Capricorn's Major Arcana XV, Temptation: The Most Misunderstood Card ~ Tarot Podcast

The Rambling Psychic Tarot Reader & Spiritual Guide

Capricorn's card is arguably the most misunderstood card in the deck. It is not true evil, but a symbolic mirror of the human condition—specifically, the traps we fall into when we are disconnected from our higher self.

1. The Core Lie: Self-Imposed Bondage

The central meaning of the Devil is Bondage that is self-imposed.

• The Loose Chains: The man and woman chained to the Devil's pedestal are wearing chains that are quite loose around their necks. They could step out of them at any time. This symbolizes the greatest lie The Devil tells: that you are stuck and powerless.
• The Illusion of No Choice: The card appears when you feel trapped—in a job, a relationship, a financial situation, or a negative thought pattern—but you have convinced yourself that you have no options. The Devil forces you to look at the lie you are participating in.

2. Themes of Materialism and Earthly Fixation

As the card associated with Capricorn (the Earth sign ruling structure and ambition), The Devil often points to an extreme focus on the material world.

• Obsession with the External: This is the obsession with status, money, power, physical appearance, or possessions. When these things become the only source of your worth or happiness, you become a slave to them.
• Hedonism and Excess: It signifies overindulgence in worldly pleasures to the point of compulsion or addiction. This can be anything from substance abuse to compulsive spending, all done to mask a deeper internal emptiness.

3. Shadow Work and Repressed Instincts

The Devil is the card of the Shadow Self—the parts of ourselves we deny, repress, or judge.

• Unexamined Desires: The card brings repressed desires (often sexual, financial, or power-related) to the surface. It challenges you to stop judging your base instincts and instead acknowledge and integrate them. The Devil says: Own your power.
• Inner Conflict: If you spend your life pretending to be "pure" or "good," The Devil can pop up to force you to confront your hidden jealousy, anger, lust, or ambition. This confrontation is necessary for wholeness.

4. The Path to Liberation

Ultimately, The Devil is a card of accountability and liberation.

• A Call to Action: When The Devil appears, it is a demanding invitation to identify the limiting beliefs or destructive habits that hold you back. It asks: "What story am I telling myself that keeps these chains around my neck?"
• The Power of Recognition: Recognizing that you have a choice—to step out of the chains, to face your addiction, to walk away from a toxic dynamic—is the first step to reclaiming your power and moving past this card's energy.

The Devil is the painful but potent awareness that you are responsible for your freedom.

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