The Devil Tarot Card Meaning

This Tarot card depicts the Prince of the Underworld, standing by an altar to which a man and a woman are chained. These two figures—Adam and Eve—have appeared before on the 5th Tarot card, but now their life's journey has led them to temptation, resulting in their expulsion from Paradise and under Satan's dominion.

The presence of tails speaks to the baseness of their nature, symbolizing animal instincts and desires. The Devil has found a way into their souls and unveiled their primal nature, yet they do not appear as sufferers or victims on the card. On the contrary, they seem so blinded and enchanted by the demon that they are quite content with their fate.

Although the chains binding them to the Devil could easily be removed, they make no attempt to do so. In the evil demon's hand is a blazing torch, reminiscent of the fiery inferno, while the other hand extends over the fallen souls in a gesture of dominance.

The upright position of the Tarot card 'The Devil' in a reading signals your attachments, intrigue, and excesses. You've become too engrossed—an excessive, even unhealthy desire to possess something (money, power, a person) is turning you into a slave to your own passions! The Tarot card 'The Devil' warns: You are showing a lack of willpower or not fighting against yourself at all, which is a direct path to downfall.

However, the Tarot card 'The Devil' also tells you that you have enough strength to resist temptation. If you notice in time how destructive passions are eroding your soul and manage to defeat the Devil within you, you can maintain your inner purity and avoid this quagmire.

Key Meanings of the Upright Devil Card

• Greed, temptation, passion, vanity, base emotions, deceit, corruption, lust.
• Addiction, obsession, indulgence in weaknesses.
• Negative emotions, anger, destruction, misfortunes, difficulties.

The reversed Tarot card 'The Devil' suggests that you have succumbed to temptation and are under its complete control, lacking the strength or desire to break free.

Perhaps there is a harmful dependency in your life—be it alcohol, drugs, another person, money, or power. This card appearing in your reading indicates that you have taken the bait, and now it seems as if the Devil is pulling your strings like a puppet, compelling you to follow its sinister will.

As a result, you might find yourself on the wrong path, pursuing misguided goals, losing control over yourself and the situation, growing more disappointed and bitter with each passing day. This is how the Devil operates—first enslaving, then slowly dismantling one's personality.

Overcoming the negative forecast of the 'The Devil' Tarot card is not easy; it requires significant inner courage and determination. Recognizing the problem is your path to cleansing and breaking free from the chains of destructive desires! By choosing the path of virtue, you can triumph over this adversary of humankind, achieve spiritual purification, and experience true inner freedom.

Key Meanings of the Reversed Devil Card

• Cruelty, selfishness, power lust, careerism, psychological complexes.
• Desire for material wealth, greed, heartlessness, phobia.
• Dependency, wrong choices, loss of control, lack of willpower, pettiness.
• Deteriorating situation, fateful circumstances, indecision.

When the upright Devil card appears in a love reading, it often signifies a powerful attraction, an uncontrollable surge of passion that clouds the mind. You or your partner might be completely infatuated, creating an emotional dependency so intense it becomes dangerous and destructive.

Here, there is no emotional unity, just lust and a consumer-like attitude. The card also frequently indicates infidelity or a love triangle. It's likely that one partner is playing unfairly, pursuing their own selfish interests. The card advises breaking this toxic connection before it leads to tragedy.

In its reversed position, the card's meaning is more positive, suggesting the dissolution of an unhealthy relationship.

In a Reading About a Suitor or Lover

In readings concerning a suitor or partner, the upright card suggests that your chosen one is not immune to temptation in love. They are drawn to attractive faces of the opposite sex and must fight off temptations once they've made their choice.

The reversed card indicates that your partner is a slave to their passions. Temptations frequently appear in their path, and they are not averse to yielding to them.

In business readings, the Devil card often signifies achieving material wealth through less-than-honest means. A person might be wholly focused on attaining riches, fame, and high social status, so much so that they neglect all other areas of life and are willing to "step over others" to get there.

There may also be a situation where someone betrays their ideals and beliefs for the sake of profit and wealth, essentially "selling their soul to the Devil."

In a reversed position, the card suggests that someone caught in dependency may manage to overcome their weaknesses. However, if they have been playing the role of a schemer, they might face disaster and financial ruin.

When the Tarot card 'The Devil' appears upright in a reading about a person, it signifies someone deeply connected to earthly desires, dreaming of achieving much in life — wealth, power, and fame.

In its reversed position, the card describes a person who is ambitious and driven (perhaps even overly so). On their path to success, they might not always take into account the interests of others.

When upright, this card advises you to steadfastly resist the temptations that arise along your path.

When appearing reversed in a spread, the card suggests you draw a clear line between good and evil in your life and decide where your loyalties lie.

When the card appears upright, the forecast for your situation is complex. You might achieve your goals, but there's a risk of making mistakes along the way. Try to avoid seeking easy paths and, most importantly, resist provocations and temptations.

If the card is reversed, the outlook for your situation isn't particularly favorable. Destructive desires, emotions, or temptations could stand in your way.

With card 0 - The Fool - Haze, acting on instincts, deep dependence due to ignorance.

With card 1 - The Magician - Malevolent intentions, an unlawful scheme, going in the wrong direction or crossing over to the dark side, getting carried away.

With card 2 - The High Priestess - A rebellious mood, vengeful plots, sorcery, or a cunning rival.

In combination with card 3 - The Empress - Unknown accumulations within the family, a calculated marriage, a spouse who indulges in pleasure.

With card 4 - The Emperor - A stubborn spouse, family secrets, infidelity, or a destructive obsession of the household head.

With card 5 - The Hierophant - A false prophet, a dangerous sect, or immorality, false advice.

With card 6 - The Lovers - A bad choice, a path leading to rebellion, sinking to the bottom.

With card 7 - The Chariot - Moving in the wrong direction, lack of principles, relationship breakdown or serious disagreements.

With card 8 - Strength - Dependency, lack of willpower, using resources inappropriately, humiliating or offending someone.

With card 9 - The Hermit - Resentment towards the world, considering oneself the smartest, disregarding society, vanity.

With card 10 - Wheel of Fortune - Luck in illegal affairs, gambling addiction, a clever swindler or a seducer.

With card 11 - Justice - Conflicts with the law, choosing an illegal scheme, deceiving with taxes, a corrupt judge.

With card 12 - The Hanged Man - Depression, being a pawn in someone else's game, becoming disillusioned with life.

With card 13 - Death - Negative consequences, paying for one's actions, pernicious influence or changes for the worse.

With card 14 - Temperance - Sometimes indulging in vice, hidden weakness or dependency, a hungover morning or a relapse.

With card 16 - The Tower - Destructive vice, failure to draw conclusions, going in circles.

With card 17 - The Star - Hoping to get out of a tricky situation, resourcefulness, timely cutting loose ends.

With card 18 - The Moon - Considering oneself a genius, dangerous illusions, the brink of madness.

With card 19 - The Sun - Distorted notions of good and evil, a skewed moral compass, reprehensible actions.

With card 20 - Judgment - Blaming others, giving bribes, the corruption of the system or youthful mistakes.

With card 21 - The World - Purification from evil, breaking free from harmful habits, reforming oneself, or severing ties with the past.

With the Ace of Wands - Provocation or temptation, strong negative beliefs, indulging in a carefree life.

With the Two of Wands - Plotting mischief, a serious obstacle awaits on the path, treading on a crooked track.

In combination with the Three of Wands - Troubles are approaching, unfair competition, a rival.

With the Four of Wands - Gossips or disagreements at home, a den, an unpleasant apartment.

With the Five of Wands - Hostile surroundings, one must stay alert, dangerous rumors.

With the Six of Wands - Trusting a swindler or a cunning liar, a harmful romantic infatuation, self-deception.

With the Seven of Wands - Foolish or provocative actions, ruining one's own life, getting caught in flattery.

With the Eight of Wands - Being part of the system, turning a blind eye to something, passing by injustice.

With the Nine of Wands - Paranoia, nervousness or jealousy, going on the defensive or spying on a partner.

With the Ten of Wands - Greed, abusing one's position, profiteering without considering conscience.

With the Page of Wands - An available young woman, a miscalculation, bold lies or an attempt to avoid trouble.

With the Knight of Wands - Irresponsibility, selfishness, trampling over companions, an unprincipled cavalier.

With the Queen of Wands - Suppression, following the majority's opinion, aligning with the victor.

With the King of Wands - Depravity, a path to self-destruction, lawlessness at a high level, tyranny.

With the Ace of Swords - Bad news, unforeseen circumstances, someone's malicious intent, or ill fate.

With the Two of Swords - Courting with bad intentions, lack of a right choice, inability to turn back, choosing between two evils.

In combination with the Three of Swords - Deceit from a rival or opponent, bewitchment or curse, a foul play.

With the Four of Swords - Shameful indulgence or vice, a disgraceful secret, being embarrassed in front of everyone and fleeing.

With the Five of Swords - Losing trust, damaging one's authority, falling out with a loved one.

With the Six of Swords - Dangerous road or journey, forced relocation, bargaining after a divorce.

With the Seven of Swords - Unsubstantiated hopes, empty fuss, being the last to know everything.

With the Eight of Swords - Being led, trusting the wrong person, finding oneself in a dead end.

With the Nine of Swords - Self-pity, extreme selfishness, demanding attention.

With the Ten of Swords - A multitude of bad news at once, knowledge that throws one off balance, emotional distress.

With the Page of Swords - Courage will backfire, lack of modesty, being a scandal-monger.

With the Knight of Swords - Rushing into trouble, living on the edge, risking one's life.

With the Queen of Swords - Early widowhood, stubbornness, heading for a downhill path.

With the King of Swords - A bandit or a high-ranking official, having connections with the criminal world, wielding authority or seeking the protection of dangerous individuals.

With the Ace of Cups - Ill fate, getting entangled, living long in the captivity of illusions or justifying bad deeds.

With the Two of Cups - Finding a soulmate, a devilish alliance, two boots as a pair.

In combination with the Three of Cups - A gang or a criminal conspiracy, being in bad company, negative influence.

With the Four of Cups - Clear aversion, addiction, capriciousness or a bad character.

With the Five of Cups - Unrealizable hopes, a reckless life, fleeting regret for what has been done.

With the Six of Cups - Do no good - receive no evil, vice under the guise of virtue, deception and shortsightedness.

With the Seven of Cups - Chasing after freebies, intoxicated with dreams, a squanderer of life or a dreamer.

With the Eight of Cups - A futile attempt to escape temptations, a short-lived departure from matters, the whirlpool will draw one back.

With the Nine of Cups - Embrace one's dark sides and desires, a tempter, flatterer, or a cunning selfish admirer.

With the Ten of Cups - False relationships, showing only the good, an unhealthy attachment.

With the Page of Cups - An alluring young woman, non-traditional orientation, indiscriminate connections.

With the Knight of Cups - Failure in creativity, seeking easy ways, trickery, and show-off.

With the Queen of Cups - A fatal woman, expensive pleasure, obsession with passion.

With the King of Cups - The gift of eloquence, a charismatic admirer, an organizer of a den.

With the Ace of Pentacles - Robbery, seizing someone's property or funds, dishonestly acquired wealth.

With the Two of Pentacles - Foolishly squandering wealth or inheritance, purchasing forbidden substances or alcohol.

In combination with the Three of Pentacles - Taking money for work not done, disappearing with an advance payment, running away from debts.

With the Four of Pentacles - Deceiving colleagues with finances or encountering a miser, a tightwad.

With the Five of Pentacles - Using pity as leverage, engaging in extortion or blackmail.

With the Six of Pentacles - Money laundering, attempting to appease one's conscience through donations, performing charity for show.

With the Seven of Pentacles - A financial pyramid, tapping into saved funds, a rainy day.

With the Eight of Pentacles - Working for swindlers, intrigue, harboring hidden malice or envy towards others' income.

With the Nine of Pentacles - A marriage contract, coming into money, being unprepared for a challenging situation.

With the Ten of Pentacles - Family heirlooms, a cursed treasure, a treacherous blow from family members.

With the Page of Pentacles - A mercenary individual, a girl living off a man, a dangerous competitor.

With the Knight of Pentacles - A company of rich people, a gigolo, an idle sluggard.

With the Queen of Pentacles - A brothel, complete lack of moral principles, a thirst to enrich oneself by any means.

With the King of Pentacles - Perversion, a life beyond the boundaries of the law, one's own dark morality.