The Devil
Astrology: Capricorn | Element: Earth | Hebrew: ע (Ayin) | Kabbalah: 26. Ayin 【Beauty - Glory】
Full of desire, empty-handed, shackled in chains—I became a slave to desire, and desire fed upon me in return. The roses burned alluringly like fire, the fruit carried a seductive sourness. I lay upon a plate, forks and knives moving before me. Roses were sliced, fruit was crushed. My body was soaked in juice, yet all I felt was sweet intoxication. The Devil caught the fragrance and licked his lips…
Symbolism:
Inverted Pentagram Tattoo on the Hand: Evil, negative energy, desire overpowering reason.
Knife and Fork: Temptation and manipulation—tools that magnify desire.
Lying Quietly on the Plate: There is no true external bondage; the real chains are inner desires.
Eye Tattoo: The Devil as observer and controller, always watching the one on the plate.
Black Fingernails: The beast-like consumer, symbolizing the Devil as devourer.
Rose: Passion and temptation, also representing male desire and drive.
Grapes: Symbol of indulgent revelry, also hinting at personal talent.
Red Ribbon: The link of desire, an abstract shackle.
Plate: An uncomfortable environment—yet those immersed in desire cannot feel it.
Astrological Symbol on the Plate: Represents Capricorn.
Kabbalistic Path 26: The eye—material bondage and the illusion of the senses.
Upright:
Desire, bondage, addiction, temptation, lust, materialism, impropriety, immorality, degeneration, calamity and seduction, pursuit of material gain, self-limitation, inability to let go, spiritual fall, beastly instinct, unwillingness to take responsibility, misfortune.
Personality: Strong-willed yet profit-driven, motivated by desire, hedonistic, controlling, potentially aggressive, emotionally unstable, craving fame and fortune. Representative figures include Pan, Yue Buqun, addicts, and similar archetypes.
Relationships: Focus on material and physical aspects of love. As much pleasure as pain. Strong possessiveness, inability to express the true self, blocked communication, entangled relationships. Possible infidelity or extramarital affairs. Voluntary sinking into indulgence and sensual bonds.
Career/Studies: Restrained and constrained, chasing fame and profit, highly goal-oriented and ambitious. Workplace exploitation, harshness, excessive pursuit of results, willingness to use improper means for gain. Toxic atmosphere, rivalry, alliances formed for benefit.
Finances: Superficially stable but full of hidden issues. Easily deceived. Possible illegal or unethical income. Low financial luck. Vulnerable to flattery and sweet talk, leading to loss.
Advice: Reflect on whether you are overly attached to certain desires. Ask yourself what you truly need—do you really need it? Is it truly worth it? Desire has no end. It disguises itself as motivation, but slowly seeps into the body like seasoning. By the time you realize it, you may already be the one served on the plate.
Reversed:
Freedom, breaking free, awakening, returning to reason, overcoming limitations, spiritual awakening, tempering, controlled desire, disadvantage, spiritual realization.
Personality: Weak willpower, easily disturbed, unwilling to be controlled, may resort to extreme means, struggling and anxious, focused on material life, profit-oriented.
Relationships: Breaking free from unhealthy emotional states, learning to reflect, confronting desire, rejecting temptation, letting go of inner obsessions, reassessing relationships.
Career/Studies: Gains may occur, though methods may not be entirely proper. Leaving unhealthy environments, resigning or changing direction, reflecting and adjusting, rediscovering self-worth. Students redefining goals and correcting attitudes—inner liberation.
Finances: Pressure begins to ease. Rational consumption. Active control over material desires. Reducing excess.
Advice: Cultivate your individuality and overcome inner fears. Share emotional struggles with those you trust. Understand that this is a gradual process. Clarify your true needs and avoid rushing for quick results.