Sunday, October 10, 2010

should we fear the Devil card? YES

Devil card often a WARNING
THAT EVIL INFLUENCES ARE PRESENT


This is the devil card created in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck. When we look at the image it certainly looks menacing, and downright evil, it is no wonder that when it shows up in a reading it gives at a minimum, pause to the quadrant and at its worse it provokes dread and fear. There are many ,if not most, web sites, that say that the devil is not meant to portend evil, Satan or the Devil. Any evil or demonic aspect is down played.This card is said to be an " an excellent indicator for success in business and career." I ask "Do we not do a disservice when we completely ignore the obvious symbolic meaning of this card, namely that of the devil, which symbolizes the devil and evil? I think we do.

Why bother to add such a card with such symbolism if that meaning is to be ignored? Let us look at some of the images created in this card. From the research we can see that it was created to mean EVIL , from the devil.

1.The card is the fifteenth trump or major Arcana 15 reduces to 6 in numerology, a number often associated with evil as in the biblical reference in Revelation to the number of the beast 666. Yet the number 6 on its own is used as the number of a man two arms, legs and one head one body ) adding to 6.

2. He sits above two naked human demons—one male, one female, who are chained to his seat. Note that they both have horns are their head and a tail, both common symbols for demons, the Devil and evil.

2.The image of the Devil in this card is derived in part from Eliphas Levis famous illustration Baphomet in his Dogme et Rituel de la Haute Magie (1855) as seen below.("Dogmas and Rituals of High Magic"), in which he included an image he had drawn himself which he described as Baphomet and "The Sabbatic Goat",the best-known representation of Baphomet. This "demon" seems to be a purely imaged deity however ,its creation in its symbolic form, was to represent an evil nature.



3. The devil card of the Rider deck has an upside down pentacle, while the drawing of Levi does not. The history of the meaning of the pentacle and pentagram is old. Rider took his imagery even one step further by adding the upside down pentacle. An image used by Satanists.


Upside down pentacle as seen in the devil card is used in the Tarot,
The upright pentacle has been a Wiccan symbol for quite sometime, and it does have a distinctly different meaning when it is upright. Think of the symbolism of the cross, does it not have a different, perverted meaning when it is upside down? The points on the pentacle are associated with the five elements as seen here

and is not an evil symbol what so ever.




The imagery of the inverted pentacle with Baphomet was deliberately used to denote evil, satin and the devil. The combination of the upside down pentagram and Baphomet has become the official symbol of the Church of Satan. Inside the pentacle is the image of a goat, its horns in the upper two points, its ears filling the two bottom points , and its mouth in the last.


4.According to Waite, the Devil is standing on an altar.Clearly this is in reference to worshiping the devil, satanism and a reverence for evil.
DEVIL CARD STANDS FOR EVIL INFLUENCE
The Tarot of deck of Rider-Waite is filled with symbols, this we know, yet why are we ignoring or downplaying the imagery and obvious symbolic meaning or the cards that frighten us? We can not if we wish to truly read effectively. It is a matter of careful interpretation however , in relation to the other cards in the spread, the question asked and your own psychic read on the card.

Should we fear it when we see it in our spread? Yes. Remember a reading has the added benefit of giving warning and this is often what the card can mean. Perhaps , as when the card is in the 8th position of the Celtic spread, that of what is influencing the situation, it may mean that someone has malevolent feelings and intent for the quadrant. At times it can mean that someone is participating in black magic on you either directly or in the ethereal plane.

DEVIL CARD IN A LOVE SPREAD
When the question is about a love relationship and this card comes up, it can mean that the union is based on "unholy" alliances or on sex , that the love has a dark nature and is not beneficial to either party. This is seen in the couple , naked, noting a sexual element , they are chained to the devil , unable to get free. Often when there is an abusive relationship, where one party finds it difficult to leave, the devil card will show up.

DEVIL CARD IN OUTCOME POSITION
Should be considered a warning of things to come. Remember with a reading, equipped with this knowledge, one can change this possible outcome. Depending on the question it can denote a person. If the question is about a situation, the result will not be favorable for your client. It is your job to continue with the reading and find a solution and equip them with a strategy to AVOID this outcome. DO NOT LEAVE THEM without a plan that they can embrace confidently to change the path they are on.
SUMMARY read responsibly!
To summarize, there is good and bad in the world, this is a fact. To do a life reading for someone and deliberately negate the cards that are frightening or not nice, is foolish at best. their is a movement with many readers right now, to insist that the devil and death card are not in way associated with actual death,illness or evil, when in fact, sometimes, they are.
These cards were created for these unpleasant yet real aspects of life.

Enjoy this charming collection from ARTFIRE, in which my TAROT suitcase is featured.




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