Description of The Devil

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The Devil card depicts a large, winged, horned demon like corpulence crouched and perching atop a single black pillar whereupon a man and a woman have been chained. With his right hand pointing to the heavens, he makes a certain hand sign; a torch in his left hand, pointing to the earth. Above his horns is shown the inverted pentagram; inverted, the pentagram is called 'The Sign of the Cloven Hoof' or 'The Footprint of the Devil'.

The slaves of the devil are chained to a ring; each by their own desire. On her end is the desire for material pleasures; on his end, the devil ignites the Fires of Passion. Either way, they both wear the Horns of Perdition.

An interesting correspondence exists here between the man and woman shown in The Lovers. As much as this card is symbolizing materialism, one can't help but wonder if the significance runs a little deeper than that and marriage should also be included in consideration when looking for meaning.

Upright

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Upright Keywords for The Devil

Temptation, bondage, materialism, addiction, control

Upright Meaning of The Devil

In the upright position, The Devil card signifies a need to confront and break free from unhealthy attachments and temptations. It represents bondage to material desires and the importance of regaining control over your life. This card encourages you to examine what may be holding you back.