The fifteenth card of the Major Arcana is the Devil (XV), which embodies human desires, especially those concerning the material world and physical pleasures. It represents somewhat negative human feelings such as temptation, addiction, obsessions, dependency, and depression.
When the Devil shows up in a Tarot reading, it urges you to observe these negative feelings and analyze how they limit your different life areas. Remember that you control your destiny, and your attitudes and behavior are the only things limiting you.
The Devil tarot card visual depiction and symbolism
The Devil tarot card’s central character is a Baphomet, also known as the “Sabbatic Goat.” It is a goat-headed half-human creature with wings. He has a floating pentagram on top of his horned head and a hypnotic stare in the illustration. The Devil is crouched on a pedestal with his right hand raised while his left hand is lowered and holding a torch.
- The Sabbatic Goat is associated with all things evil.
- His glazing hypnotic stare and welcoming wave of the right hand suggest temptation. In contrast, his lowered left hand with a torch represents the dangers of falling into it.
- The pedestal is a half cube. This symbolizes that the Devil only knows half of every story. Because of this, his decisions are always based on half-truths.
An intriguing part of the visual depiction is the horn headed man and the woman. Both of them are naked and chained to the podium on which the Devil is crouched. It appears the Devil has imprisoned them, but if you look closely, you will notice that the chain is loose and could be easily removed if they had the willpower.
- The Horns on the man and woman are a sign that they are becoming increasingly like the Devil.
- The tails of the man and woman are symbols of their animalistic desires and behavior.
- The grapes and the fire on their tails signify pleasure and desire.
- The sadness on the humans’ faces symbolizes that their willpower has been derived, leaving them depressed and naked.
The Devil Keywords
Before jumping inside the Devil tarot card meanings in love, money, and health, let’s look at the keywords related to this card.
UPRIGHT Keywords: physical and material temptation, addiction, obsessions, dependency, and depression.
REVERSED Keywords: Clearing unhealthy attachments, coming back from dark thoughts, freedom from restraints
The Devil Tarot Card Meaning – Upright
The Devil tarot card expresses how addiction, obsession, and unhealthy relationships can make you feel out of control. The Devil warns you not to be too restrained by materialistic desires and relationships that constrain you from being the best version of yourself. It encourages you to observe the life areas you feel that you don’t control and take steps towards change.
Love and Relationships
If you are single, you are entering a period of having a bit of fun. You are likely to have a passionate affair with someone or various someones. You don’t see long term prospects with these partners, but everything on the passion front works great. While you are having fun, make sure that you are not giving false promises to others and you are keeping yourself protected from STDs. Alternatively, the Devil might imply dependency, causing you to allow others to take advantage of you. If that is the case, you need to work on your self-esteem issues before making yourself available to others.
The Devil upright can also signal jealousy or codependency in current relationships. Both can be detrimental to your relationship, so make sure that you build trust and maintain individuality. On a positive note, the Devil marks a period of high sexual energy. So be prepared to have plenty of good times on that front.
Money and Career
The Devil in career readings could sign that you are feeling confined at your place of employment. You feel as if you don’t have other options but to withstand your work and colleagues. The prospect of running away from a secure job doesn’t seem plausible, so it leaves you feeling powerless. Don’t get depressed by this. The Devil encourages you to open your eyes to other options. There are more choices available to you than you think. You just need to wake up to them, gather your willpower, and take control into your own hands.
The Devil is also a reminder not to be too controlled by materialistic desires. It encourages you to go after things that make you passionate rather than looking only for financial gains. Therefore, take the Devil as a sign of discretion in your financial dealings. Take a look at what is truly important to you and make sure you are not spending money on things just to satisfy your materialistic desires.
Health and Spirituality
In health-related readings, the Devil tarot card can indicate overindulgence or addiction to unhealthy habits. Observe your current patterns objectively and try to identify if there is something that you are indulging in excess. Sometimes the Devil suggests depression or other mental issues. If you feel like this is the case, you should address these feelings to a healthcare professional and not consult the cards any further.
In spiritual readings, The Devil that your focus is too much on materialistic desires. They have caused you to drive you away from your spiritual path. Take the Devil as a reminder to bring these aspects back to your life to regain balance. Spend time with people you love and contemplate on what really brings happiness to your life.
The Devil Tarot Card Meaning – Reversed
Quite surprisingly, the Devil tarot card reversed carries a lot of positivity in its meaning. However, for it to work in your favor, you will have to get rid of some malicious and unhealthy attachments that slow you down. This could mean letting go of relationships and habits that are not positively serving you or changing a job that is only causing you sadness and anxiety. By withdrawing from these unhealthy appendages, you’ll be able to blossom into a better version of yourself.
So instead of seeing the Devil reversed as a scary card, you should take it as a calling for a journey to self-improvement.
Love and Relationships
The reversed Devil tarot card in love and relationship readings can signal that some attachments in your life are preventing you from reaching your full potential. Negative emotional models or obsessions of some kind are preventing you from finding peace in your relationships. If you can let them go, you will most likely feel in control of your love-life and build longer-lasting unions.
Sometimes the Devil reversed can indicate a warning of a relationship that isn’t allowing you to be yourself. It might be due to a domineering partner or insecurities that you feel. You’ll need to acknowledge the beauty you carry and be proud of yourself. If your partner isn’t willing to do the same, you should consider releasing yourself from this unhealthy attachment.
Money and Career
The Devil reversed in a career reading indicates that you may have felt stuck in your job. You’ve been hanging on to it solely for financial and materialistic desires. However, you are starting to realize what it is that makes you happy. Understanding that stability in life can also be achieved with other means than just making more money will give you more room to move. Remember that you control your own destiny and are not bound by anything other than your own attitudes, beliefs, and behavior.
When it comes to money, you have most likely already taken action to make necessary changes to take control of your finances. The problems of your past could have been various. Still, now you are taking responsibility for your situations and no longer depend on others for financial help. This will make you feel better as you start to embrace your independence.
Health and Spirituality
In health-related readings, the Devil reversed is a welcoming sign of getting rid of bad habits. You are gaining control of your past addictions, obsessions, or overindulgences, which will positively impact your well-being. Keep going at it and stay focused on the current course. Your body and mind will thank you later.
Regarding spirituality, you are finding your way back to the light. You might have been exploring dark thoughts. The feelings of anxiety and stress have led you off from your spiritual path, but now your compass points in the right direction again. You are feeling increasingly more connected with the Universe so keep going on this route.
The Devil tarot card Yes or No
The Devil tarot card represents physical and material addiction, obsessions, dependency, and depression. It mostly points to life areas that carry negative weight and encourages you to observe and improve in them. This card’s negative connotation forces it to be a “No” in Yes or No related inquiries.
The Devil tarot card Combinations
Let’s examine some interesting tarot card combinations with the Devil. When combined with other tarot cards, the Devil brings out some of our weaknesses, such as addiction, obsessions, dependency, and depression.
The Devil and The Lovers
The combination of the Devil and the Lovers tarot cards is a powerful and intriguing one. The visual depiction of these cards is similar, yet complete opposite. It’s like comparing good and evil, light and darkness, or love and lust. This combination tells a lot about the opposite sides. Despite the area you observe, it reminds us how beautiful things can quickly turn into a dangerous play if we get obsessed and addicted.
The Devil and the Emperor
The Emperor is a tarot card of authority, leadership, and power. The Devil is the card of obsession and addiction. This combination reminds us of how dangerous the dependence on power can be. Alternatively, it can act as a warning and point out a domineering relationship in your life.
The Devil and the Fool
This combination is a clear sign of someone headed into danger on their new path. Someone is jumping into a new journey dangerously fast and getting obsessed over it. Depending on what it is, things are looking to go overboard if they don’t get the warning to slow down.
The Devil and the Star
The combination of the Star and the Devil brings a sense of relief to the seeker. Perhaps there has been a period of unhealthy attachments in the seeker’s life, and the Star gives a sense of hope to overcome them.
The Devil – Element, Astrology and other associations
Here are the associations with the Devil tarot card.
- Element: Earth
- Planet: Saturn
- Astrology: Capricorn
- Key dates: End and beginning of the calendar year
The Devil tarot card as a personality
The people with the Devil tarot cards personality are intense, passionate, sexual, and sometimes narcissistic. When they get into something, they get into it full on. Whatever is it that they get into, it quickly turns into an obsession. They don’t always think of others’ good when they go about getting what they want. As lovers, they will surely keep you warm.
The Devil tarot card as feelings
There are many feelings attached to this card: obsession, sexual passion, anxiety, and depression. Depending on what you are observing, the feelings may vary between them.
If you are wondering how someone feels about you and the Devil shows up. It is a sign that the person has strong and passionate feelings about you. But take note that the Devil appears as a minor warning as well. Make sure the person is not using you for their benefit.
General questions of the Devil tarot card
Finally, let’s gather some general questions that are associated with the Devil tarot card.
What does the Devil tarot card mean?
The Devil tarot card describes somewhat negative feelings, especially those concerning the material world and physical pleasures. Such as temptation, addiction, obsessions, dependency, and depression.
What does the Devil tarot card reversed mean?
The Devil tarot card reversed means getting rid of unhealthy attachments that prevent you from achieving your full potential.
What does the Devil tarot card mean in a love reading?
The Devil in tarot love reading symbolizes passion and chase for life’s physical pleasures. It is a sign that your sexual cravings are at a peak.
Is Devil a Yes or No tarot card?
Due to the negative associations with this card, the Devil is a “No” in Yes or No related inquiries.