Ruth Ann Amberstone guest post: A Date with the Devil
I’m thrilled to have the acclaimed tarot authority Ruth Ann Amberstone as my next guest for the “Most Romantic Week on the Blogosphere”, featuring the Love Tarot app. Ruth Ann Amberstone and her husband, Wald Amberstone, are founders of The Tarot School as well as the authors of The Secret Language of Tarot and Tarot Tips: 78 Practical Techniques to Enhance Your Reading Skills. They are also the creators of The Readers Studio, an annual international conference for tarot enthusiasts.
In this post, Ruth Ann writes about The Devil, the sexiest and hottest card in the tarot. Yup, The Devil often gets a bad rap. But, as Ruth Ann points out here, he (or she, as the case may be) can be a lot of fun. On top of that, we’re giving away a MP3 of the Tarot School’s famed teleclass on The High Priestess and an autographed copy of The Goddess Tarot to one blog commenter. Details at the end of this post.
Tomorrow’s post: Mama Donna Henes offers sage advice on how to romance the most important person in your life — you!
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If you were to name the tarot cards that are most associated with relationships, chances are The Devil would not be at the top of your list. But a closer look reveals that this “bad boy” can have a lot to say in a relationship reading.
The most common interpretation of The Devil, as it might relate to partnerships, is that of a dysfunctional or co-dependent relationship — often where one person has an addiction of some sort. The bondage that’s depicted in the image can refer to the addictive behavior, or perhaps to a taste for kinky sex.
But there are things about this card that are less obvious. In the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, take a good look at the two people and The Devil himself, and you’ll notice that none of them are looking at one another (unlike in The Lovers). This might indicate that there is a lack of communication in the relationship and/or that at least one partner is totally self-involved.
It’s a common observation that the chains around the necks of the two people are loose. The standard approach to interpreting this symbol might suggest that one or both of them could easily leave the “relationship” with The Devil and/or each other by simply slipping out of the chains. A less familiar understanding of these chains, however, is that they are not bonds, but links — these links connect the three figures and hold them together. In this context, The Devil makes it possible for people to stay together and function together, even when they are each essentially in their own world.
The Devil is the perfect date! With his power over appearances, he can look whichever way you personally find most attractive and sexy. He knows how to dance, how to choose a fine wine, and he can dazzle you with his sparkling wit and intelligent conversation. The Devil is a real smooth operator! He’ll promise to fulfill your every wish, but it’s all a scam to get you into bed. And if you fall in love, he’ll drag you through hell as he charms the pants off partner after partner, caring nothing for your jealousy or suffering.
On a lighter note, one of the most useful things to know about The Devil is that the esoteric function of this card is laughter. The Devil laughs at just about everything. And while that may not seem funny on a cosmic level, using this esoteric function in a reading may indicate that what’s really needed is to lighten up! Watch a funny movie, go to a comedy club, or hang out with friends and simply have a good time.
When this card appears in a relationship reading, don’t let it be-devil you. One way or another, it has something valuable to say about the situation.
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TODAY’S GIVEAWAY: We have a MP3 of the Tarot School’s wonderfully in-depth High Priestess teleclass and an autographed copy of The Goddess Tarot! (Find out more here.) To enter, simply leave a comment for this post. For a double entry, tell us about your worst — or funniest — date ever. I’ll start: Mine involves a guy spending the whole night telling me about his ex-girlfriend and how great she was, that no one could measure up to her. At the end of the night he asked, “So, will I see you again?”
The small print: You have until midnight EST on February 14 to leave your comment. Winner will be chosen at random and announced on this blog Monday, February 15, 2010. Sorry, but the giveaway is limited to U.S. and Canada only.
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Top art: Paolo and Francesca from the Love Tarot app by Kris Waldherr.
More about the Love Tarot app: Considered to be the most romantic app in the App Store, the Love Tarot app offers gorgeous tarot readings inspired by famous love stories, such as Tristan and Isolde and Cupid and Psyche. This five star-rated app was recently relaunched to include a tarot journal for users to save their readings and other inspirations.
Available in Lite and Full versions, learn more here. Or download the Full version on iTunes now.
photo of Kris Waldherr
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comments
My worse date was a triple with my aunt and uncle, their boss and wife, and the boss’s son (who was from South Africa and spoke no English).
He sat in silence all night, and then we went dancing at a country & western bar. While trying and failing to dance with me, he honed in. Sheer instinct took over and I turned my head just in time to have his nose bump my cheek. Kiss averted.
The next morning his mother called my aunt to say her son was charmed by me “beyond words.”
Well, no kidding.
Keri, that is hysterical. Love the “beyond words” part.
I guess one of the most interesting dates I’ve had was with a guy who said he had two kids. Well, he had two living at home. I came to find out he had six kids with four different women, to none of whom he was married. I told him I had taught belly dancing classes and he asked if I was ever an exotic dancer. Well, as any good belly dancer would do, I indignantly said no! He said he meant no offense but three of his ex’s were exotic dancers, with girlfriends on the side, which he didn’t mind. This guy didn’t just have baggage, he had a full set of luggage!
I really enjoyed Ruth Ann’s look at the Devil. She pointed out some things I’ve never thought about before.
I’ve never really had any bad dates. Actually, I only had a couple of boyfriends before I met my husband. I’ve had bad break-ups though. lol!
I really, really like that interpretation of The Devil. Thank you for sharing!
Weirdest date was the one with a guy who took me to Dick’s in Seattle for a $3 dinner, and then asked if he could see me when he got paroled. He was heading to jail for 18 months but, “I promise I’ll write”. Um, yeah…no. Thank you, drive through!
Isis & Osiris is beautiful! Wouldn’t love like that be great?! I have the app on my iPhone too…
‘The Date’…just had it last week.
Met him at work, a customer. Seemed nice enough, very shy, sweet. Asked me out, called a coiple days later. Planned a dinner date, then he calls and wants to go somewhere less expensive; should’ve been a clue. LOL
so he comes to pick me up, we talk for a few minutes. He tells me he’s homeless, has no job(does scrapping, sets his own hours, makes good money,,,etc.Hmm.yeah),has no place to stay(him & his dog) tonite but doesn’t think having a roof over his head is a wise plan…
So, ok, lets just get this over with & eat(i think).We get to the diner across the street from my house. He yells across the diner for service(the whole time), wants to eat off my plate, spent 7 years in prison, is a hypacritacal christian(i’m a Pagan), and is a racist.
He finally throws a $20 bill on the table and walks out on me. LOL
I stayed and finished my meal in peace , apologized to the buser & waitress then walked home.
Now i remember why i’ve been single for soo long. LOL!
Thanx for sharing your gift…
Love & Blessings!
I’ve never been able to see anything but attachment to the physical with this card. Thank you for giving me so much more to think about!
As for “The Date”- Way back, when I was in college, I had dated a guy a few times and thought things were going very well. It was really looking promising until he took me out one night to tell me something important. His “something important” was that he was having an affair with the head of the department at school(a man, no less!)and he wanted to know if that made a difference in our relationship! Not so promising after all!
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Love Ruth Ann and love the Tarot School and this blog on the Devil is quite provocative. Thanks!
Regarding a date that was my worst – how about having to buy the beer yourself and then get stood up? And then forgiving and marrying the guy! Best, worst or funniest? Still undecided.
I thought of Tiger Woods when Ruth Ann mentioned that the Devil can represent someone with a sexual dsyfunction. LOL I really feel sorry for him and his wife. Hope he gets the help he needs.
I have had some really awful worst dates! Thank god I am happily married to a great guy!
I moved to a foreign country when I was fifteen, and at the time didn’t speak a word of the language. I met this boy in the boarding school I was in and was immediately taken with him…unfortunately language was a barrier, but somehow (in my adolescent ignorance)I thought it would be ok….he said he would try to teach me some words and slowly I would learn……one day, the headmaster was in sight and he told me how to go up and say to him, good morning headmaster, beautiful weather we’re having today….it was a mouthful, but I tried to remember it and finally went up to him and said these foreign words, and I watched the color DRAIN from his face……apparently I had just told the bastard to go and fuck himself….the entire school spent the rest of the semester laughing, and I needless to say…. never spoke to this “boyfriend with good intentions” again…..
OMG, these stories are totally wild! I feel so tame by comparison. Though I must admit that your bad dates are bringing up some repressed memories. I forgot about the date where I got sick (don’t ask), and the other one where my date’s ex-girlfriend showed up upset. Not fun, though better than someone going off to prison or having a thing for exotic dancers!
Ann, good point about Tiger Woods and the Devil. Especially interesting when you consider the facade he presented to the public.
I love this read of the Devil and wonder what female counterpart Ruth Ann would suggest.
Worst date? The guy who asked if we would eat or just go to the Met – he went on about his parents had a misunderstanding about dinner on the first date and it was a near deal-breaker. I said no food and was glad on the day because I had a terrible cold. After the museum he insisted on going to eat – despite the conversation and my feeling miserable with no appetite. I should have taken myself home but I tried to be polite so I had tea…
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