Half man, half beast this winged monster evokes fear on first sight yet it’s purpose is to remind us we are human mammals with animal appetites, base needs and desires. (In psychology this is referred to as the ID - connected to the hypothalamus, the pleasure centre in the brain.) Some of the associations with the Devil card are sex, power, money, hunger, addictions, negative thinking and the mundane chores that we can get bogged down by or tied to, represented by the chains in the picture. Reversed this card shows the patterns and chains can be broken, the burden can be lifted. We as human animals can change our thoughts and behaviour with positive thinking and higher consciousness. No one says this is easy, of course.
During one reading, The Devil upright with the Chariot Reversed were selected by a client in question to what career paths he could consider.
I said “the word ‘mechanic’ springs to mind on seeing the Chariot yet I didn’t feel this was his vocation” and the Devil makes me think of physicality (I thought of a night club and/or naked flesh). So I said “it’s linked to physicality and the body and this business choice looks to be a good source of income, as it will always be in demand, regardless of the recession".
I said “the word ‘mechanic’ springs to mind on seeing the Chariot yet I didn’t feel this was his vocation” and the Devil makes me think of physicality (I thought of a night club and/or naked flesh). So I said “it’s linked to physicality and the body and this business choice looks to be a good source of income, as it will always be in demand, regardless of the recession".
He enlightened me with the information he studied the mechanics of the body when he was studying to be a doctor but he has also tried some tattooing and was considering this amongst other things. So, I was part right and part wrong. .
I always feel fortunate when I have clients who are happy to give insight into the cards and help me continue to learn and grow as a tarot reader.
It is worth mentioning that in the last century the Devil imagery has changed from full beast to half man, to reflect a popular realisation that we have animal appetites and have our own inner demons to face. Whereas the older representation was of a literal Lucifer.
p.s. In Austrailan Cricket the number 87 considered an unlucky score, known as the Devil's number. 87 added together equals 15 which is the number of The Devil card in the tarot. Thought worth mentioning.
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