Happy Boxing Day or Day-After-Christmas! I hope everyone had a nice holiday weekend despite the frigid temperatures across much of the northern hemisphere. Nothing quite like going to bed praying your pipes don't freeze and trying to sleep with all those little pops of adrenaline every time you a creak in your house. Three days ago it was like 15° and it's supposed to be almost 80° on Wednesday. Thank you, Climate Change. You can kindly fuck right off now. Anyway <*huff*>.
The Devil, to the Tarot-uninformed, is one of those cards that make people give Tarot a side-eye and look over their shoulder. Sure, there's a demonic figure standing in behind some naked people in chains. And an inverted pentagram! If you squint, maybe you'll find a Dungeons and Dragons guidebook in there too!
Traditionally, The Devil is about vices, addiction, unhealthy connections, and materialism, perfectly suited for the day after such a commercial holiday. It's really a card that's more about our "shadow self," those little parts of ourselves that we keep quiet and out of public view.
Message of the Day: The Devil calls for us to look inside at our self-imposed chains and consider the need for liberation. If you look at the traditional imagery of the card (first card shown above), you can see the two human figures in chains - but the chains are loose - as if they could take them off at will. This depicts our willingness to play into our vices and allow them to chain us. Sometimes we can step out of those chains on our own, but sometimes we need help.
When we look at self-control, it can be very easy to dismiss simple acts of pleasure. One more drink with dinner. Passing a bowl with friends on a Saturday night. Another quick hook-up on Grindr or your app of choice. Another candle from Bath and Body Works. One more "fun-size" Butterfinger. Let's face it: the temptations are literally EVERYWHERE. I was always taught "moderation in everything." When it comes to personal pleasures, that definition of moderation becomes open to personal interpretation.
Perhaps the question we should be asking is what purpose do these actions serve? Are they improving our lives or are these self-imposed chains holding us back from our own personal progress? Are they a cover for some darker trauma that we don't want (or aren't willing) to face? Or is it as simple as not knowing how to handle our unhappiness? Don't get me wrong, there is no judgement in giving into vices until it becomes a problem and that private shadow-self becomes less private and you become a messy-bessy. Even then it's not really judgement, but concern. At that, it's best to seek out professional help from a therapist who can help break those chains and set you back on your path of progression.
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