What does the devil card mean in the tarot deck

Core Meaning

The Devil card in tarot represents bondage, addiction, materialism, and feeling trapped. It signifies being overly attached to physical or material possessions, unhealthy relationships, or self-destructive behaviors. This card highlights the shadow self, our darker impulses, and the struggles we face with temptation and addiction. However, it also points to the potential for liberation by acknowledging and confronting these limitations.

Love & Relationships

In love and relationships, the Devil card can indicate a codependent or possessive dynamic, a toxic attachment, or feeling bound to a partner. It might also represent sexual energy, intense passion, or unhealthy obsessions within a romantic connection. It's a call to examine the power dynamics and determine if the relationship is truly serving your highest good or if it's based on fear and insecurity.

Career & Finance

Professionally, the Devil card might signify being stuck in a job you dislike due to financial security or feeling beholden to a controlling boss or situation. It can also relate to unethical practices, ambition unchecked by morality, or a fixation on wealth and status. This card encourages you to re-evaluate your priorities and recognize where your true power lies, rather than being enslaved by material pursuits.

Actionable Advice

The Devil card is an invitation to recognize where you have given away your personal power. Identify the chains that bind you – whether they are habits, fears, or external influences – and understand that you have the ability to break them. This is a moment to reclaim your autonomy, confront your shadow self with honesty, and choose freedom over perceived security or comfort. By acknowledging your desires and temptations, you can begin to master them rather than be mastered by them.