The Devil
The Devil explores attachment, fascination, and a difficult relationship with desire or power. Its image can be used to name a tension that is hard to look at. It does not demonstrate a curse, an external presence, or a person's guilt.
What to notice in the image
In Rider-Waite-Smith, the central figure and the two chained figures organize a scene of dependence. Look at the represented bonds and the place each character occupies. The reading can focus on what attracts, what limits, and what has become difficult to question.
Nuances of interpretation
Desire can give intensity to an experience; the symbolic problem appears when it restricts freedom or demands that its costs be hidden. An inversion can open a review of the bond or show difficulty in letting go. No orientation diagnoses an addiction nor decides for you which relationship to maintain.
An example with other cards
With The Devil, Justice, and The Fool, a question about a commitment can relate attachment, reviewing agreements, and the possibility of another answer. The synthesis invites distinguishing what is desired from what has been accepted out of habit. The opening of the last card does not force an impulsive break.
A question for your reading
What attracts you to this situation and what condition reduces your margin of choice?