The Devil Tarot Meaning: What Does It Represent?

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Lou Siday

Lou specializes in Tarot, spirituality, wellness, and new-age content. Aside from her focused development in spirituality, Lou enjoys writing freelance articles and ebooks on meditation, wellness, and crystal healing. She loves working on projects that help spread positivity and is passionate about helping others find their own spiritual paths. She believes that starting your spiritual journey can significantly impact your overall health and lead to a more fulfilling life.

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The Devil Tarot Card is the 15th card in a traditional Tarot deck and is one of the 22 major arcana cards. It reflects desires and temptation, suggesting destructive or materialistic habits. What is your dark side that you need to face?

Symbolism and Imagery of The Devil Card

If we look at how the Devil is portrayed in the traditional Tarot card, we can see Baphomet. He is a half-goat half-man creature that represents opposites and balance. Historically, he has been used to symbolize the good and evil in the world and the equilibrium of opposites.

On the traditional Devil card, we can see a man and a woman standing underneath Baphomet. They are often depicted naked and chained, with horns in their hair and fiery tails. In the traditional reading of the Devil Tarot card, the chained people represent us and Baphomet represents our corrupt desires and addictions.

When we receive this card, we must ask ourselves what we can do to free ourselves from the chains that are holding us back.

Upright Meaning of the Devil Card

The Devil card is demanding us to take a look at ourselves. It will often represent our darker side and what is holding us back from our true potential. Do you suffer from addictions or destructive behavior? The Devil is telling you that you must take control of your life and confront the issues that are harming you.

There are problems that you might be ignoring. Perhaps you are under the illusion that everything is fine and you are where you need to be in your life. However, if you carry on this way things will soon get worse. Your habits, addictions, and destructive behavior are starting to take control and harm your wellbeing.

This behavior could be anything, and only you will truly know what your Devil represents. You may be a long-term smoker, a heavy drinker, or a social media addict. Whatever it is, it is dominating you right now and holding you back. These negative forces need to be faced.

The Devil also represents greed and materialism. It is asking you to check in on your attention and remember what life is really about. If you only care about money, you are not living a truly enriched life. Work on your spiritual side and change the situation that you are in!

However, don’t worry too much if you get the Devil card. The Tarot knows that you have the power to change things and free yourself from the chains that you are in.

Upright Love Devil Meaning

If you are single, the Devil card is asking you to reevaluate your attitudes to love and sex. Perhaps you value pleasure over an emotional connection and this is harming your ability to find a partner. You may feel that right now this is all you are wanting, but the Devil knows that deep down you are craving that true connection.

In regards to love, the Devil card can also suggest that trauma and insecurities are holding you back. A break-up or a difficult past relationship might have made you disconnect from love, believing that it is not for you. But, these chains can be broken! You deserve to let love in and open your heart to romance.

If you are in a relationship, the Devil often represents a damaging partnership. Are you too co-dependent? Is your partner controlling over you? This intensity can be really damaging and affect your long-term happiness. Remember, a relationship should be caring, safe, and respectful that allows you to truly be you.

Upright Career and Money Devil Meaning

The Devil card suggests dissatisfaction with your job. Perhaps you are feeling that you do not have a way out right now. You may feel that you are trapped in a job that is slowly chipping away at your self-confidence and self-worth.

Thankfully, you do have a way out and there are so many different options for you! Now is the time to look at your career goals and ask yourself what your dreams are. Life is too short to be in a job that you hate, and it will soon consume you.

The Devil card is also asking you to take a look at your relationship with money. Are you spending too much without the financial security that you need? Are bad habits draining your bank account?

Maybe you are a bit too obsessed with money. Do greed and materialism drive you? Does your life outside material wealth feel empty?

The Devil is calling for change and knows that you can.

Upright Home and Family Devil Meaning

In regards to home and family, the Devil card knows there are issues that you need to face. Is somebody in your family holding you back and draining your energy? Perhaps they have taken control of your life and are not giving you the space that you need.

The Devil card could also suggest that you need to reevaluate your attitudes to your friends and family. You may be feeling upset and angry at them, or perhaps merely indifferent. The people that love you are so important, and you should never ignore them or not value your relationship with them. Whatever you are going through and wherever you are in your life, your friends and family are important and will always be here for you supporting you.

Upright Health Devil Meaning

It is so important to treat your body and mind with love and care, but the Tarot knows that this is not what you have been doing recently. You are leading a very hedonistic lifestyle, with your health taking a backseat.

Your life may seem fun right now. Partying and pleasure can be great, but too much of it can really start to affect your long-term health and happiness. The Devil card is asking you to take a good look in the mirror. It is time to take a break from your hedonistic ways and start to treat your body right.

Reversed Meaning of the Devil Card

When the Devil card is reversed, its meaning is one of hope. Your chains are coming off right now and you are about to be set free. One move and you will break away from these constraints, leaving all your negative behavior and energy behind you.

You will often get the reversed Devil card when you are about to make a personal breakthrough, coming to an understanding of your life and where you want to be. You have come to face the Devil within you and the things that have been holding you back, and you know what you need to do next.

The reversed Devil card reflects a change of mindset. You are coming to a realization about your life and what matters. Your true path is calling and you are about to shake off the chains that were holding you back.

Reversed Love Devil Meaning

The reversed Devil card suggests that you are about to break free from negative love and relationship patterns. Do you seem to always date the same sort of person and it never works out? Perhaps you find yourself to dependant on your partners and anxiety overwhelms your relationships.

The reversed Devil is really hopeful for those of us who find dating and love difficult. It suggests that soon you are going to come to an understanding of your emotional life and what you need from a relationship. This will allow you to go into your next relationship with a fresh mindset and an open heart.

If you are in a relationship, the reversed Devil card suggests that soon you will work on your independence, with or without your partner. Now is the time for you to work on your happiness and wellness.

Reversed Career and Money Card

Are you always thinking about quitting your job, but never have felt confident enough to? Perhaps you are wanting to make that leap into a more satisfying career but feel as if something is holding you back.

Pulling a reversed Devil card means that now is the time to make the changes that you have always been wanting to make. Break free from what is holding you back and let go of the negative working cycles that have been bringing you down.

You are strong and powerful and you must follow your heart!

Reversed Home and Family Devil Card

When reversed, the Devil card is wanting you to know that change is imminent. Recently, relationships and home life might have been pretty strained. Perhaps people have not really been listening to you and the negativity has been overwhelming.

Friends and family are there for you, and will always be there for you. Whatever you have been through, now is the time to build bridges and remember the love and care you have towards the people in your life. Arguments and conflict are soon going to be a thing of the past as you build your bonds with your friends and family, remembering what is important.

Reversed Health Devil Meaning

The reversed Devil card is all about breaking free of cycles that are holding you back. Getting rid of chains and enslavement has never been easier when the Devil card is reversed, with the energy of the universe on your side.

If you receive the reversed Devil card for a health reading, it is now time to kick any bad habits that have been affecting your life. You will soon find yourself with a change of attitudes towards your health and wellbeing. You will soon value your physical and mental health, concentrating on being the best possible you.

Whether this is buying a gym membership, kicking smoking, or going for long walks; it will make a huge impact on your life. This change will come naturally to you and you will feel so much better for it!

The Devil Tarot Meaning: FAQ

The Devil card is a really interesting card to have in a reading, but it also brings up a lot of questions! So what are some FAQs about the Devil Tarot card?

Let the Devil Tarot Card Help You Free Yourself From Your Chains

When we receive the Devil card in a reading, we know that it is time for a change. Patterns of behavior and unhelpful habits are really affecting us, threatening our long-term happiness and success. Jobs, relationships, and health issues are bringing us down and we are not where we want to be in life.

However, getting the Devil card in a reading means that you have the power to change your life and pick better options. It may be difficult at first, but soon you will find yourself free. Discard your old life and embrace the new, positive you!

Continue reading: 

1. The Tower
2. The Star
3. The Moon