The Devil
Seeing what holds you, and how loosely.
Notice what holds you, whether a habit, a belief or a dependency, and how much choice you really have.
- attachment
- habit
- shadow
Traditional association: Capricorn
What the card shows
A horned figure perches on a block, one hand raised and the other holding a torch. A man and a woman, each with small horns and a tail, stand chained at the neck to the block. The chains are loose enough to lift off.
Fifteen sits in the third act of the Majors, where hidden pulls come into view. Capricorn, the usual sign, is earthly and practical, and the card is about material attachment, habit and the shadow side. The loose chains suggest the hold is partly chosen. It is not a literal devil.
▲Upright
Seeing a habit, attachment or fear that you could loosen once you name it.
What am I holding that I could put down?
▼Reversed
A hold is loosening, or you are avoiding seeing it.
What would I do if I trusted that I could step out?
The Devil in a reading
In love
Patterns of dependence or control in how people relate; noticing your own part.
Reversed: A hold is loosening, or you are avoiding seeing it.
At work
A job or arrangement kept for comfort rather than meaning.
Its shadow side: feeling stuck, repeating a pattern (if a habit is affecting your health, a professional can help).
As a Major Arcana card
Life's big themes and turning points. A Major Arcana card points to a bigger theme than the everyday cards around it.
Related cards
15 adds up to 6 (1 + 5), the number of the sixes.
Six of Wands
Six of Cups
Six of Swords
Six of PentaclesRead it with other cards
Questions about The Devil
What does The Devil mean in tarot?
Seeing a habit, attachment or fear that you could loosen once you name it. Keywords: attachment, habit, shadow.
What does The Devil mean reversed?
A hold is loosening, or you are avoiding seeing it. Releasing: slipping out of a grip. Blocked: denial. Inward: quietly aware but not yet acting.
What does The Devil mean in love?
Patterns of dependence or control in how people relate; noticing your own part.
What does The Devil mean for work?
A job or arrangement kept for comfort rather than meaning.
What question does The Devil ask?
Upright: What am I holding that I could put down? Reversed: What would I do if I trusted that I could step out?
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Read your own cards
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