On occassion I like to use my Tarot cards to meditate. It's a great way to gain familiarity with a card and increase my intuitive connection.
As instructed by a Intro to Tarot workbook I use, I usually lay the Major Arcana out and pick whichever most draws my attention. However, I've found this creates a decision-making dilema for me since I'm in thinking mode, wondering which card would best serve me for the experience I'd like to have and based on what I'm concerned about. Then I'm worried about picking the wrong card and how I've influenced what I'll experience.
Recently I've decided a great way to choose the card is just to flip through the deck until a Major Arcana card comes up, then use that card for the meditation. This eliminates the need to make a decision and allows me to really flow with whatever comes up. The last two times I've used this method to choose the card I've had incredibly powerful experiences.
The first was with
The Devil card. Having just agreed with myself to use whichever card came up, my first reaction to pulling The Devil card was fear, "Oh no! What have I gotten myself into!?!" But as I studied the card, writing down symbols, colors and whatever else I noticed in the card, I was amazed and relieved to realize "this isn't a very scary card at all!"
The Card:
The main colors of the card are flesh-orange, black and gray. The Devil is the central figure, large and looming with ram's horns, a wolfish face and ears, thick hairy legs, bird-like feet, and bat-like wings. His right hand is raised, palm-side visible with deep lines. His left hand is pointed down, bearing a lighted torch. He is perched upon a post with a ring fixed to it. To the ring is chained a man and a woman who stand naked to the Devil's left and right, respectively. Each have red hair, horns and tails - at the end of the man's tail is fire and the woman's tail is grapes. With loose chains around their necks, they do not appear to struggle or resist their bondage. In fact, they appear indifferent, bored. The man, looking toward the woman with his left hand on his hip is holding his right hand out, seemingly waiting for or asking for something. The woman gazes out of the picture with both palms facing down at her side.
After recording what I could see and perceive in the image I began my meditation.
The following is my account:
Journeying into the card I found that the scene was set in a concrete cell, illuminated just enough to see the corners, human figures and devil but all else was darkness. As I looked around, I didn't feel frightened, I felt curious and watched to see all that was happening around me.
The Devil steps down from his perch and sits in a pile of hay against a back wall. The man and woman are alive but motionless, indifferent.
I approached the Devil and he rises to meet me returning to his perch.
"Why did you call me here," I ask.
"It was not I who called you here, but you chose chose to come," he replied.
"You do not seem to evil to me," I say with curiousity.
"Whatever people do not like in the world or in themselves they call evil. I represent that part which is feared and hated but am not evil or good."
I notice the man and woman, wondering what they represent.
He says, "I do not keep them here. It is their fears that chain them, bind them and keep them prisoner. Truly they are free to go at any time they choose." I know the Devil speaks the truth.
He is bored but his role, like a watchman, is to be in this space with those who come here.
He gives me a tiny star, the divine spark of life. He tells me, "Divinity is within every person no matter how horrible they may be, and each of us is merely chained by our own fear and hatred. All the world is open to you if you release your fears. It is your divine right to have all you desire, and you can."
I offer him gratitude for his openness and wisdom, and I exit.
