The Devil – Tarot Card Meaning

The Devil is bondage, attachment, and the seductive chains we choose to wear. When this card appears, it's time to face your shadow, acknowledge your addictions, and recognize where you've given your power away. The Devil doesn't trap you—you trap yourself. And the moment you see the chains for what they are, you're already halfway free.

🗝️ Keywords:

• Upright: bondage, addiction, materialism, attachment, shadow self, temptation, illusion, unhealthy patterns, power given away
• Reversed: liberation, breaking chains, facing shadow, releasing addiction, reclaiming power, freedom, truth revealed

🌅 Upright Meaning

General: The Devil upright reveals where you're bound—by addiction, unhealthy patterns, toxic attachments, or limiting beliefs that masquerade as pleasure, security, or love. This card isn't about external evil; it's about the ways you imprison yourself through fear, desire, or the refusal to face uncomfortable truths. The Devil asks: what are you attached to that's keeping you small? What feels good in the moment but costs you in the long run? What chains are you wearing that you could remove at any time? The power of this card lies in recognition: once you see the bondage clearly, you can choose freedom.

Love: Toxic attachment, codependency, or unhealthy patterns. The Devil in love signals a relationship built on obsession rather than genuine connection, need rather than love, control rather than freedom. This card can indicate addiction to a person, staying in a relationship out of fear rather than desire, or confusing intensity with intimacy. The Devil asks: are you choosing this person, or are you addicted to them? Is this love, or is this bondage dressed up as devotion? For more on recognizing the difference between healthy and toxic love, explore The Lovers, which teaches conscious choice and alignment.

Career: Golden handcuffs, unhealthy work patterns, or selling your soul. The Devil upright in career readings suggests you're trapped in work that pays well but costs you your integrity, health, or happiness. You may be addicted to status, money, or external validation—staying in a job you hate because leaving feels too risky. This card asks: what are you trading your freedom for? What would you do if you weren't afraid? The chains are loose. You can leave anytime you choose.

Money: The Devil in a money reading emphasizes materialism, financial addiction, or money as a source of bondage. This card can indicate compulsive spending, debt that keeps you trapped, or the belief that money will solve problems that are actually spiritual or emotional. The Devil asks: are you using money to numb yourself? Are you chasing wealth at the cost of your soul? Are you trapped by debt, or trapped by the fear of not having enough? For guidance on breaking free from limiting money patterns, read our guide on Money Tarot.

Spiritual: The Devil represents the shadow self—the parts of you that you've repressed, denied, or projected onto others. Spiritually, this card asks you to face what you've been avoiding: your anger, your desire, your shame, your power. The Devil teaches that you can't transcend what you haven't integrated. Liberation doesn't come from denying your humanity—it comes from accepting all of yourself, shadow included. What part of you have you been calling "bad" that's simply asking to be seen?

🌪️ Reversed Meaning

General: The Devil reversed signals liberation, breaking chains, and reclaiming power. You're recognizing your bondage and choosing freedom. This card can indicate you're leaving a toxic situation, breaking an addiction, or finally seeing through an illusion that's kept you trapped. Alternatively, The Devil reversed can suggest you're in denial about your chains—pretending you're free while still wearing them. The Devil reversed asks: are you breaking free, or are you just loosening the chains enough to feel comfortable staying bound?

Love: Breaking free from toxic patterns or denial of relationship problems. The Devil reversed in love suggests you're either finally leaving a destructive relationship, recognizing codependency and choosing differently, or you're still denying how unhealthy the dynamic is. This card asks: are you truly liberating yourself, or are you just rearranging the chains? Freedom requires honesty. Are you ready to see the truth? For insight on recognizing when it's time to let go, see Death, which teaches necessary endings and release.

Career: Leaving toxic work or facing career denial. The Devil reversed suggests you're either breaking free from work that was draining your soul, or you're still telling yourself the golden handcuffs aren't that tight. This card asks: are you reclaiming your power, or are you just making excuses? If you're truly ready to leave, what's stopping you? If you're not ready, can you at least be honest about that?

Money: Financial liberation or money denial. The Devil reversed in money readings shows up when you're either breaking free from debt, ending compulsive spending patterns, or releasing the belief that money equals worth—OR you're still trapped but pretending you're not. This card asks: are you facing your financial shadow honestly? Are you breaking the chains, or just loosening them enough to breathe? To learn how to shift money patterns with honesty and compassion, explore How to Read Tarot for Money Guidance.

Spiritual: Shadow integration or spiritual bypassing. The Devil reversed can indicate you're doing deep shadow work and integrating your repressed aspects, OR you're using spirituality to avoid facing your shadow entirely. This card asks: are you truly facing your darkness, or are you just claiming you have while keeping it hidden? Liberation requires looking directly at what you've been avoiding. Are you willing?

🎨 Symbolism & Imagery

The Devil traditionally shows a horned figure (Baphomet) sitting on a throne with two chained figures below—a man and a woman, mirroring The Lovers card but in bondage rather than freedom. The chains around their necks are loose—they could remove them at any time, but they don't. This is the card's central teaching: the bondage is chosen, not forced. The Devil holds a torch pointed downward, symbolizing the misuse of power and passion directed toward base desires rather than higher purpose. The inverted pentagram on the Devil's forehead represents spirit trapped by matter. The figures have horns and tails, suggesting they're becoming what they worship. The Devil's message: you're not trapped by external forces—you're trapped by your own attachments, addictions, and refusal to see the truth. But the moment you see clearly, the chains fall away.

🔁 Related Cards

• The Lovers – Conscious choice vs. The Devil's unconscious bondage
• The Tower – Liberation through destruction of false structures
• Temperance – Balance vs. The Devil's extremes and excess
• The Hierophant – When tradition becomes The Devil's oppressive bondage
• The Star – Hope and healing after breaking free

The Devil shows you your chains so you can choose freedom. Face your shadow. Break your attachments. Reclaim your power. The key has always been in your hand.

🌿 Want to use tarot for deeper self-reflection? Explore Tarot for Self-Care — no memorization required, just intuitive practice.

❓ Questions to Ask:

• What am I refusing to acknowledge or release?
  
  
• Where do I feel stuck or powerless?
  
  
• Who or what am I giving too much of my energy to?
  
  
• What pattern keeps repeating in my life?
  
  
• What would reclaiming my power look like?
  

When The Devil appears, it rarely means evil—it’s a mirror for what binds you. Whether it’s money, lust, or control, this card invites you to transform bondage into mastery.

Ready to reclaim your power in love? Our Love Mastery Course helps you recognize the patterns that keep you bound to the same stories—then rewrite them. Learn to approach desire without fear, set boundaries that feel good, and attract connection from a place of strength instead of scarcity.

Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase. It doesn’t cost you anything extra—and it helps support the work that keeps Tarot-Guru growing. Bookshop.org is a wonderful way to order your books while also supporting local independent bookstores.