The Devil You Know….

by Fuzzypeg/Wikimedia Commons

When the Devil card appears in a Tarot reading people have strong reactions. “Does this mean I am evil?” they ask, or “Is evil around me?” they wonder. Neither is the case, although the second fear comes closest to the implication of this card. The Devil appears stark and sinister, a demonic looking beast seated authoritatively, smugly watching as a distortion of the “lovers” stand in chains at his feet. There is often black or dark backgrounds, flames appear and we know this is an indicator of difficulties encountered by the Querent in his or her journey. The Devil in Tarot is a helpful indicator, though. Not to be confused with the presence of evil, this card represents the presence of an interpersonal type of evil; the enslavement brought on by compulsion and addiction.

It is no surprise that during prohibition alcohol was likened to and called “the devil” or a “demon” and people describe embarking on rehabilitation processes as personally being called to “face their inner demons.” A popular Irish folk song calls Whiskey the “devil” and “Demon Rum” was a popular term in days past to conjure the reality of those living with alcoholism, and alcoholics, in American history. The Devil here is not portraying an evil person or entity, it is alerting the Querent to the fact that their life is being drained and slowly overtaken by some form of compulsion or addiction. Looking at the other cards, or discussing this with the Querent can often yield clues as to what that addiction is.

Regardless of the external vehicle for one’s addiction, it is a force to be reckoned with. It assumes a position of power, becoming an obsession and taking priority over all other goals and relationships. High moral posturing aside, those who have been acquainted with the demon of addiction know all too well that no one is spared its influence.

A loving parent will follow the inner obsession with their child in the sidelines; a dedicated worker will find their career infiltrated by the infestation of their addiction. It creeps in gradually with allure and seduction and slowly takes hold, taking no prisoners. Usually before one realizes it, the wondrously gratifying illusion they have been pursuing has brought havoc to their lives and relationships, naturally they simply try to leave, only to find they are fastened in place by heavy chains that are not so easily unlocked. Just as the fellowships of AA and NA propose that it takes a power greater than an individual to restore “sanity” in the grips of an addiction, so do we see the powerful clutches holding the Querent in slavery, likewise sucking away any chance at spiritual progress so long as the Querent remains in bondage.

When this card appears, there is a need for some higher intervention, a greater perspective, and a force larger than will or ego to help break the chains tying the figures to each other and the Devil. What that powerful benevolent force will be will depend on the situation. It will involve some form of spirituality that has been missing from this dark vacuum of compulsion and obsession, but the type and manner can be varied based on the individual’s lifestyle and circumstances.

When the Devil appears be ready to face facts; something that began as rewarding and pleasurable, fun and positively reinforcing, has taken on a life of its own. What has enslaved you? What do you feel you cannot live without? Are there relationships that have become compulsive, needy and codependent? Has work become an obsession, draining energy from you and keeping you from nurturing other goals? Are substances like alcohol, pills, drugs, or even food carrying more significance than they should? Are processes such as gambling, cleaning, exercising or care-taking defining you more than your spiritual path, leaving no room to have a life? These questions can be difficult to answer because as dark as the Devil is, this card also represents a sense of need and often accompanies a belief that the substance, behavior, or relationship is needed and that without it life would not be manageable. This is a false illusion.

It can be useful to contemplate both the Devil and Lovers card and meditate on what has been missing, what is needed to set the figures involved free again. As always don’t hesitate to seek professional help if matters seem to be beyond your personal control, and when the Devil card appears there is a pretty good chance things have reached that point.

An Explication of the Principles of Belief: Part 12

We do not accept the concept of absolute evil, nor do we worship any entity known as ‘Satan’ or ‘the Devil’ as defined by Christian tradition.  We do not seek power through the suffering of others, nor accept that personal benefit can be derived only by denial to another.

 

This principle is of extreme importance.  One common error people make is in assuming Wicca is “anti-Christian” and more specifically “Satanic.”  The above principal is designed to address this stereotype, stating that in no part of the Wiccan religion is there reverence for, or worship of Satan.  Wiccan philosophy emphasizes seeking balance through polarities in all of nature.  We seek to utilize the concept of polarities to maintain balance in ourselves and the environment around us.  Thus, it is only natural that Wiccans would recognize the existence of a counterpart to what is good, creative and benevolent.  We view this natural opposite to good as inherent in the necessary destructive force in nature.  We recognize that night follows day, birth eventually culminates in death, and warmth eventually gives way to the cold.  We do not align certain natural forces with any type of Satan figure, as we do not view a single Deity as encompassing all that is evil.

 Within the Wiccan pantheon there are aspects of Gods and Goddesses which are less “cheerful” than others.  There is for example, recognition of the spirit of aggression in Warrior deities, and death in Crone or Sage deities.  These deities are worshiped as keeper of the great mysteries of death and rebirth.  They may not carry the light and carefree energies of some of the other deities symbolically aligned with birth and nurturing, but they are significant and benevolent in their own way.  We do not seek out deities associated with justice, darkness, or harsher realities of nature to do our bidding in order to gain power or revenge.  We recognize their existence and we give honor to them as representations of life forces to which we all eventually succumb.  We do not seek personal gain through the suffering of others, and we do not promote the idea of denigration of others or ourselves.

Individual practitioners and covens have their own interpretations of concepts surrounding evil as a force in nature.  Some practitioners recognize balance in nature in the view of some forces of energy that are malevolent.  Others view all forms of energy as inherently containing their opposite to some degree.  In other words, to some Wiccans all that is “good” contains some potential for “evil” and vice versa.  Even among practitioners who recognize evil in the form of malevolent spirits or entities, there is no concept akin to the Judeo-Christian Devil.  The Devil or Satan as a singular evil being is actually a unique figure in monotheistic philosophy.  In most pagan religions recognition of evil beings or forces are typically seen as negative spirits, but not beings that are ruler over by a being of absolute evil.

Angela Kaufman is the coauthor of Wicca: What’s the Real Deal? Breaking Through the Misconceptions, along with Dayna Winters, and Patricia Gardner.  You can find out more about the book at: http://www.wwtrd.webs.com.