MAJOR ARCANA · XV
The Devil
Do not let desire consume you. Reclaim the power to choose for yourself.
- Desire
- Attachment
- Bondage
- Temptation
- Instinct
- Dependence
- Strong desire
- Release
SYMBOL & STORY
What The Devil represents
The Devil represents a state in which your freedom has become narrowed by desire, fear, or attachment. In the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, the Devil appears against a black background, with a naked man and woman chained before him. At first glance, they seem completely controlled by the Devil and unable to escape. However, the chains around their necks are drawn quite loosely. They look as though they could be removed if the two people truly chose to take them off. This is one of the card's most important points. In other words, the bondage represented by the Devil is not always something imposed only from the outside. "I hate this, but I cannot leave." "I want to stop, but I keep repeating it." "I am afraid of losing it, so I cannot let go." "I want it. I want to be recognized. I want more." Desires and fears like these, arising within ourselves, can also become chains that bind us. The man and woman have grown horns and tails. The man's tail ends in flame, while the woman's bears fruit resembling grapes. These details are sometimes interpreted as showing that instinct and desire have already become part of who they are. An inverted pentagram appears on the Devil's forehead, and he holds a downward-pointing torch. These symbols have been interpreted in many different ways, but they can be seen as suggesting a world in which matter, instinct, and pleasure have gained dominance over spiritual concerns. Arthur Waite did not explain this card simply as "evil itself." It can be read as a state in which human beings become trapped by material concerns and instinctive desires and lose sight of their own freedom. The Devil can also be viewed as a contrasting card to Major Arcana VI, The Lovers. In The Lovers, the man and woman appear freely beneath an angel, while in The Devil they are chained. Later interpretations also sometimes reduce the number 15 to 1 + 5 = 6 and use this as another symbolic connection with The Lovers. However, this is better understood as a later numerological or symbolic reading rather than a correspondence clearly stated by Waite himself. If The Lovers represents "choosing by your own will," The Devil can be understood as "believing you are choosing freely when, in fact, fear or desire is choosing for you." Desire itself, however, is not bad. Strong romantic feelings, sexual attraction, ambition for success, the wish to earn money, the desire to enjoy good food—these are all natural human impulses. The question is whether you are handling those desires yourself, or whether the desires have begun to handle you. The Devil is not a card meant merely to frighten you. "What is binding you?" "Is that chain truly impossible to remove?" By asking these questions, the card encourages you to look honestly at your desires and weaknesses as well as your strengths.
UPRIGHT & REVERSED
Upright and reversed The Devil
Compare the keywords and detailed meanings to see how the symbol changes with orientation.
UPRIGHT
Upright meaning
Do not let desire consume you. Reclaim the power to choose for yourself.
- Attachment
- Dependence
- Strong desire
- Temptation
- Bondage
When The Devil appears upright, it represents being strongly drawn to something and finding it difficult to separate yourself from its influence. The object can vary: love, money, work, recognition, pleasure, success, or lingering attachment to the past. On an inner level, a feeling of "I know I should stop, but I cannot" can become especially strong. You keep thinking about someone even though the relationship is painful. You keep working even though you are exhausted. You buy things you do not really need. You feel as though you have no value unless someone acknowledges you. These are the kinds of mental states represented by the card. In practical circumstances, your connection to a person or environment may have become somewhat unhealthy. Dependence, restriction, vested interests, excessive responsibility, or powerful temptation may be narrowing the choices you feel able to make. However, The Devil does not always mean "something bad will happen." It can also represent enormous energy in the form of passion, ambition, sexual attraction, or motivation toward material success. Because you know clearly what you want, that desire may produce powerful drive and action. The important question is whether you are the one handling that force. For example, if the desire to succeed at work is leading you to make steady efforts, you may be using the Devil's energy constructively. But once you begin thinking, "If I do not succeed, I have no value," the desire starts turning into a chain. In terms of action, it is important to ask, "Am I truly choosing freely?" When The Devil appears, you do not need to deny your desires by force. First, acknowledge honestly what you want. Then choose again, for yourself, how you want to relate to that desire. That is one of the card's central themes.
REVERSED
Reversed meaning
Once you notice the invisible chain, the path toward freedom begins to open.
- Release
- Awareness of attachment
- Recovery from dependence
- Denial
- Unable to break free
When The Devil appears reversed, it can be read in two major directions. One is beginning to recognize what has been binding you and starting to move away from it. The other is that the bondage or dependence has become more deeply internalized, making it difficult to admit there is a problem. Which meaning is stronger depends on the question, the surrounding cards, and the person's actual circumstances. In the direction of release, you may begin to realize: "This cannot continue." "I do not want to repeat the same thing anymore." This can be a time when changes begin, such as taking distance from a painful romantic relationship, stopping overwork, reviewing wasteful spending, or no longer thinking only about gaining someone's approval. However, even when the chain begins to come off, complete freedom does not always arrive immediately. Long-standing attachments and habits often come with periods of relapse. You may start thinking again about someone you had distanced yourself from, or repeat a habit you had stopped. Even so, simply realizing, "I was being bound by this," is already a major change. On the other hand, the reversed card can also appear as deterioration or deeper internalization of the problem. "I am not dependent." "I can stop anytime." "It is not really a problem." You may tell yourself these things while actually being more trapped than before. Because admitting the problem feels frightening, you may be pretending not to see it. In that case, rather than forcing yourself to cut something off immediately, the first step is to recognize the situation honestly. The Devil reversed can represent either "the chain beginning to come off" or "the chain becoming invisible." Are your choices increasing now, or are they becoming narrower and narrower? Distinguishing between those two states is one of the most important points when reading this card.
LOVE
The Devil in love
Upright love
When The Devil appears upright in a love reading, it represents extremely strong attraction or attachment. You may be fascinated by the person beyond what logic can explain. You may think about them even when you are apart. Your feelings may swing sharply based on a single reaction from them. A powerful magnetic pull may be operating. With unrequited love, your feelings may have become very strong. Precisely because you care, a lack of contact may make you anxious, or you may pay more attention to the other person's behavior than is healthy. There is no need to conclude that "this love is bad" just because The Devil appears. What matters is noticing the difference between being in love and being ruled by the love. If you are already in a relationship, the card can indicate strong attachment and physical connection. At the same time, it may also appear as jealousy, possessiveness, dependence, or a relationship in which you sometimes think, "I want to leave, but I cannot." Wanting each other intensely is not always the same thing as loving each other in a healthy way. It is important to see whether both people can still remain themselves within the relationship. For reconciliation, The Devil often represents lingering attachment or obsession. Do you want to return because you truly love the person? Because you want to recover what you lost? Because you are afraid of being alone? Looking carefully at the substance of your feelings becomes important. If you are looking for a new relationship, someone may appear who attracts you intensely from the very beginning. The relationship can feel exciting and magnetic, but it is wise not to plunge in too deeply on impulse alone. Pay attention to the person's sincerity and your practical compatibility as well. It can also suggest strong physical or sexual attraction, not only romantic emotion. However, being strongly attracted to someone and loving them sincerely are not the same thing. The surrounding cards are important for understanding what kind of relationship the person actually wants to build with you.
Reversed love
When The Devil appears reversed in a love reading, it can indicate either beginning to break free from attachment or dependence, or becoming even more trapped in the relationship internally. With unrequited love, you may gradually begin to step back from a state where you were constantly concerned about the other person's reactions and start reclaiming your own life. If you can begin to think, "I still like this person, but they are not the whole of my life," the flow is moving toward release. On the other hand, even if you believe on the surface that you have given up, you may be thinking about the person even more strongly inside. You repeatedly check their social media. You avoid meeting them, yet think about them constantly. In that case, the attachment may simply have become less visible while continuing internally. If you are already in a relationship, a movement may begin toward improving jealousy, possessiveness, or a dependent dynamic. By respecting each other's time and discussing things you have been unable to say, you may be able to transform the relationship into something healthier. But if the same problems continue while both people say, "There is nothing wrong," caution is needed. If you cannot acknowledge that you are restricting the other person or depending too heavily on them, the relationship may become even more suffocating. For reconciliation, you may begin moving away from lingering attachment and obsession. You may still remember the person, but it may hurt less than before, and you may be able to direct your attention more toward your own future. On the other hand, the harder you try to tell yourself, "I am completely over it," the stronger the attachment may actually be underneath. You need to look carefully at whether the wish to reconcile comes from love, or from fear of loneliness and loss. If you are looking for a new relationship, this can be a time when you become better able to avoid the dangerous or unstable types of people you were previously drawn to and choose someone who feels safer. At the same time, check whether you are confusing intensity and stimulation with emotional depth. It does not necessarily mean their feelings are gone; they may simply be trying to calm emotions that have become too heavy. Conversely, precisely because they are trying to suppress their feelings, they may be even more preoccupied with you internally. Read the surrounding cards to distinguish whether they are truly letting go or merely suppressing what they feel.
FEELINGS
The Devil in their feelings
Upright their feelings
When The Devil appears upright as the other person's feelings, they may feel a powerful pull toward you—attachment, desire, possessiveness, or the wish to have your attention for themselves. It can be the kind of emotion that is difficult to resist even when reason says that some distance might be wiser. Romantically, this can include strong physical or sexual attraction and a sense of excitement. Their mood may also become highly dependent on your reactions. They may feel jealous of your relationships with other people or want you to focus more exclusively on them. In behavior, this can appear as repeatedly seeking contact, paying close attention to what you are doing, or acting in a deliberately tempting or provocative way. On the other hand, they may hide the intensity of the feeling and appear calm on the surface because they do not want you to know how strongly they are affected. The Devil does not treat "being powerfully attracted" and "loving someone sincerely" as the same thing. What matters is whether the other person respects your freedom and choices and whether they are trying to care for the relationship in a realistic way. The stronger the emotion, the more clearly their way of handling it reveals what kind of feeling it really is.
Reversed their feelings
When The Devil appears reversed as the other person's feelings, they may be trying to sort through an attachment or desire that has become too strong and regain some emotional distance. They may be beginning to recognize dependence or jealousy within themselves and think, "I do not want to keep being controlled by this feeling." Because of that, they may look calmer than before. This does not necessarily mean the feeling has disappeared. In some cases, precisely because they are so conscious of you, they are deliberately trying to settle themselves. The opposite is also possible: they may look fine on the surface while merely suppressing the attachment underneath. If they cut contact but keep returning, or create distance and then repeatedly move close again, the emotional process is probably still incomplete. With this card, it is important to distinguish between someone genuinely becoming freer from the emotion and someone simply denying that there is a problem. If their actions increasingly respect your choices and create a healthier distance, the situation is more likely to be moving toward release.
WORK
The Devil in work
Upright work
When The Devil appears upright in a work reading, it can represent strong attachment to work, ambition, overwork, or an unhealthy workplace environment. You want to achieve more. You want to be recognized. You want to increase your income. You do not want to lose. Strong desires like these may be driving your work. For achieving a goal, the card can operate as extraordinary focus and ambition. Because the result you want is so clear, you may be able to work harder than the people around you expect. However, if achieving the goal becomes everything, there is a risk of wearing down your body and mind or sacrificing your relationships. In the workplace environment, the card can indicate intense pressure from a supervisor, an atmosphere where it is difficult to refuse requests, long working hours, or complicated interpersonal ties. "I hate this, but I cannot quit." "I cannot say no when people ask." "If I leave here, I will not be able to support myself." If you feel this way, it may help to identify specifically what the Devil's chain consists of in your situation. When considering a job change, attachment to income, status, or stability may be keeping you from moving. Conversely, if you are drawn to a new job mainly because of attractive conditions such as salary or benefits, make sure you check the other aspects carefully as well. Passion for work can become a great source of strength. But it is also important to ask whether work has begun to become your entire life.
Reversed work
When The Devil appears reversed in a work reading, it can represent a movement toward leaving an unhealthy way of working or workplace environment. Reducing long working hours. Refusing unreasonable demands. Considering a job change. Realizing that work is not the whole of life. Changes like these may begin. In the workplace, this is a time when you may start questioning things you previously accepted as normal. "Why am I always the one taking this on?" "Do I really need to keep working this way forever?" Questions like these can become the first step toward improving the situation. In a job change, attachment to or fear of your current workplace may gradually weaken, allowing you to consider new options. However, the card can also appear as a state where you want to leave but feel unable to act because your anxiety about income or status is too strong. If work dependence has intensified, you may even become unable to acknowledge that you are overworking. "I can still keep going." "Everyone works this much." If you keep thinking this way, pay attention to the signals coming from your body and mind as well. For achieving a goal, letting go of an obsession with results may actually help you make calmer judgments. Rather than chasing success alone, think about the kind of way of working that feels truly acceptable to you.
MONEY
The Devil in money
Upright money
When The Devil appears upright in a financial reading, it represents strong desire, attachment to money, overspending, or temptation. You want to earn more. You want to become wealthier. You want to have what you desire. Feelings like these may grow stronger. The desire to earn money is not bad in itself. If it leads to greater effort at work or planned asset building, it can become a powerful driving force. However, once the feeling becomes "more, more, more" without limit, it can become increasingly difficult to feel satisfied. With spending, be careful of impulse buying or shopping used to relieve stress. "Only now." "I will lose out if I miss this." "It is a reward for myself." Ask whether reasons like these are leading you to buy things you do not truly need. For investments or contracts, this is a time to be cautious about the temptation of large returns. Be especially careful of offers promising huge profits in a short period or pressuring you to sign by stirring up fear. The Devil can also appear as fear of losing money that leads to hoarding far more than necessary. Overspending and being too afraid to spend at all share the same underlying theme if money is controlling your heart. What matters is not simply possessing money, but whether you are still choosing your relationship with it for yourself.
Reversed money
When The Devil appears reversed in a financial reading, you may begin to reassess overspending or your attachment to money. Reducing impulse purchases. Recording expenses. Moving away from overly risky investments. Organizing debts or contracts. This can be a good time for practical improvements like these. Someone who used to buy something the instant they wanted it may become able to pause and think before deciding. With investments, you may be more able to distance yourself from seductive promises and unrealistic expectations of profit. However, The Devil reversed can also represent minimizing or hiding a problem. "This amount of spending is fine." "I will make it back eventually." "I have not really lost yet." If you are thinking this way and avoiding looking directly at the actual situation, caution is needed. Especially in investing, be careful of taking even greater risks in an attempt to recover losses. You may also try to stop overspending by imposing extreme restraint on yourself, only to rebound and spend heavily again later. When repairing your relationship with money, building a system that you can sustain without unreasonable strain is usually more effective than trying to deny yourself everything.
RELATIONSHIPS
The Devil in relationships
Upright relationships
When The Devil appears upright in a relationship reading, dependence, control, entanglement, jealousy, or vested interests may be becoming stronger. You want to leave the person but cannot. You are afraid they will dislike you, so you cannot refuse. You feel valuable because you are needed. The relationship may have taken on this kind of shape. In friendship, the connection may be maintained through sharing complaints or gossip, or because you cannot bring yourself to decline the other person's invitations. Within the family, a sense of obligation or guilt may make it difficult for you to choose your own life freely. At work, the card may represent restrictions created by hierarchy or vested interests. However, The Devil is not a card that simply tells you, "Cut this person out of your life." It asks whether you have forgotten that you still have choices within the relationship. Caring about someone and losing yourself for that person are not the same thing.
Reversed relationships
When The Devil appears reversed in a relationship reading, it can represent trying to move away from dependence, control, or unhealthy entanglement. You may begin to refuse requests you previously could not decline. You may care less about someone's evaluation of you. You may be able to create a little distance from a painful relationship. Changes like these may be beginning. In friendship, this can be a time when you stop forcing yourself to adapt or adjust the distance with someone who leaves you exhausted every time you meet. Within the family, you may realize that guilt or obligation has led you to sacrifice yourself. Even for someone important to you, you do not need to take responsibility for everything. At work, you may gradually begin freeing yourself from the pressure of hierarchy or interpersonal entanglements and become more able to hold your own opinions. On the other hand, you may have created physical distance while anger or attachment toward the other person continues strongly inside. If you say, "They have nothing to do with me anymore," while still thinking constantly about what they say and do, the chain may still remain in your heart. The reversed card teaches that taking distance in reality and becoming free inside yourself are two different things. Do not rush. Organize your feelings and gradually create a healthier distance.
YES OR NO
Yes or No for The Devil
Upright judgment
- Judgment
- No
- Reason
- The Devil upright shows that attachment, dependence, temptation, or desire may be making free judgment difficult. What you strongly want and what is genuinely good for you may not be the same thing, so the answer leans toward No for now.
- What could change the answer
- The reading changes when you can choose freely rather than from fear or attachment. Ask whether you can say, "I still choose this," rather than, "I cannot bear to lose this."
Reversed judgment
- Judgment
- It depends
- Reason
- Reversed, The Devil can show the beginning of release from attachment or dependence, but it can also show a problem being denied and pushed out of sight. The answer changes depending on whether real freedom is increasing or the issue is merely being suppressed.
- What could change the answer
- If unhealthy patterns are acknowledged and concrete changes are being made to distance, habits, or behavior, the reading moves toward Yes. If the same pattern continues while someone insists, "It is fine now," it moves toward No.
MESSAGE FROM THE CARD
Advice from The Devil
Upright
You do not need to deny what you strongly desire. You want it because you like it. You work hard because you want to succeed. You want to become wealthier. You want to be recognized. These are natural human feelings. But take a moment to ask whether those feelings are moving you, or whether you are still the one deciding how to use them. "If I lose this, I will be worthless." "If I lose this person, I cannot go on." "If I leave this place, nothing will remain for me." If thoughts like these arise, quietly ask yourself whether they are really true. The chains connecting the man and woman in The Devil are not completely closed. Awareness is the first form of freedom. You do not need to throw anything away immediately. First, recognize what is binding you. From there, you can gradually reclaim your power to choose.
Reversed
You may be beginning to notice the chain that has been binding you. "I really hated this." "I have been pushing myself for a long time." "Maybe I was simply afraid to let go." If you can recognize something like that, it is already a major step. However, you do not need to hurry to conclude, "I am fine now." Long-standing attachment and dependence do not always disappear easily. You try to move away, then return. You try to forget, then remember again. That is not necessarily failure. What matters is whether you are even slightly more able than before to make your own choices. And if you believe, "Nothing is binding me," while the same suffering keeps repeating, stop just once and look again. Invisible chains are the hardest ones to notice. Freedom does not mean only letting go of someone or something. It means acknowledging both what you want and what you fear, and still being able to choose for yourself. The Devil reversed is a card about gradually reclaiming that kind of freedom.
READ IT YOUR WAY
Let The Devil lead to a reading in your own words.
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