Hebrew Name: Ayin (eye)
"Ayin means 'eye' and 'foundation'. It signifies also the
external, superficial appearances of things. As the organ of sight, the eye is
the most important sense-tool, hence symbolists take it to represent all
sensation [...] through the eye we see appearances only. Hence the eye
represents the limitations of the visible, and the bondage of ignorance
resulting from the acceptance of these limitations and appearances as being all
there is."1
The function or sense attributed to Ayin is mirth or laughter. Laughter is provoked by irony, incongruity, idiosyncrasies, quirks, and human weaknesses. Laughter is a response to the realization that "what meets the eye" is not in accordance with good sense.
Qabalistic Intelligence: The Renewing
Intelligence
"This is directly related to Mirth, because the perception of
incongruities is what actually brings forth new ideas and adaptations. An
incongruity is something which does not fit. When we find a fact that does
not fit in with our beliefs, we are obliged to revise our theories, unless we
are the sort of "green apple" who prefers a comfortable lie to an
uncomfortable truth."2
Astrological Correspondence: Capricorn
"Capricorn, the Goat, is a cardinal, earthy sign, governing the knees,
to which we are brought in prayer by our sense of bondage and personal
insufficiency. The natives of Capricorn are said to be quiet, studious, and
somewhat inclined to materialism."3
Saturn rules Capricorn: Bondage is brought about by a superficial or inadequate
understanding of the principle of limitation. Mars is exalted in
Capricorn: The fiery principle of volition finds its highest
expression in the overcoming of bondage.
Number: 15
The power of 5 acting through the agency of 1. Intuition
expressing through self-consciousness. When our intuition expresses itself
actively, we are no longer seeing with the eye only. With intuition, we
can see where things are out of kilter. Intuition allows us to see through
the ridiculous face of incongruous appearances and respond with humor.
Thus we are literally able to laugh at the Devil, and all other
"appearances" of our current (limiting) situation.
Color / Note: Blue-Violet / A
Symbolism:
(Summarized from "The Tarot", by P. F. Case)4
The Scene: The Devil perches on a half-cube while a bestialized man and woman stand in chains.
Devil: "The Devil is the English for the Latin diabolus, adversary. The picture refers to man's ideas concerning the nature of that which seems so relentlessly to oppose his struggles for freedom."5
The Devil is the polar opposite of the Archangel of Key 14, and a depicts a caricature of the scene shown in The Lovers of Key 6. Bondage (K15) is what happens when we don't discriminate (K6). His horns refer to the sign of Capricorn. "His bat wings signify the powers of darkness. His face is that of a goat, but his ears are those of a donkey to suggest his obstinacy and the stubbornness of materialism. His body is thickset and of an earthen color to represent the earthy quality of Capricorn. One side is masculine, the other feminine, because what he represents partakes of the characteristics of both sexes."6
The Devil gestures with his right hand to say 'What sensation reports is all there is to know.' "In his left hand is a torch, burning wastefully and giving little light. It is a phallic symbol representing the transmission of life from generation to generation. [It is also] the fiery torch of revolution, based on materialistic interpretations of experience, the torch of terrorism and anarchy."7 The Devil's feet are the claws of an eagle - corresponding to the sign of Scorpio. "Here the eagle's claws refer to the materialization and misuse of the reproductive power, and its debasement in the service of sensuality."8
Inverted pentagram: This is a key to the meaning of the figure. "The pentagram is the symbol of man, and an inverted Pentagram suggests the reversal of true understanding of man's place in the cosmos."9
Half-Cube: Symbolic for half-truths. The man and woman are chained to half-truths.
Man & Woman: Symbolic of the human Self-Conscious and Sub-Conscious modes. The horns and tails show that when we hastily generalize from false or superficial premises or appearances, we become bestialized. Also, observe that though they are chained to the cube, the loops of the chains are so large that they could easily lift them off their heads. This bondage is imaginary.
The challenge is to consciously understand the Condition of Bondage in our everyday life:
 | Dealing with apparent Limitations: You do not judge by appearances. You overcome limitation by using discrimination. For it is really our higher self that takes on the guise of the adversary in order to inspire us to sift out truth from illusion. You learn to intuitively recognize the face of the beloved behind the mask of the adversary and lift off your chains. |
| Laughter: The Devil is Joke - an impossible, ridiculous creature. You know that ridicule is the best way to destroy falsehood. When things look like the Devil, laughter does a better job of putting us in the right frame of mind to respond to the challenge, then does any amount of seriousness. |
In "Living the Tarot", Amber Jayanti provides some suggestions for integration and application of The Devil:
|
The Imagery of the Devil can be used to remind you:10
That there is more to life than what at the five senses indicate. That you can frighten the Devil away with humor, knowledge and understanding. To focus on extricating yourself from a detrimental situation. |
| Ask yourself the following questions:11
What have I been seeing from a limited perspective? Where and why do I feel trapped? Where have I been discrediting myself or another? How is rigidity damaging me or another? Where have shame, guilt, fear, or ignorance been victimizing me and holding back my enjoyment of life? How are shame, guilt, fear or ignorance actually serving to make me grow? How am I being prejudiced towards another person or group? Why have I blamed my shortcomings on another person or group? Am I becoming more willing to face my dark side? In what situation have I been acting like an ass? What wisdom might I gain from an adverse situation? Whom or what have I been trying my best to manipulate? What obsession am I facing? |
Illustrations from the Universal Waite Tarot Deck reproduced by permission of
U.S. Games Systems, Inc., Stamford, CT 06902 USA. Copyright ©1990 by U.S. Games
Systems, Inc. Further reproduction prohibited.