The Devil Tarot Card Meaning

The Devil, in our words

Baphomet, depicted here as half-man-half-goat, represents the balance between antipodes: good and evil, positive and negative, human and animal. At his abdomen are two entwined serpents — one male and one female, further underlining the figure as a symbol of equivalence. The Devil’s wings are modeled after the vampire bat — a creature known to suck the life-blood from its victims. This symbolizes the effects of succumbing fully to one’s primal desires and emotions. His gaze entices us, drawing us nearer as we surrender to his grasp. The inverted pentagram on his forehead is a sign meant to attract sinister forces as it reverses the proper order of the world. Baphomet points two fingers heavenward using his right hand and holds a torch downward with his left hand, lighting the man’s tail. As a result, the dictum “as above, so below,” and the idea of duality is emblazoned within this card.

A man and woman stand beneath the beast as they begin to show animalistic signs of change, as seen in their horns and tails. The woman’s tail is made of a grapevine, which represents pleasure, while the man’s tail is inflamed, which represents lust. They are seemingly held prisoner by The Devil; but upon further inspection, their chains are loosely hung around their necks and are feasibly removable. This shows how we often imprison ourselves and have the power to control our own destinies. Although it may be easy to feel a sense of fear when drawing this card, do not distress. It can mean a myriad of things, often which can be positive, when seen in the context of our readings.