T.15 The Devil
Activity
XV. The Devil
Name: The Devil
Hebrew Letter/Meaning: Ayin (ע) / Eye, Mirth, Nothingness
Element/Planet/Zodiac: Saturn / Capricorn
Name of Path: Renovating/Renewing
Type: Connective Formative
Connecting Sefirot: Beauty (6) & Splendor (8)
Tidbits: The Devil is another name for Lucifer, which means Light Bringer. It is the path regulating the relationship between individual success and the Higher Self (a.k..a Holy Guardian Angel). The upside-down pentacle symbolizes getting wrapped up in “regular life” and losing connection to our spirit. The goat devil is named Baphomet, which means “Baptism of Wisdom.” One hand holds the torch of justice (Severity) while the other puts forward a blessing (mercy).
The chained figures are slaves to the “black stone” of materiality, and Baphomet both goads (burns the tail) and blesses them “to see through the matrix”. This card is the Magician energy of the deepest Universal archetypes manifesting in the world – meaning that the skills to turn energy into form (thought, manipulation of energy) are our greatest asset and most powerful enemy. The pain of our struggles is what points us to the truth when we engage in the curious, steady, practical ways of Capricorn.
In readings, this card may point to bondage, materialism, giving in to temptation, impulsivity, addiction, or deluded misperception — and point to the need or means to break free of these things.
Reference Note:
Spend time with each of the Trumps to generate your “tarot encyclopedia” notecard for each.
Working with the Trumps is slightly different because they represent forces of subjective experience instead of forms and objective structure. The symbolism in the cards is more complex, subtle, and profound. For this reason, we will slow down our pace to only one Trump per day (except today when we do two).
You are encouraged to only engage with one Trump per day. This will hopefully allow you to relax a little, spend more time exploring each trump, and catch up with any minor arcana you had to skip over the last few weeks.
In case it’s still helpful, here is the recommended process.
- Look at the image on the card and examine its details.
- Read the page in the companion book for that card.
- Read the description provided here.
- OPTIONAL: Read other descriptions of that card online or in other books.
- Reflect on the questions posed.
- Write down the details of the image that have meaning to you and the 2 or 3 interpretations (perhaps 1 heavenly, 1 upright earthly, and 1 reversed earthly) that resonate most strongly for you.
- Reflect on whatever correspondences you can find, such as relationships to other cards, astrological associations, and anything else. Include notes on anything specific that stands out.
Feel free to write down your own interpretations based on what comes to you!