The chains are loose. You put them on, and you can take them off.
Card Essentials
- Number: 15
- Hebrew Letter: Ayin (ע) – The Eye; spiritual sight and seeing through illusion
- Astrological: Capricorn ♑ – Material ambition, earthly limitations, structured bondage
- Planet: Saturn ♄ – Restriction, karma, lessons through limitation, discipline
- Element: Earth 🜃 – Material obsession, physical bondage, grounding in lower nature
- Other Names: Satan, Lucifer, Pan, Cernunnos, Baphomet
- Archetype: The Adversary / The Shadow / The Trickster / Pan / The Tempter
- Timing (Season): Deep Winter/Capricorn Season (December 22 – January 19) – material focus, restriction, earth-bound energy
- Yes/No: No
- Keywords: Temptation, addiction, materialism, bondage, illusion, self-imposed limitations, toxic patterns, powerlessness, obsession, shadow work, breaking chains, reclaiming power
The Mythology
Pan/Baphomet – The horned god representing both creative and destructive forces of nature. Like The Devil, he shows how our primal desires can either empower us or enslave us, depending on our level of consciousness and self-control.
Upright Meaning
The Devil appears when you’re trapped in cycles of self-inflicted chaos and addiction to something that’s keeping you bound. This can be substance abuse, alcohol, money, relationships, or any pattern that makes you feel powerless. You’re caught in the temptations of the material world and become a slave to your desires. You don’t take control of your life. You let the world take control of you. Today, addiction doesn’t always look like substance abuse; it’s the scroll, the screen, the algorithm you think you control.
The chains around your neck are loose – you’re binding yourself through your own choices, even though you have the power to remove them at any time. The Devil only has power over you if you allow it, whether that’s unresolved emotions, unforgiveness, toxic people, or destructive patterns. You’re giving your power away to someone or something that makes you feel like a victim.
This is a Capricorn card about human indulgence, ignorance, egotism, greed, and irresponsibility. You need to reevaluate your priorities, because the wares of the material world keep you chained by your own will.
The Devil shows blockages, but in reality, it’s you holding yourself back. You can free yourself at any time if you choose to break free from the cycles of self-inflicted addiction. Will you use your willpower to escape, or allow the chains to hold you back?
That’s your call. Only you can free yourself from the self-imposed bondage: sexual temptations, toxic relationships, or obsessing over what others may have. It’s time to stop focusing on the material world as it’ll only bring your demise.
Career & Money
Someone or something is blocking you from moving forward. Maybe an addiction, worry, or pattern that sabotages your success. Should you take that job? No, first, clear the patterns that make you feel terrible. Then, address your issues before taking on new responsibilities.
Love & Relationships
Maybe lust is keeping you in the relationship because the sex is good. Maybe control or substance abuse keeps you bound. Old karma might be keeping you trapped. What is taking your power away? What’s binding you to this situation? Because, if you don’t break free, it’ll be your emotional ruin. You think it’s bad now, just wait.
Singles
You have too many addictions blocking your path to love. Find what’s holding you back. What are you giving your power away to?
And if you ask if you should date this person? No, you’ll end up powerless and in a worse position than you are now, unless you break free from the chains of bondage. Take them off and allow yourself to be happy.
Reversed Meaning
The Devil reversed shows someone ready to break free from misery and bondage, whether real or psychological. You’re no longer willing to indulge in toxic patterns, and you don’t want destructive people or relationships in your life anymore. This card can indicate recovery and the desire to liberate yourself from whatever has been holding you back. But, remember, freedom isn’t final. If you give in to the urges of your past addiction, the chains will again be placed around your neck.
It can also imply you’ll no longer accept bad situations that have kept you trapped. You’re ready to free yourself and be liberated from the bondage that’s been controlling your life.
When reversed, this card is about choosing freedom over dysfunction and taking your power back from whatever or whoever has been controlling you.
The chains are loose. You put them on, and you can take them off. So, stop giving your power away. Start seeing what’s controlling you and break free. Subscribe to unlock addiction patterns, liberation rituals, and the truth beneath your bondage
When you subscribe, you unlock:
- 🔍 Symbol Breakdown — decode the loose chains, inverted pentagram, grapes, and Saturn’s mark of karmic debt
- 🔥 Ritual Prompt — Breaking the Chains ceremony to reclaim power from whatever controls you
- 🧬 Reprogram It — rewire the lie that you’re powerless against your patterns
- 🎯 Alignment Check — 4 confronting questions to expose what you’re addicted to
- 💥 Tarot Combos — how The Devil traps through obsession, breaks through Tower, and heals with Star and Sun
- 📊 Numerology + Kabbalah — decode 15, 6, 70, and the spiritual eye of Ayin
- 📓 Journal + Shadow Prompts — stop blaming others, face your victim patterns, and dialogue with your addictions
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