Chained and bound to the underworld
Exploring fear-based belief interpretations of The Devil XV tarot card
Welcome to my newsletter Room with a Door. Bella Luna is my Tarot and Spirituality section of my publication. In this newsletter we will explore the original fear-based significance of The Devil XV tarot card with special mention of its reverse position meaning. If this is of interest to you, I welcome you to subscribe, share, like and comment on this post.
Unfounded fear
When the devil card appears during a Tarot reading, the general consensus is one of a life doomed with obsession, addiction and illicit affairs. Sorry to burst your bubble, but this is simply not (the only) truth, particularly if the card shows up in reverse.
Side note: The Devil XV isn’t the only perceived ‘doom and gloom’ card; people fear The Tower XVI, Death XIII and even the Hanged Man XII with similar irrational fears. I wrote about the Death XII card (all about endings and rebirth, transformation) before if you want to check that out.
Since I’m not particularly influenced by the religious connotations of these cards, I tend to look at them with a different perspective, one that seeks out less fear-based points of view, away from the negative overtones.
I’m also reminded of how much fear is assumed in divination, particularly those of the Catholic believe system, which is unfortunate. I don’t buy into all this fear-based obedience, and I don’t believe the tarot was designed to enforce fear-based compliance either.
I am of the opinion that I will not ‘burn in hell’ for using artistic playing cards as a tool to tap into my inner wisdom in order to gain mental clarity. I don’t believe in hell, although I like the fantastic representations of the fallen angel underworld that has existed since mythological times.
I adore the artistic interpretations of the tarot cards. Just look at how different The Devil XV is designed by various artists in my personal tarot card collection:
Alternately to my own personal card collection, check out some artistic tarot cards featuring The Devil XV in my Pinterest account. (The Devil XV pins: pinterest.ca/writerofwordsetc/the-devil-xv-tarot)
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Brief history of Tarot card games
It might be helpful to remember that the game of tarot was largely played in predominantly Christian regions. Invented during the mid-15th century in Italy, the game and its cards spread quickly through the rest of Europe.
It wasn’t until the last 18th century when French occultists made claims about the tarot’s history and meaning, leading to the emergence of custom decks which where subsequently used in divination. (source: Wikipedia - paraphrased)
Meanwhile, The Devil XV card was always known to be a powerful archetype in the largely Christian world where these types of card games were played. Typically, if The Devil XV was pulled, people became fearful that evil in the form of misfortune, betrayal, addiction or oppression would be bestowed on them.
As I look at various Devil XV cards in my personal tarot deck, I see something a little different…
Seeking answers from the tarot cards
The card game begins with shuffling the 78 cards (which comprises of 22 Major Arcana cards and 56 Minor Arcana). Some people choose a card out of the deck, others shuffle until a card falls out of their shuffling hand. Some people ask a question for which they are looking for clarity or guidance, others simply let the cards do the talking. There are multiple ways to read tarot cards including with or without a spread.
There are many spreads to choose from as well. (I only use spreads occasionally.)
There is no right or wrong way to play these cards.
Tarot is an intuitive game designed to help you seek clarity, not incite fear.
I typically shuffle the cards during moments of serenity and quiet, often at dawn or in the early morning before anyone else is up, by candlelight and with a cup of coffee nearby. I shuffle until a card falls out and then decide at that point whether I should continue with clarifying cards, or stop.
The last time I played with my tarot cards, The Devil XV fell into my lap.
The Devil XV - Major Arcana
The first thing I noticed was the chains. Adam and Eve are chained directly to the devil who is staring at me (the holder of the card) with a mesmerizing look. Come hither, he seems to be saying, luring me to his underworld.
However, notice the chains around the necks of Adam and Eve. They are quite loose, aren’t they? If they wanted to, they could simply lift them off and walk away.
The card’s message indicates Adam and Eve have allowed themselves to be succumbed by the devil’s wayward ways. They are drawn to him, mesmerized, intrigued by the promise of lust and passion, obsession and addiction. I can see it in the evidence; both Adam and Eve are beginning to grow horns and tails. They are becoming just like the devil.
Adam and Eve choose to stay with the devil - he has succeeded in making them submissive and obedient to his ways.
Upright keywords: Shadow self, attachment, addiction, obsession, oppression, restriction, sexuality, powerlessness, limitations
Under these circumstances, Adam and Eve remain under the power of the devil until they themselves choose to lift the chains that bind them to the underworld and walk away.
Message: if you give your power away, you remain stuck, helpless and dependent.
What this means or the Tarot readers
If you are dealt The Devil XV card during a Tarot card game, ask yourself who (or what) is overpowering you.
Are you addicted to something which is hindering your progress?
Do you feel powerless or restricted due to limiting thoughts or beliefs?
Are you chasing your own tail in an endless loop of lust, sex and meaningless relationships?
Are you choosing to wait for someone else to offer you a promotion, a wage increase, and opportunity? A new house, a new car, money or fame? Is there really no other way to acquire what you desire than to passively wait for someone else to give it to you?
Do you pursue instant gratification without a thought about anyone else? How long will the feeling of instant gratification last?
The Devil XV is a card which forces you to take a good look at yourself and your actions in a particular circumstance. This is often uncomfortable.
Feeling uncomfortable, I have learned, is a step toward growth. It is precisely the discomfort that allows us to question ourselves whether some action, belief-system or expectation is in our best interest. Who are we pleasing? Does it go for or against our best interest?
When the card appears in reverse
In my case, The Devil XV card appeared in the reverse. Typically, I don’t read reversals, but after I verified I had indeed shuffled my cards in the upright and the card flipped itself into the reverse position, I decided to take its message at face value.
Reverse keywords: Releasing limiting beliefs, exploring dark thoughts, detachment, freedom, restoration, independence, revelation, reclaiming power and/or control
The italicized words made an immediate impression on me. I took note because they touched something within me I knew required deeper exploration. Reread the list and pick out which words might resonate for you.
How to interpret the Devil card in the reverse
Something interesting happened when I saw the Devil card show up in reverse. I was already in a terrible mood which had been festering for almost a week by then.
I had been aware for some time that my own self-proclaimed limiting beliefs were holding me back from progress in my various creative endeavors, plus that week, an argument with someone in my orbit sent me into a tailspin of powerlessness and victim mentality.
When this devil card appeared in my reading, I immediately referred to its keywords. I knew them by heart for the upright position and declared them to be spot on for my current state of mind. It wasn’t until after I enumerated the keywords when I realized my card was upside down.
What was this upside down devil trying to tell me?
The Devil XV tarot card in my hand - in the reverse position - was basically saying RECLAIM YOUR POWER and RELEASE YOUR LIMITING BELIEFS.
How? I asked it. What am I supposed to do now?
Clearly, I had some self-reflection work to do. I had to ask some hard questions and most importantly, I had to reach a point of realization that staying in this mood was not only not serving me, it was inhibiting my creativity, my forward propulsion.
Do you see how my thinking shifted simply by being confronted by some symbolic artwork in a tarot card?
The main message I take away from this card is about who is in control of what goes on inside my own head.
The answer is I am in control.
It’s a powerful reminder, this reversed devil card, that each and every one of us is in charge of our own thoughts. What we accept as true and allow into our mind is so. It is up to us to reject anything we feel does not serve us before that thought becomes anchored into our subconscious mind.
I admit I am challenged with this. The first step however is awareness; it gets easier once this key lesson - you are in charge of your own thoughts - is understood and accepted.
The power lies within your capabilities
The arrival of The Devil XV tarot card imparts an important reminder about how the subconscious mind accepts everything we feed it.
If we feed it seeds of negativity and then nurture those seeds by continuously thinking about them, they will grow and prosper and anchor deeper.
I know this and yet I fall to the lure of the proverbial devil’s stare time and again, allowing the negativity to anchor deeper. I’m almost my own worst enemy (and sometimes this loop of on-again-off-again depression reminds me of my father who struggled with this exact scenario as well).
Despite my bag of tricks to let go of detrimental or destructive thoughts, such as imagining myself as a mountain and not allowing the clouds to root into my crevices, I sometimes forget how powerful I really am.
You are the only one who thinks the thoughts inside your head.
No one else thinks your thoughts for you.
We are each in charge of what we choose to believe as true, or not. We have the power to choose which thoughts we accept as true and which ones we can reject.
It takes a little practice, but I’m slowly getting the hang of it.
Do you see now why I feel so fortunate to have reached for my tarot cards? I appreciate their power to lead me away from my path of self-destruction.
Regarding the arguments which began my volatile mood the week prior, there was at least a partial resolution which was initiated by dialogue and open communication. Sometimes, we have to agree to disagree in order to push the giant bolder off the path so we can propel forward.
Addendum
As I reflect on my tarot card journey, I am continuously surprised at its effectiveness to show us alternative perspectives or deeper insights.
Is holding on to this bad mood serving you? If not, then why do we do it?
What if no resolution is an option?
Can you step back to allow events to unfold without trying to control outcomes? If not, why not? Have you tried surrendering control just to see what happens?
Questions to ponder.
Thank you for reading! Remember, don’t fear the Devil tarot card.