Let's begin with a look at this image.
It is an image many fear. Like life, appearances can be deceptive and reputations false.
First let us examine the two naked figures. male and female. These are a metaphor for positive/negative, yin/yang, male/female, spiritual & material energies or force. When I speak of positive/negative male/female energy think like electricity, You need both polarities in balance for your energetic current to flow smoothly.
Each figure has horns and red hair. The male energy has a flaming tail representing the elemental energy of fire. Fire represents passion, not just romantic passion but fiery enthusiasm, but too much fiery enthusiasm becomes obsession.
The female has a bunch of grapes which is inverted. Grapes hang downwards on a vine. representing plenty, or perhaps they represent the elemental energy of earth. Plenty or Earth would depend on the question and the position of the card in your spread. To me the inversion of the bunch of grapes represents a fear or obsession of not enough. I reason that upright the grapes represent abundance and plenty and so reversed they indicate a strong energy/thoughts of fear that there will be a shortage or a lack of something.
The pentagram above The Devil's head is inverted, thus that which was pointing above is now pointing below. Indicating 'tied', or chained to earthly or material matters.
The Devil himself, actually not a devil but Baphomet, rumoured to be worshiped by the Knights Templar.
Let's look at little more closely at the two figures on The Devil card above, and answer some questions.
Are their hands tied?
Is the chain around their neck tight, or could they reach up and remove it?
That is the key to The Devil, and why I interpret it as a card that really holds a mirror up to your motivations and the false matrixes you create for yourself, things you see it as an unchangeable truth but you can reach up and break free at any time.
Traditionally this card depicts a habit, an obsession,(not necessarily a bad one, but usually), or an addiction.
I don't always go for the bad habit, bad addiction concept. If for example, you were planning your wedding, retirement, trip around the world, business launch, new business project then this card could appear. Just so long as you are aware that you are obsessed with something, as in the flaming tail, and know that you are neglecting other areas of your life like friends, family etc, that it is short term and has not been going on for months ands years, then I would see this card as a caution or warning that perhaps it is time to ease up. The lack of abundance in the grapes then would indicate a lack of abundance in other areas of your life
I believe that on a deeper psychological level it can mean more than that, It can indicate the false matrixes we create for ourselves.
I use tarot to suggest a guide on the best route forward for you. The Devil suggests that you think about any illusory road blocks you have created for yourself, which is why I chose this image of the chappie with the mirror! The Devil may suggest holding the mirror up to yourself.
We all without exception, create false matrixes for ourselves which are self limiting. The thoughts we have created we honestly believe to be self evident and true, and perhaps they were when we created them, but what about now?
For example all the 'I cant's.:
I can't draw, I can't take time to do X,Y,Z because...
Then there is the 'I am no good ats':
'I am no good at maths' is a popular one! So learn, if you need to! Don't allow that to limit you, that is creating a false matrix. maybe it was true at school, but now?
'I'm no good at...' Can be a limitation bestowed on you by another, like a maths teacher. That may well be their truth, but is it yours? Why have you accepted this?
Then there is the 'I must's'
'I must be responsible for this, because nobody else will do it/can do it like me.'
First of all, have you asked anyone else to do it? Secondly, so long as it gets done, does it have to be exactly like you do it?
When the answer is 'yes, it has to be done to my standards' it still doesn't mean someone else can't do it. It is not true it has to be you, that is a false ceiling or matrix that you have created.
The classic mum/ woman thing. 'I gave that job to my partner/kids and they made a terrible job of it' I bet they did! Now you are doing it again.
Nobody was born being able to do whatever it is. To be adept at a task you have to be trained in the expected standards, and be allowed to make mistakes which are kindly pointed out. Don't award the 'I'm no good ' badge to another! Nobody was born an expert, that takes time! Everyone starts as a beginner.
My point is that when The Devil card appears it may be time to look really deeply at the false matrixes and ceilings that have been created in your life, and how they can hold you back from reaching your desired destination.
Thing is, you really believe these things to be self evident and true, and if it is an emotional belief about yourself or a relationship, then it is painful and that is why this Devil is so scary, it calls for you to psychologically examine your beliefs, and face up to the fact that often, you create your own blocks to going forward.
The illustration here is called the Flammarion. It is a very old alchemist's drawing. The guy has broken through his matrix and sees the wonders of the heavens beyond.
The Rider Waite Smith tarot pack/ Devil, as in the first illustration is influenced by alchemy , because A.E. Waite and Pamela Colman Smith were both members of The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.
I hope I have removed your false matrix that The Devil card is bad and scary!
A deep study of a tarot image and developing your own personal take, is always worth while IMO.
So what matrixes have you built in the past, and how did you remove your chains?
If you comment please check your spam mail for a reply! My email has it's own little devil and loves to sit in junk mail!
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