Once a month, I host a Tarot Salon, where readers of all levels of experience gather to share thoughts, ideas, concerns, and readings. Often, during meeting, a card will show up in a reading that elicits groans from the readers around the table, while at the same time you’ll hear me exclaim, “oh, I LOVE that card!”. I’ve been accused of loving all the cards, and I have to admit that’s true. (Like a parent with more than one child, I love all the cards equally, but differently.) Today, I’d like to talk about one of those cards I feel a special affinity for, one that I believe is often misunderstood, The Devil.

Traditionally, this card represents all that society holds as evil and base and unspoken; it’s about fears and superstitions and taboos. We see in the card graphic two people in chains standing before The Devil, held in bondage as The Devil himself sits above them. We see The Devil card and it scares us, being bound and chained in such a way. Yet, look more closely, and you’ll see that the chains around the necks of the couple in front of The Devil are loose enough to be easily removed. It is only their own fears of those so-called base instincts that keep them bound.

The Devil exists only in our minds, and only insofar as we have chosen to call it bad. We seem to be so busy trying to be “spiritual” beings that we’ve forgotten we are here to experience life as human beings, and in so doing we demonize our human side, our passionate, lustful, yearning, and yes, sometimes overindulgent side. In fact, I believe that much of what society tells us is “bad” is simply a big, bold, passionate indulgence for life!

I see The Devil as encouraging us to live life to the fullest, to live with passion and lust and to allow ourselves the pleasures of great food, great sex, great adventures, great everything. And while we need to live with consciousness, to notice where we fall into self-destructive, addictive, obsessive behaviors or patterns, we must embrace our shadow/devil in order to be fully whole.

If The Devil brings up fear in you, look to see where you fear your human side. Where do you fear the passions of life? Where are you holding back, not fully reveling in the joys of life? Where are you not letting life be messy and chaotic and spontaneous and noisy and full and big and wild? Or, perhaps, where are you overindulging to the point of no longer finding joy in your passions , but escape?

I love this card. Most parents won’t admit it, but there’s always that favorite child. The Devil is one of my favorites.

“One declaims endlessly against the passions; one imputes all of man’s suffering to them. One forgets that they are also the source of all his pleasures.” – Denis Diderot (French philosopher, art critic and writer)

Today, rather than share with you a reading I’ve given, I thought it might be a nice change of pace for you to create your own story from a single card. Each card has a story to tell, and even that single card can offer much guidance and clarity. I’ve pulled The Lady, one of the major arcana cards of the Druidcraft Tarot deck.

For those of you who are not tarot students or readers, here’s a little tarot lesson. A tarot deck is comprised of 78 cards, 22 of which are major arcana and 56 minor arana. “Arcana” is the plural of “arcanum”, which is latin for “great mystery”; the tarot cards help us to unlock the mysteries within us, to bring light to the dark, and balance to chaos. The major arcana take us on a journey through life’s big shifts and transitions, while the minor arcana speak to us of everyday life. The Lady will tell her story of a life transition.

Take a look at the card. What do you see? What stirs within you? Look at the lushness and abundance surrounding The Lady; does it speak to you of the fertility of nature? The Lady herself looks ready to give birth; like nature, she is creating life. One foot rests on the solid ground while the other is dipped in the flowing stream – she is both grounded and open to the fluidity of life. What story is The Lady telling you? Perhaps one that speaks of birth and creation? Of abundance and beauty? How does The Lady’s story mirror your life? Are you about to create something new? Do you feel nurtured by the abundance in life? Can you be open to the ever-changing flow of life and still remain grounded?

Sit with The Lady, and let her tell her story to you. It may be your story, as well.