The non-traditional Devil
I recently gave a series of lectures called "The Devil's in the Details" - where I challenged myself to examine the Devil card in tarot from every possible perspective and try to share that with the audience. The idea being to demystify the Devil a little and identify the positive side of this card along with all its negative stereotypes. I am fascinated to see some of the positive things we came up with and alternative meanings reflected in this discussion.
For example, one theme that arises is living in the material world. The downward pointing pentacle is symbolic of earth-centered religions, and in Pagan/Wiccan decks, the Devil card is often portrayed as the horned god, a more positive aspect. Living in the material plane is what we are actually doing, after all, and very few of the other tarot trumps deal with this directly. Many of the negative connotations of the Devil have to do with unsuccessful interactions with material things - overindulgence in food, sex, alcohol, addictions; bondage to greed or addiction, overwork (think Capricorn/Saturn), materialism; failure to observe appropriate boundaries (Saturn again).
Every card, however, has a positive aspect to it (or so I believe). The Devil is also about exercising free will and interacting successfully with all these same material aspects of the world. Work and life in moderation, enjoying food, drink, and sex without being addicted to them or ruled by them. Setting successful boundaries, enjoying the pleasures of living in the physical world. Being faced with temptation and appropriately exercising your free will (one of the original roles of the Devil in Christian lore). Making love and creating families. Yes, there is bondage associated with all of these things, but it is freely chosen and if approached with love and a positive spirit, not limiting. The Devil is not actually evil - he personifies the challenge of free will and personal choice. Good and evil, right choices and wrong ones, are ours to make.
If one sees the Devil in part as a challenge to live in the material plane successfully and positively, with all the uncertainties and dangers that represents, what could possibly represent that better than childbirth? Here a woman gives birth to flesh of her flesh, bringing another soul into the earthly plane. Another innocent child, who in turn will face the choices, temptations, and pleasures of the Devil and of life in the world. She gives herself up wholly to the physical process of childbirth - perhaps the most fundamental experience a woman has in her lifetime. Both sex and childbirth are moments when our entire beings are given entirely over to our bodies, and this truly belongs in the realm of Earth, or the Devil.
Enough ramblings for tonight
- Teresa