The Devil is a Major Arcana tarot card associated with attachment, temptation, restriction and confronting unhealthy patterns.

The Devil upright meaning

In an upright position, The Devil commonly highlights attachment, temptation, restriction and confronting unhealthy patterns. Its meaning still depends on the question, position in the spread and surrounding cards.

The Devil in love and relationships

In a relationship reading, this card can point to intense attraction, dependency or a pattern that needs honest examination. Look at real behaviour alongside the symbolism of the card.

The Devil in work and career

For work and career, The Devil can indicate pressure, over-attachment to status or restrictive conditions.

The Devil reversed

When read reversed, the same themes may appear blocked, delayed, internalised or expressed in an unbalanced way. Reversals are optional; many readers work successfully with upright cards only.

How to read The Devil

Ask what this card is inviting you to notice, what part of the situation you can influence and how its central theme appears in the surrounding cards.

Learn more in the Kuutaro tarot guide, browse tarot decks, or explore personal tarot readings.

For historical context on the Major Arcana and tarot structure, see the Victoria and Albert Museum’s tarot history.