LexTalk

Well… This card seems friendly.

We’ve got horns.

Bat wings.

An upside-down pentagram.

A flaming torch.

Two naked people.

And those people are literally CHAINED TO A PEDESTAL.

So naturally, my first beginner-tarot reaction to The Devil was something along the lines of:

UMMMM… SHOULD I BE CONCERNED?!

Because if you knew absolutely nothing about tarot and someone handed you this card, I don’t think your immediate reaction would be:

Oh, what a lovely opportunity for personal reflection!

You’d probably be wondering whether you accidentally summoned something.

But this is exactly why I’ve been loving this LexTalk Tarot journey.

The cards that LOOK the scariest are turning out to have some of the most interesting lessons.

We saw that with Death.

We saw it with The Tower.

And now?

We’re doing it again.

Because after actually studying The Devil instead of immediately judging him by his horns… I noticed something.

Those two people are chained.

But look closely at the chains around their necks.

They’re loose.

And suddenly… I started looking at this card completely differently.

Welcome back to LexTalk Tarot: One Card at a Time!

We’ve officially reached Card #25 of 78, and today’s lesson is all about:

Attachment.

Temptation.

Habits.

Desire.

Restriction.

Unhealthy patterns.

And perhaps most importantly… the things we give power over our choices without always realizing it.

Today’s beginner memory trick:

The Devil = Recognizing the chains we don’t always notice.

Let’s investigate.

Meet The Devil

Card: The Devil

Number: XV — 15

Arcana: Major Arcana

Traditional Astrological Association: Capricorn

Traditional Elemental Association: Earth

Core Themes: Attachment, temptation, restriction, unhealthy patterns, materialism, desire, and awareness

The Devil is one of those cards that comes with a LOT of cultural baggage.

We hear the word “devil,” and our brains immediately go to:

Evil.

Demons.

Danger.

Darkness.

Possession.

Someone get the sage.

But in tarot, The Devil doesn’t automatically mean anything supernatural is happening.

And it certainly doesn’t mean:

EVIL IS COMING FOR YOU.

Instead, The Devil traditionally invites us to examine our attachments.

The things we crave.

The things we fear.

The things we depend on.

The habits we repeat.

The beliefs that limit us.

The things we KNOW probably aren’t helping us… but continue doing anyway.

And suddenly?

This card feels a lot less like a horror movie… and a lot more like being human.

What Has a Hold on You?

Think about something you KNOW you probably shouldn’t do… but do anyway.

Maybe you tell yourself:

I’m only going to scroll TikTok for five minutes.

Forty-seven minutes later…

Maybe it’s spending.

Maybe it’s comparing yourself to other people online.

Maybe it’s procrastinating.

Maybe it’s constantly checking your phone.

Maybe it’s seeking approval.

Maybe it’s perfectionism.

Maybe it’s saying yes when you desperately want to say no.

Maybe it’s staying in your comfort zone because uncertainty feels scary.

Maybe it’s a habit you keep promising:

I’ll stop tomorrow.

The Devil isn’t necessarily asking us to judge ourselves for those things.

It’s asking:

Do I still feel like I’m choosing this—or does it feel like this is choosing for me?

OOOOOF.

Okay, tarot.

Let’s look at the artwork.

Let’s Study The Devil

The Rider-Waite-Smith Devil card is PACKED with symbolism.

And once again, I’m discovering that studying the picture makes remembering the meaning SO much easier.

Because instead of memorizing:

The Devil = Attachment.

I can look at this bizarre scene and understand WHY.

The Horned Figure — Our Shadow Side

The giant central figure has horns, bat-like wings, animalistic features, and an intimidating presence.

He’s basically designed to make us think:

NOPE.

The imagery can represent our more instinctive or shadow-oriented qualities.

Desire.

Fear.

Temptation.

Impulse.

The parts of ourselves we don’t necessarily brag about.

And I think “shadow” is an interesting word here.

Because every person has traits they don’t particularly love acknowledging.

Jealousy.

Insecurity.

Anger.

Envy.

Need for validation.

Fear.

Control.

That doesn’t automatically make someone BAD.

It makes them human.

The Devil Figure = The desires, fears, and impulses we may prefer not to examine.

And maybe the lesson isn’t to pretend those things don’t exist.

Maybe it’s to understand them.

Because something we refuse to acknowledge can still influence us.

THE CHAINS

Okay.

THIS.

This is the detail that completely changed the card for me.

Two people stand chained to The Devil’s pedestal.

At first glance?

They look trapped.

But look at the chains around their necks.

They’re loose.

They appear large enough that the figures could potentially remove them.

Now, obviously, this symbolism should NEVER be used to imply that every difficult real-life situation is easy to escape.

That’s simply not true.

People can face very real barriers involving finances, abuse, addiction, trauma, health, family, safety, housing, employment, and countless other circumstances.

Sometimes people genuinely need resources, professional support, protection, or help.

So I don’t interpret these loose chains as:

“You’re trapped because you’re choosing to be.“

Absolutely not.

Instead, for personal reflection, I see them as a question:

Where might I have more agency than I realize?

Maybe there’s ONE thing I can change.

One boundary I can establish.

One habit I can challenge.

One person I can ask for help.

One belief I can question.

One small step.

Loose Chains = Examining where choice or support might exist.

And THAT feels much more useful.

The Inverted Pentagram

Above The Devil’s head is an inverted pentagram.

And because we’re learning…

let’s clarify something.

An inverted pentagram does not automatically equal:

EVIL.

Within the traditional esoteric symbolism of this particular card, it can suggest the material or instinctive side of human experience dominating our higher awareness.

Basically:

Immediate gratification versus long-term values.

What feels good NOW… versus what actually supports the life we’re trying to create.

And WOW is that relatable.

Inverted Pentagram = When immediate desire begins overpowering our larger priorities.

Example:

Me:

I want to save money.

Also me:

But look how cute this completely unnecessary thing is.

The struggle is real.

The Torch — Desire & Impulse

The Devil holds a flaming torch pointed downward.

Fire can represent:

Passion • Energy • Desire • Transformation • Destruction

And in this card, I think about what happens when desire gets out of balance.

Because wanting things isn’t bad.

Pleasure isn’t bad.

Ambition isn’t bad.

Money isn’t bad.

Food isn’t bad.

Social media isn’t bad.

Shopping isn’t automatically bad.

Rest isn’t bad.

Enjoyment isn’t bad.

The question becomes:

What’s my relationship with it?

Do I enjoy it?

Or do I feel controlled by it?

Torch = Desire becomes a problem when we stop feeling in control of our choices.

The Bat Wings

The Devil has large bat-like wings.

They contribute to the card’s dark atmosphere, but they also reinforce themes connected with:

Instinct • Darkness • Shadow • The Unconscious

And I keep coming back to this idea of examining what we normally avoid.

Because it’s really easy to say:

I don’t have a problem with that.

It’s much harder to ask:

Okay… but WHY do I keep doing it?

Sometimes that question gets uncomfortable.

But uncomfortable questions can be useful.

The Two Figures

If these people look vaguely familiar… there’s a reason.

The figures are often compared visually with the couple in The Lovers.

But the scenes feel completely different.

In The Lovers, the figures stand freely.

Here?

They’re chained.

And that contrast makes this card especially interesting when thinking about relationships and attachment.

Figures = Connection versus unhealthy attachment.

There is a BIG difference between:

I choose you.

and:

I don’t know who I am without you.

A healthy connection allows people to remain individuals.

Attachment becomes something worth examining when fear, control, dependence, or loss of identity begins taking over.

The Tails

Look closely at the two human figures.

They have tails.

One is associated with grape-like imagery.

The other with flame.

These details reinforce themes of:

Pleasure • Desire • Appetite • Passion • Instinct

And I think there’s another important distinction here.

The Devil isn’t saying:

Pleasure = BAD.

That would be a pretty miserable interpretation.

Remember The Empress?

We literally JUST learned about pleasure, abundance, sensuality, and enjoying life.

The difference is BALANCE.

The Empress can represent enjoying pleasure.

The Devil asks whether pleasure has begun controlling us.

THAT distinction helps me understand both cards better.

The Devil Upright Meaning

When The Devil appears upright, common interpretations include:

Attachment • Temptation • Restriction • Overindulgence • Materialism • Unhealthy Patterns • Feeling Powerless

This card might invite you to examine something you repeatedly do even though you know it isn’t helping.

Maybe it’s a habit.

Maybe it’s a belief.

Maybe it’s a relationship pattern.

Maybe it’s perfectionism.

Maybe it’s comparison.

Maybe it’s constantly seeking validation.

Maybe it’s overworking.

Maybe it’s spending.

Maybe it’s fear.

Maybe it’s simply something you’ve never stopped to question.

The Devil isn’t necessarily saying:

STOP IMMEDIATELY.

It might simply be asking:

Have you noticed this?

Because awareness usually comes before change.

Upright Message:

You can’t begin changing a pattern until you recognize that it’s there.

The Devil Reversed Meaning

You know the LexTalk rule!

REVERSED DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY MEAN BAD.

Common reversed interpretations include:

Releasing Attachments • Recognizing Patterns • Reclaiming Autonomy • Challenging Limiting Beliefs • Breaking Cycles

Sometimes The Devil reversed can suggest that we’re beginning to see something differently.

Maybe you’re noticing a pattern.

Setting boundaries.

Changing a habit.

Questioning a belief.

Asking for help.

Or simply admitting:

Yeah… this isn’t working for me anymore.

And sometimes that’s HUGE.

Other times, depending on context, the reversed Devil can represent continuing to struggle with releasing something.

Change isn’t always instant.

Recognizing a pattern doesn’t mean we’re magically finished with it.

Reversed Message:

What am I ready to stop giving so much power over my choices?

The Devil & Our Habits

I think habits might be one of the easiest everyday ways to understand this card.

Because humans are creatures of habit.

We repeat things.

Sometimes because they’re helpful.

And sometimes simply because they’re familiar.

Have you ever caught yourself doing something and thought:

WHY DO I EVEN DO THIS?!

Maybe there’s no good reason anymore.

You just… do.

And that’s where The Devil gets interesting.

Because sometimes freedom doesn’t begin with dramatically changing your entire life.

Sometimes it begins with noticing:

Oh. I have a pattern.

That’s it.

Just noticing.

And then maybe next time?

You make a different choice.

Not perfectly.

Not every time.

Just differently.

The Devil & Social Media

OH BOY.

This card feels painfully relevant in the modern world.

How often do we:

Check likes.

Check views.

Check followers.

Compare ourselves.

Refresh.

Scroll.

Compare again.

Feel bad.

Keep scrolling.

Social media can be AMAZING.

It connects people.

Builds communities.

Creates businesses.

Introduces us to ideas.

Lets creators share their work.

But it can also become a place where external numbers start determining how we feel about ourselves.

And The Devil might ask:

Am I using the platform—or is the platform using me?

OOOF.

I don’t like how good that question is.

Maybe you love creating.

But suddenly you’re creating entirely for numbers.

Maybe you enjoyed posting.

But now a post performing poorly ruins your mood.

Maybe you’re comparing your beginning to someone else’s tenth year.

That’s attachment.

Not because social media is inherently bad.

But because our relationship with it has changed.

The Devil in Love & Relationships

Okay.

Let’s talk LOVE.

And before anyone panics…

The Devil does NOT automatically mean your partner is toxic.

It doesn’t automatically mean cheating.

Manipulation.

Abuse.

Or that your relationship is doomed.

Instead, this card can invite reflection around the dynamics within a relationship.

The Devil Upright in Love

Common themes can include:

Intense Attraction • Attachment • Jealousy • Possessiveness • Unhealthy Patterns • Power Imbalances • Boundary Issues

And this is where things get interesting.

Because INTENSITY and HEALTH aren’t necessarily the same thing.

Something can feel:

Passionate.

Exciting.

Obsessive.

Magnetic.

All-consuming.

But that doesn’t automatically mean it’s healthy.

Love Reflection:

Am I choosing this relationship freely, and do I still feel like myself within it?

Because healthy relationships should allow room for two individual people.

The Devil Reversed in Love

Reversed themes might include:

Recognizing Patterns • Establishing Boundaries • Reclaiming Independence • Addressing Unhealthy Dynamics

Maybe you’re learning to communicate differently.

Maybe you’re setting a boundary.

Maybe you’re recognizing something you previously tolerated.

Maybe you’re becoming more secure in your own identity.

Relationship Reminder:

Loving someone shouldn’t require losing yourself.

The Devil in Career

Career Devil energy is INTERESTING.

Because we live in a culture that often celebrates:

Hustle.

Grinding.

Working constantly.

Being busy.

Making more.

Achieving more.

And ambition isn’t inherently bad.

But The Devil might ask:

When does ambition become attachment?

The Devil Upright in Career

Common career themes include:

Overworking • Burnout • Feeling Trapped • Material Ambition • Unhealthy Competition • Fear of Change

Maybe you’re staying somewhere solely because leaving feels scary.

Maybe your job has become your entire identity.

Maybe success never feels like enough.

You hit one goal… and immediately need another.

Then another.

Then another.

And suddenly you’re climbing a ladder without ever stopping to ask:

Do I even want to go where this ladder leads?

Career Reflection:

Am I pursuing success in a way that supports the life I actually want?

THAT is a question worth sitting with.

The Devil Reversed in Career

Reversed themes can include:

Reassessing Priorities • Establishing Boundaries • Addressing Burnout • Exploring Alternatives • Reclaiming Balance

Maybe you’re learning:

Work matters.

But so does life.

Success matters.

But so does peace.

Money matters.

But so does time.

And perhaps the goal isn’t simply:

MORE.

Maybe it’s:

ENOUGH.

The Devil & Money

This card has some really interesting financial reflection possibilities.

Again…

The Devil does NOT predict financial loss.

Instead, it might invite us to examine:

Spending Habits • Debt • Impulse Purchases • Materialism • Emotional Spending • Financial Avoidance

And listen…

Retail therapy exists for a reason.

Sometimes buying something cute genuinely makes us happy.

That’s fine.

But if shopping becomes the way we consistently manage uncomfortable emotions?

Maybe that’s worth noticing.

Money Reflection:

Am I making financial choices that support my long-term priorities—or repeatedly choosing short-term satisfaction?

No shame.

Just awareness.

The Devil & Self-Worth

THIS is another area where I think the card gets interesting.

What happens when our self-worth becomes attached to something external?

Our appearance.

Our relationship status.

Our career.

Our income.

Our follower count.

Our productivity.

Other people’s approval.

Suddenly we’re handing something outside ourselves an enormous amount of power.

If it goes up?

We feel great.

If it goes down?

We feel terrible.

The Devil might ask:

What am I using to determine whether I’m “good enough“?

And maybe… that thing doesn’t deserve as much authority as we’ve given it.

Some Chains Are Beliefs

Not every chain is something we DO.

Sometimes it’s something we BELIEVE.

I’m not talented enough.

I’m too old.

I’m too late.

Nobody cares.

I’ll embarrass myself.

I’ll probably fail.

Other people are already better at this.

I can’t do that.

And if we believe those things strongly enough?

We might never test whether they’re actually true.

The belief becomes the chain.

And maybe The Devil asks:

Who told me this was true?

And:

Do I still believe them?

OOOOOF.

Shadow Work & The Devil

The Devil is also a fascinating card for shadow work.

And shadow work doesn’t need to mean some terrifying mystical ritual.

It can simply mean examining parts of ourselves we don’t usually want to look at.

Jealousy.

Fear.

Resentment.

Control.

Insecurity.

Need for validation.

Instead of saying:

I shouldn’t feel this.

Maybe:

Why DO I feel this?

What is underneath it?

Fear?

Hurt?

Comparison?

A boundary that needs attention?

An unmet need?

Understanding a feeling doesn’t mean letting it control us.

It simply gives us more information.

An Important Note About “Just Remove the Chains”

I want to emphasize this again because I think it’s important.

The loose chains are powerful symbolism.

But real life is more complicated than tarot imagery.

Not everyone can simply “choose” their way out of:

Abuse.

Addiction.

Financial hardship.

Unsafe relationships.

Mental health struggles.

Housing instability.

Workplace exploitation.

Or other serious circumstances.

Sometimes change requires:

Professional help.

Money.

Safety planning.

Medical treatment.

Community support.

Legal resources.

Time.

The Devil should NEVER be used to shame someone for struggling.

For me, the card asks:

Where DO I have agency—and where might I need support?

Both can be true.

Today’s LexTalk Tarot Journal Prompt

Grab your tarot journal!

Today’s main question:

What habit, fear, attachment, or expectation has more influence over my choices than I’d like?

And here’s another one I LOVE:

Where might I have more agency than I’ve been giving myself credit for?

A few more:

What do I find difficult to say no to?

What pattern do I keep repeating?

Where am I confusing comfort with happiness?

What external thing has too much influence over my self-worth?

What belief about myself have I never questioned?

Where do I need stronger boundaries?

What would I like to have a healthier relationship with?

Where might I need support instead of trying to handle everything alone?

And finally:

If one metaphorical chain disappeared tomorrow, which one would I want it to be?

That’s a GOOD one.

The Tarot Deck I’m Learning With

The Devil is EXACTLY why I’m enjoying learning tarot through the Rider-Waite-Smith imagery.

Because if I simply memorized:

The Devil = Attachment.

I’d probably forget it.

But now?

Horned Figure = Shadow and instinct

Loose Chains = Attachment and agency

Inverted Pentagram = Immediate desires overpowering larger values

Torch = Desire and impulse

Bat Wings = Shadow and instinct

Figures = Connection versus unhealthy attachment

Tails = Appetite, pleasure, and desire

Suddenly… I understand the STORY.

Throughout LexTalk Tarot, I’m using a physical Rider-Waite-Smith style tarot deck because studying the artwork is helping me understand the cards instead of simply memorizing definitions.

If you’d like to learn alongside me using the same style of deck, you can [check out the tarot deck I’m using here — paid link].

You absolutely don’t need my exact deck to follow along. I’m simply sharing what I’m personally using throughout this journey.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Learning Tarot With a Journal

I’m also writing down the symbols, meanings, reflection questions, and my beginner memory tricks in a tarot journal.

And today’s memory trick is DEFINITELY:

Look at the chains.

Because once I noticed how loose they appear… the entire card changed for me.

If you’re learning tarot alongside me, any notebook works perfectly.

But if you’d like a dedicated place for tarot meanings, symbolism, personal interpretations, and reflection prompts, you can [check out the tarot journal I recommend here — paid link].

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

How I’m Remembering The Devil

Beginner tarot friends…

Don’t memorize this entire blog.

Here’s today’s cheat sheet:

THE DEVIL — XV

Core Meaning: Attachment and unhealthy patterns

Upright: Attachment, temptation, restriction, materialism, overindulgence, feeling powerless

Reversed: Releasing attachments, recognizing patterns, reclaiming autonomy, challenging limiting beliefs

Horned Figure: Shadow and instinct

Loose Chains: Attachment and possible agency

Inverted Pentagram: Material desires overpowering larger values

Torch: Desire and impulse

Bat Wings: Shadow aspects

Two Figures: Attachment and relationship dynamics

Tails: Pleasure, appetite, and desire

And today’s beginner memory trick:

The Devil = Recognizing the chains we don’t always notice.

Done.

One card.

One story.

25 Cards Into LexTalk Tarot!

We have officially explored:

25 OF 78 TAROT CARDS!

TWENTY-FIVE!

We’re officially about 32% through the entire tarot deck.

And I’m really starting to understand why learning tarot one card at a time works for me.

Because I don’t look at The Devil anymore and think:

Horned scary guy = BAD.

Now I see:

Loose chains.

Attachment.

Desire.

Patterns.

Choice.

Awareness.

And suddenly the card has a completely different meaning.

One Last LexTalk Thought

I think The Devil might be one of the most uncomfortable cards we’ve studied.

Not because it looks scary.

But because it asks uncomfortable questions.

It’s easy to identify the things outside ourselves that make life difficult.

It’s harder to look inward and ask:

What am I participating in?

What habit do I keep repeating?

What fear do I keep feeding?

What boundary do I keep ignoring?

What belief do I keep treating as fact?

What external thing have I given too much control over how I feel about myself?

And again…this isn’t about blame.

It’s about awareness.

Because sometimes we can’t change a situation.

Sometimes we need help.

Sometimes we need resources.

Sometimes circumstances genuinely ARE outside our control.

But other times?

Maybe there’s one little chain we’ve never tried to loosen.

One habit we could question.

One boundary we could strengthen.

One belief we could challenge.

One small choice we could make differently.

And maybe that’s enough for today.

We don’t have to dramatically transform our entire lives overnight.

We can simply notice.

Because once we see the chain…

we can start asking why it’s there.

And whether we still want to wear it.

The Devil = Recognizing the chains we don’t always notice.

And perhaps the scariest thing about The Devil isn’t the horns.

Or the wings.

Or the pentagram.

Maybe it’s realizing how easily something can become normal simply because we’ve lived with it long enough.

But the hopeful part?

Awareness changes the conversation.

Maybe we can’t immediately remove every chain.

But we can examine them.

Question them.

Understand them.

Ask for help with them.

And decide which ones we’re ready to start loosening.

One card. One lesson. One little bit of magic at a time.

— Lex

Tarot interpretations are subjective and are shared here for personal reflection, education, and entertainment. Tarot should not replace professional medical, legal, mental health, or financial advice.