxic work environment, or the feeling of being unable to get out.
The Devil in Finances
Upright: An intense material phase — but check whether money is becoming a goal instead of a means.
Reversed: Debt, compulsive spending, or material dependency.
The Devil in Health
Upright: An intense physical phase — passion for sport or a change in diet.
Reversed: Compulsive behavior, unhealthy patterns that can’t be let go of.
The Devil – Yes or No?
Upright: Caution — check whether the undertaking is really free. Reversed: Liberation is possible — recognize the chains.
An Example from Practice
One user who noticed a recurring unhealthy pattern drew this card and at first felt judged. Looking more closely, he noticed that the chains in the image hang loosely. It was not about guilt, but about awareness: naming the pattern honestly was already the first step toward loosening its grip.
Next to The Tower, it emphasizes liberation through the collapse of old structures. Next to Judgement, it reinforces a conscious awakening. Appearing next to The Lovers, it is worth asking whether a choice is still genuinely free, or already constrained by dependency.
It matters to distinguish a consciously chosen bond from one that went unnoticed. Was this connection or habit chosen on purpose — or did it simply creep in? In the first case, it can stay. In the second, it is worth looking closely at how much room to move actually remains.
The Devil – Facts & Correspondences
| Number | XV |
| Element | Earth |
| Planet / Celestial Body | Saturn / Capricorn |
| Astrology | Capricorn — the material world, structure, what binds us |
| Numerology | 15 = a bond that can be dissolved, transformation through confrontation |
| Hebrew Letter | Ayin — the eye, seeing what is truly there |
| Time Quality | Times of intense bonds or becoming aware of patterns |
| Personality Description | Someone in a bond, an addiction, or a pattern that needs to be recognized |
| Opposing Card | The Lovers (VI) — free choice instead of bondage |
| Complementary Cards | The Tower (XVI) — liberation through collapse; Judgement (XX) — awakening |
The Devil in Everyday Life
What do I get from staying where I am?
And: what would happen if I simply took off the chain?
And one last question:
What do I see in myself when I stop looking away?
Stay here a moment longer.
💭 What pattern or bond in your life do you recognize as limiting — and what’s keeping you from taking off the chain?
Frequently Asked Questions about The Devil
Is the Devil a bad card?
It’s a challenging but important card. It shows what binds us unconsciously. Recognizing the chains is the first step toward freedom.
What does the Devil mean in love?
Intense passion that liberates or binds — sometimes both. Check whether real freedom exists in the relationship.
What does the Devil mean as a daily card?
Today is a day to check: what attracts me even though I know it’s not good for me? Look honestly.
How is the Devil connected to the shadow?
It’s often called the Jungian shadow card — everything about ourselves we don’t want to see. Confronting the Devil is confronting the shadow.
Which cards complement the Devil?
The Tower (liberation through breakdown), Judgement (awakening), The Lovers reversed (a false bond). Challenging: The Moon (even more self-deception).
Reflection Questions on The Devil
Let these questions simply sit with you. You don’t have to answer them.
- What do you get from what’s holding you back?
- What’s really holding onto me, and am I ready to look at it closely?
- Where in my life am I holding onto something that no longer does me good?
- What do I get from staying where I am?
- And: what would happen if I simply took off the chain?
The Journey Through the Major Arcana
The 22 cards tell a story — from card 0 to 21 and back. A spiral, not a line.
The Devil has shown what binds. Now comes liberation through collapse: The Tower (XVI) — everything built wrong must fall.
The Devil has no power you don’t give him.
That’s not an accusation.
It’s the door.
Still thinking about The Devil? Claire can help you connect it to what’s actually going on for you.