The Devil

[edmond0512]

This card is also tricky to interpret. It has to do with addiction and control. An agent who connects with deep desires can entice us. Advertising in our society is quite devilish, selling things by appealing to base desires. The Devil stands before a mountain with a group bound by collars and chains, engaged in revelry. The collars are loose and can fall off if the wearer merely takes it off. Many have loosed the collars and proceeded up the mountain. Thus we see the value of this icon of standard Christianity that dates back to Zoroastrianism. We wish to reach a higher level, but petty desires and attachments can be used as lures to pull us off. We must resist the devil in the details. We must know out path and drive on. Reversed, the card means escape from the devil. We slip out of a negative attachment or lure. We overcome some form of bondage. Over-restraint can be a bondage, too. We can't deny our desires exist, but we must turn out backs on bondage. This can be hard if we turn our backs on one soft-core addiction and turn to another. We must understand the underlying desire. The ego can entrap us, telling us we are smart enough to deal with a base practice or we are exceptional.
Two more quizes and I'll be preparing for the midterm. I need to press ahead and review as much as possible. The midterm is so important, as far as the specific score will partially detern=mine the final grade.