DEVIL
Make fear your friend and turn obstacles into allies -- Illusion. Abusive power and control. Shadow. Addiction. Deception and trickery. The heart of the matter. The source of discomfort. Shapeshifting and trickery. A rip-roaring good time. Immediate desires fulfilled at a dangerous cost.
SHADOW: The generator and source of explosive, repressed energy in the wood. The love of your own drama. The false narratives you create. All repressed emotions, ideas, and talents. Self-hatred. Self-loathing. Shame. Anger. Jealousy. Fury. Fear.
The labyrinth awaits," says Temperance as she points behind the witch to a gaping opening in a massive wooded maze leading into corridors of darkness. The witch takes a deep breath, knowing she must enter. The only way out of the wood is to move through each experience, each lesson. Perhaps she was dreaming. Did it matter? She turns back to see Temperance has vanished. The witch takes deep breath and enters the corridor of knotted trees.
Your shadow becomes an ally when embraced. Fear is never an effort to avoid. Avoidance equals indifference; think of how it feels to be shunned or find out someone just doesn't care. Fear is realizing the value of a thing. The thought of losing such a thing becomes more terrifying than actually having it. Fears point us to where we want to go. This is why challenge cards are the heart of a tarot spread and the defining moment of any story.
The Shadow is every fear, terror, talent, desire, wish, and expression buried within the wells of the subconscious. The Devil is the mythological creature springing from the human ego. The ego is the false construction of our personality, the idea of who we think we are. It is entirely selfcreated. We need not destroy our ego. We simply need to recognize it for what it is and no longer be controlled by it.
Labyrinth patterns appear across the natural spectrum in galaxies, seashells, and even snails. We enter mental labyrinths when dealing with loss, confusion, darkness, and fear. Walk the maze to discover your shadow because he conceals himself well. Tricks and illusions would have us think our ego is ready to wage battle with him. What do you fear? Who are you vilifying? What makes you angry and upset? "What,"asks the Devil, "do you want more than anything?"
The Devil stands as the terrifying "other" and as a cultural scapegoat. The Devil wants to keep you enslaved, angry, and scared because this is where he draws his power. He thrives on addiction, negative energy, and extreme control. The Devil is called the "Dweller on the Threshold" because once he is slayed and integrated, infinite possibilities appear. Slay the Dweller to set yourself free just as the Page of Swords is about to do.