Card Type: Major Arcana
Card Number: 15
Star Sign: Capricorn
Planet: Saturn
Element: Earth
Crystal: Green Fluorite
Other Names: Satan, Lucifer, Pan, Cernunnus, Baphomet
Key Meaning: Feeling Trapped
The Devil Tarot card means you feel trapped by a situation and need to break free.
A to Z: List of Tarot Cards
Devil Keywords
😒 Upright: Trapped, selfish, temptation, greed
🥰 Reversed: Freedom, finding self-worth, healing
The Devil Tarot Card Description
This description is based on the Rider Waite Tarot Deck. A large horned Devil with a goat’s head and big bat wings, squats on top of a pedestal. He is the mythical figure of Baphomet, and the Horned Goat of Mendes. He has an inverted pentagram on his forehead, pointing to his third eye chakra. Chained to the base of his pedestal are a naked woman and man. They do not seem to be in great distress, and one notes that the chains around their necks are loose enough to easily slip free. This is the Tarot’s way of saying, that there is no Devil, except that of our own creation. It is clear that the couple are chained by their own weakness or wrong choices. To blame the Devil, is to make him a scape-goat.
When the Devil turns up in your reading, it does not really imply something evil. Rather, it refers to feelings of entrapment. It might symbolize a bad habit or addiction, it can also point to an unhealthy relationship, negative work environment or group of friends or community that you feel unable to leave behind. It can also refer to feeling enslaved by material wealth and status – chasing money or fame but feeling empty in the process.
The Devil says: Don’t blame me or anyone else for your problems. Get thee busy fixing your own life!
The Devil is the master of illusion, he makes you feel that you can’t help yourself, or break free from a negative situation or way of thinking. You have allowed yourself to be hoodwinked. First you must acknowledge there is a problem and the impact it is having on your life. Only then can you find a way out.
Other keywords associated with this card: entanglement, illusion, inability to see fault in oneself, limited beliefs, ‘what can I do? this is the way things are’.
What Zodiac Sign is The Devil Tarot Card?
The Devil Tarot card is assigned the star sign Capricorn. Capricorn, represented by the goat glyph, is the sign of worldly success, career, business and social status. People born under the sun sign Capricorn are usually very driven in their working life.
Saturn, the ruling planet of Capricorn, is assigned to the Devil Tarot card. Astrologers call Saturn the planet of boundaries and limitations, it represents how we limit or restrict ourselves.
In astrology, the Devil card is assigned to the tenth house, which is ruled by Saturn. The tenth house is where astrologers look for information on career and social status.
The Devil card corresponds to the element Earth.
The Devil is assigned to the tenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, Ayin.
Romance: What does The Devil Card Mean when You Ask About Love?
When the Devil turns up in a love reading, the meaning will depend on your question. For example, if you asked:
💖 Will I find love? No, not unless something changes. Perhaps you keep making bad choices in love. Or maybe you are still hurting from the past? Or are you obsessing about an ex-? If so, free yourself.
💖 Does he or she like me? This card signifies physical attraction with love.
💖 What is the future of our relationship? This card can indicate an unhealthy or abusive relationship. Free yourself.
Other Relationship Guidance:
💖 The Devil card can signify dangerous sexual encounters, so please be sensible when meeting strangers or going to bars and nightclubs.
💖 You or someone close to you, is struggling with an addiction.
CAREER: What does This Card Signify when You Ask About Work?
If your question relates to work, business, career or study and you receive the Devil, then here is your guidance:
⭕ You feel trapped in your job, or by your choice of college course. Remember, you always have a choice.
⭕ You are chained to your desk, and neglecting other areas of your life in the process. While hard work may be necessary to get ahead in the short-term, the warning here, is not to allow excessive behavior to become habit forming.
⭕ The Devil can indicate that someone is trying to undermine you at work.
⭕ This card warns against using questionable tactics to get ahead.
Careers and industries associated with this card include: Running your own business, IT and technology, mining, oil rigs, investing, cryptocurrencies, import/export business, casinos and gambling.
If you are considering hiring a candidate and this card appears, it means:
This candidate cannot do what they say they can, or they may prove untrustworthy in other ways.
MONEY: What is the Meaning of The Devil Tarot Card in a Money Reading?
If you asked the Tarot about money and finances, and you receive the Devil, it can mean:
💲 You are earning money illegally, or not paying taxes on what you earn.
💲 Are you taking advantage of people, to earn money? Selling your soul to the Devil, as they say.
💲 You are earning good money, but it’s never enough. There is always someone doing better, which makes you feel bad.
💲 Are you self-sabotaging efforts to improve your financial situation?
Tarot Card Combination Meanings
“Devil combined with Lovers” – A romantic affair
“Combined with Temperance” – Hiding your actions from people
“Devil combined with Ace of Cups” – Strong physical attraction
HEALTH: What does The Devil Tarot Card Mean when You Ask About Health?
In a health reading, the Devil can signify health conditions occurring because of lifestyle choices. For example, problems relating to obesity, smoking, drugs or alcoholism. The Devil can also indicate ‘silent illnesses’, such as blood pressure and diabetes. Do be sure to have a regular check-up, or visit your doctor if you feel unwell.
Health conditions associated with this card include: hypertension, heart disease, obesity, anorexia, compulsive eating disorders, kidney problems. This card rules: Knees and ankles.
YES/NO: Does The Devil Mean Yes or No in a Reading?
❓ When you ask a Yes or No question and this Tarot card turns up, then the answer is No.
TIMING: Does The Devil Tarot Card Predict any Particular Timeframe?
🕔 This card is only a timing indication when you specifically asked a timeframe question. For example, if you want to know if something will happen, and when, then you need to draw two separate cards. These are in fact, two separate questions. This is a fundamental principle to understand if you want an accurate tarot reading – and it is core to my teaching in my book Tarot in 5 Minutes.
🕔 The Devil Tarot card represents December 21 to January 20. If the card is reversed, timing will be longer – perhaps up to a year later, same date.
Karina’s Timing Method:
I am using a traditional major arcana timing method here, based on the zodiac sign assigned to each card.
What is the Meaning of The Devil Tarot Card Reversed?
When the Devil is upside down, our couple cast off their chains and are back in control. This can mean:
✔️ You are in the process of freeing yourself from a person, or situation that has held you back.
✔️You are making healthier lifestyle choices. Overcoming an addiction, and moving past old stumbling blocks.
✔️Breaking the cords that bind you. Releasing anger or resentment, and it feels liberating.
✔️Other keywords associated a reversal include: Facing your demons, breaking free, breaking cords, restoring happiness
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The Devil Card Symbolism
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Complete List: Tarot Card Meanings
Karina, author of Tarot in 5 Minutes.
