You just flipped it. There he is—the goat-headed figure, the chains, the darkness—but he’s upside down. Most people see the Devil card in a tarot spread and immediately feel a spike of cortisol. It’s heavy. It’s visceral. But honestly? Seeing The Devil reversed is often the best news you could get during a reading.
It means the chains are loose.
In the standard Rider-Waite-Smith imagery, the two humans aren't actually locked in. Look closely at their necks. Those loops are huge. They could slip them off any time they wanted, but they don't. They stay because it’s comfortable, or because they’re scared, or because they’ve forgotten what the sun looks like. When the card flips, that "aha!" moment happens. You realize you were holding the key the whole time.
Breaking the Cycle of the Devil Reversed
When we talk about this card in a lifestyle context, we’re usually talking about shadow work. Renowned tarot scholar Rachel Pollack, in her seminal work Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom, suggests that the Devil represents the narrowness of vision—the belief that the material world is all there is.
Reversing that energy? It’s like a fever breaking.
Suddenly, the "thing"—whether that's a soul-crushing job, a toxic relationship, or just a really bad habit of doomscrolling until 3:00 AM—loses its power. You start to see the exit signs. It’s not always a sudden explosion of freedom. Sometimes it’s just the quiet realization that you’re tired of your own excuses.
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The psychology of self-liberation
Think about the last time you quit something that was bad for you. That first week is brutal. You feel exposed. Without the "devil" you know, who are you? This is the nuance of The Devil reversed that most beginner guides miss. It’s a transition state. You’re in the middle of the "Great Unbinding."
- You might feel lighter, but also weirdly shaky.
- The temptation to go back to the old "chain" is real because the chain was predictable.
- You’re starting to reclaim your autonomy, which is terrifyingly responsible.
I’ve seen people pull this card right before they finally block an ex. Or right after they admit they have a problem with overspending. It’s the "sobering up" card of the tarot deck.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Card
There’s a common misconception that the upright Devil is "evil" and the reversed version is "good." That’s too binary. Tarot is more of a spectrum.
Sometimes, The Devil reversed indicates a period of deep repression. Instead of facing your demons, you’re stuffing them into a metaphorical basement and sitting on the door. If the surrounding cards in a spread are heavy—think the Nine of Swords or the Moon—the reversal might mean you're ignoring a dark reality that needs your attention. You can't fix what you refuse to look at.
But in the vast majority of cases? It’s about the shift from victimhood to agency.
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Real-world scenarios
Take a career slump. You’ve been telling yourself you can’t leave your company because the benefits are too good, even though you cry in the parking lot every Monday. The upright Devil is that golden handcuff. When it reverses, you realize the benefits aren't worth your soul. You start updating your resume. You stop asking for permission to be happy.
Or look at health. Maybe you’ve been stuck in a cycle of restrictive dieting followed by binges. The Devil reversed appearing here is a sign of breaking that obsession. You’re moving toward a middle ground. You’re stopping the "all or nothing" thinking that kept you trapped.
The Subtle Art of Shadow Work
The Devil is associated with Capricorn and the planet Saturn. Saturn is the planet of boundaries, restrictions, and hard lessons. When The Devil reversed shows up, Saturn’s grip is loosening.
- The Physical Toll: Your body often feels it first. Lower back pain or tension in the neck (where those chains would be) starts to dissipate.
- The Mental Shift: The "I have to" language changes to "I choose to."
- The Social Dynamic: People who liked you better when you were easy to control might start acting up.
Expect resistance. When you stop playing the role of the "chained," the people holding the other end of the leash get uncomfortable. That’s how you know it’s working.
Practical Steps for Integrating This Energy
If you’ve pulled The Devil reversed or feel like you’re living its energy right now, you need to ground that freedom into reality. Freedom is a muscle. If you don't use it, it withers.
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Audit your attachments
Go through your life. Where are you staying because it’s "safe" rather than because it’s "good"?
- Digital Detox: If you’re addicted to the validation of social media, delete the apps for 48 hours. See how the silence feels.
- The "Why" Test: Ask yourself why you do things. If the answer starts with "I should," investigate who told you that.
- Face the Shadow: Write down the one thing you’re most ashamed of. Look at it. Realize it doesn't actually have teeth.
Forgive the "Old You"
The biggest trap of The Devil reversed is looking back and feeling stupid for staying in the chains so long. Don't do that. You stayed because you were surviving. Thank that version of yourself for getting you through the dark, and then gently let them go.
Final Insights on the Great Unbinding
The Devil reversed is the moment the lights go on in the club at 2:00 AM. The music stops. The "magic" of the night fades, and you see the sticky floors and the cheap tinsel for what they are. It’s not as glamorous as the illusion, but it’s real. And once you see the reality, you can never really go back to the fantasy.
Move forward with the knowledge that your power never actually left you; it was just on loan to something else. Take it back. Use it to build something that doesn't require chains to keep you in place.
Next Steps for Mastery
To fully embody the energy of The Devil reversed, perform a "Chain-Breaking Ritual." Identify one specific habit—be it a thought pattern or a physical action—that makes you feel powerless. Spend the next seven days consciously choosing the opposite action, no matter how small. Document the internal resistance you feel without judging it. This process moves the card's energy from a theoretical concept into a lived experience of personal sovereignty.