78 Weeks of Tarot: The Devil

[Trogon]

For information on what these threads refer to, see this thread;

 

78 Weeks of Tarot - Informational Thread

 

The above linked thread gives suggested dates for the cards as well as links to the individual topics.

 

Some of us may be working through the study in a different order and using different decks. If you have general questions or comments regarding the 78 Weeks of Tarot study group, please post in the topic in the above link.

 

Have fun.

[Bookworm]

Deck: Fairytale Tarot

 

Card name: The Devil

 

First impressions:

 

Two 19th-century-looking people stand in a cobblestone city street. On the left is an attractive, graceful, very thin blonde woman in a long blue dress. She dances in red shoes, which she admires with a smile. Just behind and on the right stands what must be the Devil, in somewhat human form. He looks pretty normal (if evil), except that his left lower leg and foot is actually a hoof and attached leg. He leans on his sword. He’s partially bald, also thin, and studies the woman with satisfaction.

 

I remember something of the story. I know it doesn’t end well.

 

From the book:

 

Keywords and phrases: Giving into temptation; following unhealthy desires or obsessions; losing self-control; hating your own behavior; acting compulsively, against your better judgment

 

The Devil gains control over Karen because of her own lack of self-control. It seems as though Karen is powerless in the face of temptation. The message of the story is that the Devil may work not by tempting us to do something dreadful, but more subtly, by holding out the temptation of small vanities and indulgences, which lead us gradually into a greater and more dangerous dereliction of duty.

 

It’s useful to consider the redemption at the end of the story. Karen suffers because of her vanity but she does eventually overcome her weakness and learn duty and patience. However much we have given ourselves up to temptations, obsessions and addictions, there is always a way to change our ways and find peace and calm again.

 

The original story:

 

“The Red Shoes,” in The Annotated Hans Christian Andersen, edited by Maria Tatar.

 

http://hca.gilead.org.il/red_shoe.html

 

Traditional meanings:

 

Bondage, temptation, enslavement, materialism, addictions to sex/drugs/drink/money, fear and doubt, lies, violence, unhealthy relationships, sexual deviancy/gratification, feeling trapped and without options, breaking free from unhealthy relationships and addictions, divorce, a relationship that becomes less sexual, not submitting to temptation, freedom from restraints.

 

My impressions of the card/story combination:

 

I had forgotten how shocking this story is. After wearing the  the shoes out a couple of times, Karen’s feet cannot stop dancing, and she eventually submits to having her feet chopped off. Shortly thereafter she becomes devout and then she dies.

 

It’s good to have a scary story to illustrate the Devil card. The image is not so scary, unless you know the story (and what’s coming for those poor feet!). The Devil here does not look so much like the “old soldier” of the story -- he’s more dashing and dangerous -- he does look like he could be the Devil. The Christian theme is almost overwhelming, but I guess that’s also appropriate for this card. What would Christianity be without the Devil?

 

My take (what I make of it/what I might see in a reading where I drew it):

 

I think I would be more likely than before to see this card as a warning that there is a slippery slope, where the Devil is concerned. It can be dangerous to indulge in whatever kind of risky behavior -- drugs, alcohol, lying -- so be aware that you have to keep your guard up -- your conscience is there for a reason. It’s relatively easy to slip over into the dark side, and a lot may be demanded of you to come back. Once you give up your power over your own behavior, you give up more than you realize -- maybe even your life. An early warning sign may be a loss of self-respect.

 

[Hemera]

The Devil Everyday Witch (Llewellyn 2017)

 

Description:

A rather unpleasant looking male is approaching a boy and a girl with a money bag and some ice-cream. He is trying to tempt the nice looking young couple and he looks at them with an unpleasant reddish gleam in his eyes.

 

What action is going on:

The couple has two cats (yellow and black) that try to pull them away from the scene. A smouldering volcano is puffing smoke in the background.

 

Images and Symbolism:

Volcano about to erupt; sexual pleasures, anger, chaos about to occur

 

Colours:

The Devil and the girl are both wearing red clothes. The girl wears a warm yellowish red whereas the devil’s cape is almost royal purple.

 

This card encourages:

-face your shadow

-meet the split off parts of your psyche

-face your obsessions

-meet your darkness and unresolved inner issues

-do some inner psychic work you have neglected

 

Warns against:

-psychic split off functions; resisted and unacknowledged parts of ourselves

-negativity

-attraction to materialism

-denying one’s natural impulses

 

Traditional meanings (J. Bunning):

-Bondage; obsessions, slavery

-Materialism; getting and spending

-Ignorance; fear of unknown, choosing to stay in the dark

-Hopelessness; lack of faith, despair

 

From the Book:

-What is holding you back?

-Sometimes it is necessary to walk away. Rapidly.

-You have the power to change things for the better.

 

Sallie Nichols: (in Jung and Tarot. An Archetypal Journey. Weiser 1984)

-He is an Angel who quit his job and resigned from heaven. Or was fired due to his arrogance and pride.

-He is Lucifer, the Light Bearer and Bringer

-He is a Messenger of God and therefore it is important to get acquainted with him and listen to what he has to say

-Most of us today have more free choice than we realize, but many, still imprisoned by cultural mores, refuse to accept the responsibility for moral choice

-unconsciousness and autonomy are a bad combination; split off psychic functions that operate autonomously can be truly devilish

 

Notes:

-I pulled the Devil for my card for the year 2018. (Incidentally, I'm planning a trip to a place where there are active volcanoes!) Anyway, if this is my year card I have to say I’m glad that I usually like the Devil. :)

-I think the Devil is generally a more positive card than Bunning says above. To me he is the Pagan God Pan, symbol of fertility, sensual pleasures and creativity. This card is about temptation, resisting it as well as yielding to it. It may be a sign of indulgence that you want and need.

-I think in readings its message often depends on the surrounding cards. It can turn from “good” to “bad” and back more swiftly than most other cards.

-The Devil is okay -and even interesting and fun - if we know how to handle him!

-The one in this deck is not my top favourites, though. He is simply too unpleasant and makes me think of the current "metoo" campaigns.. There is no fun in this picture, whereas in decks where the Devil is shown as Pan (or an animal, like in the M-G) it can also be a less threatening or even a fun character.

 

Quote:

There’s no good that cannot produce evil and no evil that cannot produce good.

(Jung)