The Devil - Fifteen

Tarot of Marseilles

Here we have a Medieval depiction of the devil, with antlers, long ears, several faces on his body, and bat wings. Before him, two smaller figures with antlers, long ears, and long tails, are tied down. What could this mean? The numbers fifteen could be thought of as 1+5=6. In which case there is a strong link to the sixth card, The Lovers. Indeed we see a similar scene. Both cards feature a couple facing each other, with an influential figure above them. The Lovers are brought together by Cupid's arrow, inflaming their hearts with adoration for one another. The Devil however represents the animalistic lust of carnal desire. The couple are bound by ropes around the neck, representing their servitude. When you live a life in servitude to your materialistic desires, you experience suffering, because no matter how much you feed your desires, you will always want more. You become enslaved by your desire for more.

Quite literally, the couple are experiencing attatchment to the material realm, which causes suffering because the material realm is in constant shift, and is therefore impossible to grasp and keep hold of. You can amass all the material goods you can buy, but money can't buy you happiness. You will slave away all day to afford the material goods you desire, but this constant slaving away for material desires will only bring anxiety. We are constantly being tempted by the allure of new things to buy and own. We collect up these things because we think they will make us happy. We are also tempted by the allure of popularity and fame. We are easily lead to believe that achieving fame will bring happiness. We are tempted by the allure of delicious food and drink, succumbing to gluttony and drunkeness. We are tempted by the allure of beautiful bodies, leading us to mislead each other and break each other's hearts. We are tempted to do things which may bring some short term gratification, but in the end they cause us suffering. This card says "think twice about your fickle desires, don't be lead astray."

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