Meditations
For the first week of the New Year
As many of us make resolutions towards self improvement with the birth of each new year, I decided that this first week of January would be an excellent time to contemplate the meaning of The Devil.
In this context, I see The Devil as representing our vices, our bad habits, things we should change about ourselves and within ourselves. Our addictions, those things that harm us, yet we keep doing them anyway.
It is truly easy to become enslaved to our vices. The tobacco user who can not go a single day without a smoke, who must make certain, every single day, that there are enough cigarettes. This individual is a slave to the vice.
These vices, unregulated, unmoderated, out of control passions can infect all of our lives, and when they do we are no longer free. We are controlled by our unnatural needs, no matter what those might be.
This is illustrated by the two human figures on the card. They are chained, enslaved by their own vices. Deprived of some part of their inherent free will, because they have allowed their passions rulership in their lives.
Yet if we look closely, we can plainly see that the bondage is not tight. The chains around their necks are loose. Loose enough that the figures could free themselves, simply by lifting the chains from their necks.
We are, sometimes, enslaved by our vices. But we need not be. All we have to do is determine to retake our freedom, and lift the yoke from our backs.
We can not forget our vast and complete power to improve our own lives. Doing so is simply a matter of will. This is a message, and a warning, that I think we all need to heed, not only as we enter a new year, but each and every day.
But, given our collective predilection for making New Year’s Resolutions, I think The Devil holds a powerful message for each of us as we begin another New Year.
I had a most wonderful time presenting about Tarot and Freemasonry at last week’s Table Lodge in Tenino. I’ve posted a few photos here: