1. Card XV: The Devil
- Core Themes: Enslavement, temptation, materialism, dependency, negative patterns.
- Symbols & Correspondences: Capricorn, Earth element; Hebrew letter Ayin (eye, meaning clear vision). Key symbols include: the Devil figure (half-man, half-goat; Pan, Satan, or Baphomet), inverted pentagram (cruelty and dark forces), chains (control and dependency, though not tight), torch (knowledge and power kept for himself), the man’s forked tail (corruption), the woman’s tail with fruit (forbidden fruit).
- Upright Meaning: You may be enslaved to an ideal or relationship that demands too much. What started positively has reversed, and now you are seeing the situation for what it is. This is a card of greed, temptation, and materialism. To change the situation, you will need to think laterally and use a little cunning. The upright Devil often describes situations not worth trying to fix or heal. The message is simply to walk away and escape in the best way you can.
- Reversed Meaning: This is one of the few cards whose reversed meaning is more hopeful. The decision you need to make will be easier than you think. The chains are looser than they appear, and the situation is not as drastic as you first thought. Now is the time to make your move. In health, a difficult cycle is about to end; addictions and bad habits become easier to manage and eventually vanish.
- Wisdom Message: “In one leap, you can be free.”
The Devil Spread (Breaking the Spell): Place The Devil card, draw 4 cards. Ask: “What’s controlling me?” or “How can I get out of this situation?” (Positions: 1 Present situation, 2 What or who is trapping you, 3 What action to take, 4 Outcome)
2. Card XVI: The Tower
- Core Themes: Destruction, awakening, sudden change, enlightenment, breaking illusions.
- Symbols & Correspondences: Mars, Fire element; Hebrew letter Peh (mouth, meaning chaos). Key symbols include: the burning tower (society, protection, and the ego), lightning bolt (enlightenment and purification, revealing what is hidden), falling figures (humanity at the mercy of higher forces), falling crown (worldly power no longer holds), golden droplets (22 droplets, corresponding to Hebrew letters and Major Arcana cards).
- Upright Meaning: Sudden change strikes you: the collapse of an ideal, dream, organization, or relationship. This is inevitable and due to forces beyond your control. The Tower represents a shattered ego, leaving you feeling vulnerable and confused. Yet you can only surrender to its power and work on accepting the huge shift in awareness it offers. The upside is release: when the walls come down, everything is illuminated. You can see how you built your psychological tower and what it protected you from.
- Reversed Meaning: You may find yourself taking responsibility even when you are blameless. You may have held on to a career, project, or relationship that cannot stand the test of time. If you have clung to the past to protect yourself from reality, your fears may materialize. The Tower’s collapse is inevitable, so do not feel responsible for forces outside your control. Its impact is sudden and dramatic, and soon you will know exactly where you stand.
- Wisdom Message: “Surrender.”
The Tower Spread (Letting Go): Place The Tower card, draw 6 cards. Ask: “What will be released?” or “Is my present position in my career/relationship/home secure?” (Positions: 1 The foundation / the past, 2 Emotional reasons for your tower, 3 The financial benefits of your tower, 4 What needs to be released, 5 Emotional outcome, 6 Practical outcome)
3. Card XVII: The Star
- Core Themes: Hope, guidance, inspiration, creativity, healing.
- Symbols & Correspondences: Aquarius, Air element; Hebrew letter Tzaddi (fishhook, meaning hope). Key symbols include: eight stars with one guiding star (hope and divine guidance), the naked maiden (eternal youth and creative soul; Aphrodite or Isis), the bird (dove of Aphrodite or ibis of Isis), flowing water (water of life, resourcefulness, and healing), earth and pool (the maiden pours water onto both, healing past and present).
- Upright Meaning: The Star offers hope and guidance. If things have felt difficult recently, have faith that your luck is about to change for the better. You can begin to appreciate everything life has to offer, including better physical and spiritual well-being. The Star supports beauty and creativity. In your projects and relationships, you can be fully expressed, sharing your love, gifts, and talents. You may feel more intuitive and insightful, trusting messages from your angels and guides. The Star also indicates good health.
- Reversed Meaning: You may be giving up too easily on your projects or experiencing a creative block. You may be too attached to a fantasy scenario—starlight is bewitching—while overlooking the details. Alternatively, you may feel lulled into a false sense of security in a venture that has no foundation and little chance of success. An additional meaning is feeling alone without the support you need.
- Wisdom Message: “Be inspired—dreams come true.”
The Star Spread (Wish Upon a Star): Place The Star card, draw 5 cards. Ask: “What will inspire me?” or “Will my wish come true?” (Positions: 1 You/your present situation, 2 Your wish, 3 The outcome, 4 What hinders you, 5 What helps you)
References
Greer, M. K. (2019). Tarot for your self: A workbook for personal transformation (3rd ed.). Weiser Books.
