The Devil

Material identification, possession, and obsession are the associated with this card. These are manifestations of identifying more with your corporeal body than with spirit. Some say getting the Devil card indicates a separation from spirit. If you are being influenced by 'the Devil', then you're probably out of alignment with your true nature, and may be seeking something outside the self for fulfillment or gratification. All that we need, we already have, we just need to access it through spirit and not through self-will in Machiavellian terms. The ends do not necessarily justify the means, as that concept is disrespectful of our true giving nature. This image was inspired by a dream that I had of approaching a city via a long highway where human skulls lined the road and the figure had the shadow of a jackal. The red face indicates a demon symbol in Chinese lore and can also be thought of in a context that necessitates blood sacrifce.

Although not used for this deck, often a horned half man half goat is used to represent the devil. Christianity identified pagan symbols of procreation and 'frivolity' as evil- think of Bacchus/Pan and the rites of spring or harvest. It could be said that such 'frivolity' served a necessary purpose in increasing the tribe, but politics being what it is, control of the system was of utmost importance. Christian condemnation of anything they couldn't control, i.e., pagan procreation rites became increasingly under scrutiny in the churches teachings and interpretation.Christian doctrine starting as early as Constantine around 300 AD began the systematic disapproval of anything the least bit lusty or indicative of anything less that a 'virgin birth'.