Tree of Life: Tiferet into Hod – Path 26
Zodiac: Capricorn – Cardinal Earth
Number: 15
Hebrew Letter: “Ayin” meaning eye
Motto: “I Use”
Light: spiritual self-improvement, enlightenment, constant self-perfection, aspiration, desires
Shadow: raw desire, blind impulses, tangible form, material processes
Key Themes of The Devil Thoth Card
The Devil card in the Thoth Tarot deck represents the material universe and the raw desire and creative potential it holds. It symbolizes creativity in its most tangible form and the blind impulses that drive us.
The Devil card embodies the earth’s lust to participate in the Great Work, the process of spiritual self-improvement and enlightenment. It suggests that everything is constantly perfecting itself, a process that may seem to take eons from our perspective.
The Fool's Lesson from The Devil
At first terrified by The Devil, The Fool approaches cautiously. The Devil reveals exquisite jewels, tempting him. Behind The Devil, two souls are chained, seemingly bound by their desires. The Fool learns that The Devil represents the temptations of the ego, not true evil. With this lesson, he finds inner fulfillment, releasing earthly desires and embracing his soul’s purpose.
Joe’s Divine Guidance: The Devil in a Tarot Reading
Upright
When the Devil card appears upright in a reading, it’s a call to acknowledge and confront your earthly desires and impulses. It encourages you to harness your creative potential and use it to achieve your goals.
Reversed
In the reversed position, the Devil card suggests that you may be feeling trapped or controlled by your desires or material circumstances. It’s a reminder to reassess your relationship with the material world and consider whether your desires are serving your higher purpose. It’s a call to release any unhealthy attachments or dependencies.
Mystical Symbolism: Decoding The Devil's Symbols
The Devil Tarot Card embodies the integration of worldly and spiritual aspects of the Spiritual Seeker, emphasizing life force, physical pleasures, and creative power.
Goat/Pan Pangenitor: The goat represents Pan Pangenitor, the life force and mythical God of music, nature, and physical pleasures.
Spiral Horns: The spiral horns represent masculine energy and life force, symbolizing the creative power of life itself.
Wand of the Chief Adept: The phallic-like wand is used in the Adeptus Minor Ritual of the Golden Dawn, representing the evocation of Spirit (appears in the 5 of Wands).
Two Serpents: The serpents symbolize sperm, wearing the Crowns of Upper and Lower Egypt, signifying the harmonization of opposites and creative impulse.
Tree Trunk and Spheres: Representing the phallus and testicles, the trunk penetrates the Rings of Saturn, symbolizing the union of male and female energies and the creative impulse.
Figures inside the Spheres: The figures represent souls aspiring to incarnate. The left sphere holds four female figures adoring the Goat, while the right sphere contains four male figures subdued by the Minotaur, symbolizing the process of creation.
Path 26 on the Tree of Life: Tiferet into Hod
On the Tree of Life, the Devil card signifies the path from Tiferet to Hod, or path 26. This path represents the process of moving from the pure center of Tiferet and labeling the world around that center through the intellect of Hod. Hod symbolizes the logical thinking mind. The Devil card, therefore, represents the highest spiritual truth realized in the most material processes.
The Devil’s Hebrew Letter - Ayin
The Devil card is associated with the Hebrew letter “Ayin,” which means “eye.” This symbolizes the senses, particularly our sight. The eyes in this context represent our goals and desires, suggesting that we look towards what we aspire to achieve.
Astrology Insights: The Devil's Associations
In astrology, the Devil card is associated with Capricorn, a cardinal earth sign. Capricorn is ruled by Saturn, the planet of time. Mars, the planet symbolizing the will to live, is exalted in Capricorn.
This association enhances the themes of desire, materiality, and self-improvement in the Devil card. It suggests that our identity is formed as we orient ourselves in time, space, and culture, which is the secret of Capricorn.