The Major Arcana of the Devil in Alejandro Jodorowsky’s Marseille tarot and in the Rider Waite tarot is a complex card to interpret, and accepting its meaning can be difficult. Inherently, it is a card that does not represent evil or works of magic or witchcraft, and much less has to do with demons. On the contrary, it is a card related exactly to free will, with a message that will change according to the position in which it appeared.
Arcanum number XV, the Devil, represents a dark parody of the Lovers card. The choice was the key to that card, and in this one it remains, but since the choice was not correct, then the two figures are chained. The flowers and fruits, so luxuriant in the Lovers card, dry here and join the tails of the two half-demons, chained, who serve their master with devotion.
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Despite this, the demi-demons are not entirely unhappy, on the contrary, they seem serene, rested, with a faint hint of a smile on their face. The chaining of the demigods projects us into a world converted into sexual practices, into a material addiction to sex, into a life lived in transgression.
The devil depicted on the card is assimilated to Baphomet, a character that was used by the Knights Templar during initiation ceremonies, and one of the reasons why the Inquisition dissolved the order for heresy and idolatry. For the Templars he was the diviner of the sacred Grail, which in the tarot is represented by the ace of cups.
The number XV is the sequence of the online tarot cards 1, the Magician and 5, the Pope, even if there are no symbols in common. With the position of the paired open fingers, not just two fingers blessing as in the Pope, it attests to the importance of materialism in the lives of men. And the good qualities of the magician here also disappear.
Meaning of The Devil in the Marseille Tarot by Jodorowsky and Rider Waite
The Devil is the fifteenth card of the Major Arcane of the Marseille tarot and is a figure represented by a naked man and woman, chained in front of the Devil and tied by the neck. In the card, the woman has a tail that appears to have a bunch of grapes at the end, while the man has a fiery tail.
The two subjects represented have horns on their heads. The Devil, on the other hand, has bat wings and broad horns, holds his right hand up and in his left hand, which points down, he holds a torch. On his head, the Devil wears a five-pointed star placed upside down. Notice the background of the portrait paper in black, as if to indicate the dark and scary scene.
The torch represents the devil’s desire to see the light, which he has already experienced since he too was an angel. The meaning of the card, therefore, symbolizes man’s desire to ascend to the divine, from which everything originated, which however does not deny the animal side, but accepts it and guides it towards the light.
The expression of the devil represented in Arcanum XV, which is none other than the mysterious Baphometh, is ambiguous: the gesture of sticking out his tongue suggests his sexual desires and, therefore, his passion, which is both loving and creative. From the androgynous, the Devil represents sex in the masculine and feminine form, in its instinctive form, and the mixture of opposites is concentrated in him.
The Devil card represents lust, lust for money, and wild instincts. It symbolizes the hidden forces related to impulsiveness and all forms of magic that fascinate man.
As a starting card, the Devil can mean anger and sentimental anger, while as a transition card it can mean change due to external causes. If placed as an obstacle, the Devil indicates that everything has already been decided and that nothing can change events. If the card is reversed, it can indicate doubts and uncertainties for the future, lack of rules, self-centered personality, but also the possibility of mitigating the negative sides.
The devil card to the right
The upright demon often appears when some unknown entity is creating problems in life, helping to shed light on what exactly is wrong and how to fix it. The Devil is a very sexual figure, so if Eros has been missing from your world, he has plans to change that.
In short, this card represents our primal desire for earthly pleasures. It also represents the fears that cause our addictions and compulsive behaviors. The devil is very materialistic and ambitious. As such, you may want more power and money at times when it shows up in your reading.
The Devil card also unites people who are drawn to each other due to their primal physical needs rather than a higher spiritual connection.
The Devil in Health
The appearance of the Devil card in a health reading is a strong indicator that you are currently at risk for illnesses of despair, such as clinical depression and drug addiction. You should be more vigilant about your drug and alcohol use at this time. If you feel yourself falling into the abyss of addiction, seek help as soon as possible, as you will spiral out of control very quickly if you are not careful.
The Devil in an upright position can also foreshadow your risk of getting sick from silent illnesses like high blood pressure. This is a good time for a regular check-up with your GP, especially if you haven’t been feeling particularly well lately.
The Devil in Love
In a love reading, the Devil tarot card can denote that your relationship is stalling. You or your partner feel trapped to the point where strong resentments could form. Now is the time to decide if you want to try to save your relationship or just break it off. Either way, the status quo is unsustainable.
If you are single, the Devil indicates that you have had unsatisfactory sexual relationships with more partners than could be healthy for you. One or more of these lovers could even pose a danger. Be careful of contracting an STD and do not engage in any unsafe sexual practices as the repercussions could be with you for the rest of your life.
The Devil in Money
Money will soon be tight, but you are far from unable to affect the situation. Playing the Devil card in a money reading can be taken as a warning that you need to start curbing your spending habits and proceed very conservatively for the foreseeable future.
Avoid the temptation to gamble and be wary of drinks and drugs if you feel the need to resort to their comforts during this financially difficult period.
The Devil at Work
In a reading, the Devil card upright indicates that you are stuck in a completely unfulfilling job that you absolutely despise. High-tech careers are closely associated with the devil card, as is workplace bullying. Being the victim of a workplace bully could be an underlying reason why you hate your job so much.
The Devil card in reverse
When the devil appears in a reverse spread it suggests that you will soon enjoy a new sense of freedom. It could come from a change in your employment situation, the end of a tired and unhealthy romantic relationship, or the removal of some tyrant in your life who had been making you more miserable than you previously realized. If someone has bullied you at school or in the workplace, expect to see it soon.
It is a card that speaks to us of liberation, free choice, being able to look beyond the material illusion, shake off oppressive situations. It is finally possible to say enough of temptations, debauchery and instinctive choices. That may sound like a good thing, but you still need to be careful, because resisting temptation may not be as easy as it seems, and if done the wrong way, it could make it worse. It is the defiance of temptation, and we may not always be victorious. The neighboring newspapers will be able to inform us.
The Devil in Health
This is an excellent card to find in a health reading, as it denotes the termination of destructive behaviors. If you have been struggling with addiction, the Devil reversed can be taken as a clear sign that you are on the right path to recovery, although you are definitely not out of the woods yet and need to stay strong and focused.
If you have been suffering from other mental health issues, they will continue to improve and you can soon expect confidence and clarity to replace the stress and anxiety you have grown accustomed to over the years.
The Devil in Love
In a love reading, the Devil reversed indicates that you are involved with someone who is likely to harm you, either physically, emotionally, or both. This person could be a closet drug addict whose bad habits could also be yours if you’re not very careful. They could have violent tendencies, or become overly dependent on you, leading to potentially dangerous situations. While this person may be intriguing and particularly sexually attractive, the Devil card tells you, loud and clear, to be careful.
The Devil in Money
The Devil in reversed position is not a good sign when it comes to finances. Things are getting tough sooner than you’d like to realize. This could very well be the result of some irresponsible action you took in the recent past that comes back to bite your wallet. Stop trying to accumulate «stuff» and start living within your means.
The Devil at Work
You’re finally beginning to gain some much-needed perspective on your current job and long-term career goals, recognizing that they may not be as connected as you previously believed. This new awareness is leading you to unconsciously engage in behaviors that support your broader career ambitions.
The Devil: Combinations | special editions
In order to fully understand what the Devil card conveys to us, we must pay attention to the other cards with which it appears. It is for this reason that it is so important to know the different combinations available with the rest of the Major and Minor Arcane.