The Devil
Element: Earth
The inspiration for the Devil card comes from The Picture of Dorian Gray, a novel by Oscar Wilde that was later adapted into film. In this story, the young and stunningly handsome Dorian Gray becomes mesmerized by a portrait of himself painted by the artist Basil Hallward. Obsessed with preserving his youth, he makes a pact with the Devil—his physical body will remain young and beautiful forever, while the portrait absorbs the consequences of his greed, lust, and moral decay, growing ever more grotesque.
Driven by desire, Dorian eventually murders both his wife and the artist to protect his dark secret. Tormented by guilt and spiritual emptiness, he finally unlocks the hidden room, stabs the portrait, and dies with blood spilling from his chest—redeemed only through destruction. The original Rider–Waite card depicts Adam and Eve bound in chains, tempted by the Devil in a distorted version of the Lovers card. Similarly, Dorian and the artist share an ambiguous, emotionally entangled relationship. The chains in the Devil card are not locked—the choice to break free, as Dorian ultimately does, symbolizes a return to spiritual awareness.
UPRIGHT
Keywords: Desire, control, primal urges, bondage, addiction, materialism
Relationships:
1. Strong possessiveness
2. Obsession with physical pleasure
3. Emotionally binding or toxic relationship
1. Strong possessiveness
2. Obsession with physical pleasure
3. Emotionally binding or toxic relationship
Career & Study:
1. Workaholic tendencies
2. Craving for power and status
3. Willing to do anything to succeed
1. Workaholic tendencies
2. Craving for power and status
3. Willing to do anything to succeed
Finance:
1. Extreme material pursuit
2. Gain comes at a heavy cost
1. Extreme material pursuit
2. Gain comes at a heavy cost
Mental & Spiritual Health:
Controlled by desires, lost spiritual direction
Controlled by desires, lost spiritual direction
REVERSED
Keywords: Liberation, freedom, breaking chains, overcoming darkness
Relationships:
1. Breaking free from a toxic relationship
2. Taking responsibility for love
3. A clear moment to walk away
1. Breaking free from a toxic relationship
2. Taking responsibility for love
3. A clear moment to walk away
Career & Study:
1. Rediscovering your own value
2. Free from power struggles
3. Genuinely putting in the effort
1. Rediscovering your own value
2. Free from power struggles
3. Genuinely putting in the effort
Finance:
1. Escaping financial crisis
2. Less attachment to material things
1. Escaping financial crisis
2. Less attachment to material things
Mental & Spiritual Health:
Regaining control and spiritual clarity
Regaining control and spiritual clarity