Tarot de Marseille: The Picturebook of Fate: The Sixes Part 2

This article continues my series examining the trumps of the Tarot de Marseille, adapted from my unpublished manuscript, Tarot de Marseille: The Picturebook of Fate. As throughout this series, the emphasis is placed upon the traditional eikōn of the card, its historical context, and the practical significations I have found useful through divinatory practice. The interpretations presented here reflect my own experience of working with the Tarot de Marseille and should be understood as a working method rather than a definitive authority.

The Sixes: The Lover and the Devil

Trump XV, Le Diable, or the Devil, is one of the most confronting cards in the Tarot and one that inevitably divides opinion. Surely belief in the Devil belongs to a less enlightened age? Is this card merely a warning against materialism, excess, and worldly temptation? Or does its disturbing imagery point towards something deeper and more unsettling: the malignant forces that can overwhelm both individuals and communities?

The origins of this trump remain the subject of debate, and the card is absent from some of the earliest surviving examples of the Tarot. The traditional Marseille eikōn depicts a grotesque bat-winged Devil standing upon a pedestal and holding a staff. The figure combines both male and female characteristics. A second face appears upon its abdomen, whilst its knees possess eyes. On either side stand two horned and naked figures loosely bound to the pedestal by ropes. The image is deeply unsettling and deliberately so. Nothing about the card conveys harmony, balance, or order.

The essence of the Devil is blind force; its function is to enslave. Unlike the Pope, who guides through wisdom, or Temperance, which governs through reason and proper measure, the Devil represents power divorced from reason and directed without regard for the good. It is force for its own sake: primal, destructive, and indifferent to consequences.

Pope Francis¹ has spoken of the Devil more frequently than many of his recent predecessors. Significantly, he teaches that the Devil has little need to possess people in the dramatic fashion popularised by films and folklore. Instead, the Devil works through hatred, envy, resentment, vice, desolation, and despair. These become the instruments by which individuals, communities, and even whole societies are poisoned. It is an apt description of the necrotic energy contained within this powerful card. The Devil rarely appears openly. More often, it operates through those forces that gradually distort our judgement, weaken our resolve, and separate us from what is good.

At its most obvious, the Devil appears through addiction and compulsion. Whether the object of dependence is alcohol, drugs, gambling, food, sex, or something less tangible, the pattern is the same. A force that initially appears manageable gradually acquires mastery over the individual. Freedom diminishes, relationships suffer, and life becomes organised around satisfying the appetite. The two figures chained to the Devil’s pedestal illustrate this condition perfectly. Their bonds are slight, yet they remain captive all the same.

The card also manifests through coercion, abuse, and domination. Here the enslaving force is not a substance but another person. Physical abuse, emotional manipulation, coercive control, exploitation, and intimidation all belong to the Devil’s domain. Under such circumstances, the victim’s freedom is gradually eroded until fear, dependency, or despair take its place.

Yet the Devil’s operation extends beyond the individual. Blind force can seize entire groups and societies. Hatred, fanaticism, ideological extremism, prejudice, and collective hysteria all demonstrate what happens when reason is overwhelmed and people surrender themselves to destructive passions. The card therefore warns against those influences which encourage unquestioning conformity, demonisation of others, and the abandonment of conscience in favour of dogma or tribal loyalty.

On a collective level, the Devil may also manifest through ideologies (the far right), movements (imperialism), and systems of thought that subordinate truth to power, loyalty to the group (like the Freemasons), or passion to reason. In the Neoplatonic and Christian traditions, human beings are called towards freedom through participation in the Good, which ultimately finds its source in Divine Love. The Devil represents the opposite tendency: the reduction of the human person to appetite, compulsion, tribal identity, or domination. Whenever individuals become willing to sacrifice conscience, charity, and reason in service of an abstract cause, charismatic leader, or collective identity, the influence of the Devil may be discerned. The card therefore warns against any doctrine or movement that encourages bondage where there should be freedom, division where there should be communion, or power where there should be love.

To some extent, the concept of Hell may be more illuminating than the Devil itself. Traditionally, Hell is understood not merely as punishment but as separation from God, the source of all goodness and truth. The Devil card depicts the misery that arises from such separation. Its grotesque central figure towers over its followers, feeding upon despair, division, and suffering. The further one moves from reason, wisdom, and the good, the stronger its influence becomes.

In practical divination, the Devil frequently heralds periods in which the querent feels trapped or overwhelmed. Temptations are stronger than usual, unhealthy attachments become difficult to break, and circumstances seem to exert an almost oppressive weight. It is not uncommon for the card to foreshadow illness or a deterioration in health. At first glance this may appear unrelated to the image, yet illness itself often reflects a body whose natural defences have been overcome. Severe illness can isolate, restrict, and diminish a person’s independence, mirroring the card’s central theme of bondage.

Finally, the Devil is the card of temptation itself. We are often persuaded that we can indulge without consequence, compromise our principles without cost, or remain in control of forces which are gradually mastering us. The Devil reminds us that such confidence is frequently misplaced. Every temptation carries a price. The question posed by the card is simple: are we truly in control, or have we become one of the figures at the foot of the pedestal, mistaking our chains for freedom?

General: A powerful and overwhelming influence operating within the querent’s life. The Devil signifies domination, compulsion, and circumstances which are difficult to escape. The card often appears where there is manipulation, deceit, coercion, or the abuse of power. Freedom is restricted, whether by external forces or by the querent’s own weaknesses and attachments.

Love: Under the Devil’s influence, relationships frequently develop unhealthy dynamics. One partner may seek to control, manipulate, or dominate the other, leading to emotional, psychological, or even physical abuse. Co-dependency, jealousy, obsession, and self-destructive behaviours can undermine the relationship and erode trust. For those who are single, the Devil often heralds the beginning of a passionate and intense affair. Attraction may be immediate and overwhelming. However, the card carries a warning: there are likely to be strings attached, hidden complications, or consequences that become apparent only later.

Career: The Devil is less concerned with particular professions than with working conditions. It often appears when the querent feels trapped in an unrewarding role, unable to leave a job they dislike, struggling with long-term unemployment, or working under exploitative conditions. Workplace bullying, coercive management practices, unreasonable expectations, and employers who take advantage of staff frequently fall under the Devil’s domain. The card asks whether the price being paid is truly worth it.

Finance: Extreme caution is advised in financial matters. The Devil often signifies debt, financial dependency, losses of income, or obligations that become increasingly difficult to manage. It may also indicate scams, fraud, predatory lending, or exploitation by those seeking to profit at the querent’s expense. Financial problems can quickly become self-perpetuating cycles unless decisive action is taken.

Health: The Devil is fundamentally a card of sickness, particularly conditions in which the body’s natural defences have been compromised or overwhelmed. It is strongly associated with autoimmune disorders, including lupus and Type I diabetes, as well as chronic illnesses that diminish vitality and independence. The card governs addictions and compulsive behaviours of all kinds, though unlike the Lover, it typically indicates that those compulsions have produced tangible physical consequences. Anatomically, the Devil is associated with the elimination system.

Essence: Blind Force.
Function: Enslave.
Polarity: Negative.
Astrological Association: Scorpio.
Timing: November.

Tarot Cards: Jean Dodal Tarot via Wikipedia Commons. Public Domain.

Featured Image: Ancient Tarot Major Arcana © BP Grimaud/John Waddington Ltd, Leeds & London, Les Tarot de Marseille Jean Noblet, 1650 © Editions «letarot.com» (2001 [hand stencilled trumps]). Les Tarot de Marseille Jean Dodal, 1701 et 1715 © Editions «letarot.com» (2002 [hand stencilled trumps])

For example, see Gaudete et Exsultate ↩︎

12 August, 202629 July, 2026

Tarot de Marseille: The Picturebook of Fate: The Sixes Part 1

The Sixes: The Lover and the Devil

Trump VI, L’Amoureux, or the Lover, is one of the strangest and most misunderstood cards in the Tarot. Some see it as a card of love and romance. Others interpret it as a card of choice and decision-making. Still others focus upon complex relationships and outside interference. Yet the Marseille image suggests something rather different. Rather than depicting love fulfilled or a decision made, it portrays a man caught between competing influences and unable to move forward.

The traditional eikōn of the Lover is unusual and immediately striking. A young man stands between two women, each touching or holding him. Above this curious trio hovers a winged Cupid set within a radiant sun, bow drawn and arrow ready to strike. It is a scene charged with tension, yet remarkably little action occurs. No choice is made. No union is achieved. Instead, the central figure appears caught between opposing forces.

The essence of the Lover is vacillation; its function is to paralyse. For many years this card was a private nemesis of mine. I attempted to read it as a card of love and, later, as a card of choice. Neither interpretation fully satisfied me. Were the card truly about choice, one might expect to see a figure weighing options and reaching a conclusion. Yet the young man does nothing of the sort. He appears trapped by indecision. His companions exert influence from either side, whilst Cupid’s arrow introduces yet another force beyond his control.

The card therefore depicts what happens when reason is subjugated to desire. Conflicting wants, loyalties, attractions, and obligations pull us in opposing directions until we become incapable of meaningful action. We want incompatible things simultaneously. We fear making the wrong choice. Self-preservation urges caution whilst desire urges action. The result is hesitation, confusion, and ultimately paralysis. The Lover is the card of the divided heart. Hosea’s observation¹ remains as relevant now as when it was first written: conflicting loyalties render us unstable and uncertain. We are drawn simultaneously towards incompatible desires and find ourselves unable to pursue any of them wholeheartedly. Thus the card signifies not the making of a choice, but the paralysis that arises when we cannot bring ourselves to make one.

For this reason, the Lover often appears when the querent is being pulled in different directions and cannot determine the best course of action. A pervasive feeling of discomfort accompanies the card. One finds oneself at a crossroads, yet no path appears satisfactory. Progress stalls because the underlying problem is not a lack of options but a lack of clarity regarding what is truly wanted. Until this confusion is resolved, the querent remains unable to realise their full potential.

Quite often, the Lover signifies the influence of a third party: someone whose presence complicates matters or exerts undue influence over the situation. In relationship readings this can indeed manifest as the classic love triangle, though not necessarily through infidelity. More often it reflects divided loyalties, emotional uncertainty, or the emergence of feelings for another person whilst an existing relationship is neglected.

The principle extends beyond romance. In business and employment matters, the Lover frequently reveals rivalry, competition, and competing interests. The querent may find themselves struggling to establish a clear position or differentiate themselves from others. Unless they are willing to commit to a particular course of action, competitors may seize the opportunities that indecision leaves behind. The Lover reminds us that vacillation has a cost, for whilst we hesitate, the world continues to move forward.

General: Being pulled in different directions by competing interests, loyalties, or desires. The card signifies uncertainty, hesitation, and difficulty committing to a particular course of action. Third parties often complicate matters, introducing confusion or conflicting advice. Conflicts of interest, divided loyalties, and an inability to decide are common manifestations of the Lover.

Love: In established relationships, the Lover frequently heralds a period of doubt and uncertainty regarding the future. Communication is often poor, with one or both partners reluctant to express their true feelings or concerns. The card may indicate the influence of a third party, whether through interference, divided affections, or the emergence of romantic feelings elsewhere. For those who are single, the Lover often brings opportunities which ultimately fail to develop into lasting relationships. Initial attraction may be strong, but long-term goals and expectations are seldom aligned. The card also warns that not everyone is being entirely candid.

Career: The Lover is associated with professions concerned with relationships and human interaction, including relationship counselling, sexual health services, matchmaking, and similar fields. It may also signify temporary, part-time, or flexible employment. More commonly, however, the card indicates uncertainty regarding career direction. The querent may be struggling to identify the right path forward and would benefit from impartial advice. Within existing employment, the card can reveal rivalry, office politics, conflicting expectations, and unhealthy competition between colleagues.

Finance: Financial difficulties frequently arise through indecision, poor planning, or conflicting priorities. Income and expenditure may have fallen out of balance, requiring difficult choices and a reassessment of financial goals. Dissatisfaction and emotional frustration can encourage impulsive spending, often to temporary effect. The card advises seeking trusted advice and committing to a clear financial strategy.

Health: The Lover is associated with sexual health and may indicate sexually transmitted infections and diseases. More generally, the card often points towards disorders in which desire, impulse, or compulsion override reason and good judgement. This includes conditions such as intermittent explosive disorder, compulsive eating, kleptomania, compulsive spending, and related difficulties with impulse control. Psychological distress arising from internal conflict, indecision, or competing desires may also be present.

Essence: Vacillation.
Function: Paralyse.
Polarity: Neutral.
Astrological Association: Venus.
Timing: Friday. Within seven months.

Tarot Cards: Jean Dodal Tarot via Wikipedia Commons. Public Domain.

Their heart is a divided heart; very well, they must pay for it. Hosea 10:2, Jerusalem Translation. ↩︎

7 August, 202631 July, 2026

Tarot de Marseille: The Picturebook of Fate: The Fives Part 3

The Fives: The Pope and Temperance

Let us now turn to another example and, in doing so, introduce a new spread.

The tirage en croix, or cross spread, is perhaps the most popular layout in continental cartomancy. One of the principal reasons for its enduring popularity is its capacity to provide a clear and decisive response to a question—indeed, where appropriate, it may even yield a simple affirmative or negative answer. Several variations exist, and the one presented here is simply the version I utilise most often.

The twenty-one trumps and the Madman or Fool are shuffled and cut, after which four cards are dealt in the form of a cross.

03
01 – 05 – 02
04

Card 1 (Left): The querent and their manner of approaching the situation.
Card 2 (Right): The situation itself, including external influences, whether favourable or adverse.
Card 3 (Above): Advice and guidance.
Card 4 (Below): The outcome.
Card 5 (Centre): The synthesis.

Unlike the first four cards, the fifth is not drawn but calculated. One adds together the numerical values of the four cards already laid, using the numbering of the Major Arcana, and reduces the result to a number not exceeding twenty-two.

For example, should one draw the Madman (0), Justice (8), the Lover (6), and the Sun (19), the calculation is as follows:

0 + 8 + 6 + 19 = 33

As this exceeds twenty-two, one reduces it further:

3 + 3 = 6

The resulting number corresponds to the Lover, which serves as the synthesis.

It should be evident that this synthesis card is not to be read as an additional outcome; that function is already fulfilled by the fourth card. Rather, the synthesis reveals the underlying dynamics of the matter—the deeper currents and governing principles operating behind the question.

A brief note should be made regarding the Madman. When it appears amongst the first four cards, it is assigned the numerical value of zero for the purposes of calculation. However, the matter is treated somewhat differently in the case of the synthesis. Should the final total reduce to twenty-two, the Madman itself becomes the synthesis card.

Michelle was a gregarious, witty, and gifted amateur artist and jewellery maker who was difficult to overlook. Sadly, she lost her job during lockdown and struggled to find similar employment thereafter. When she secured an interview for a receptionist role, she wanted to know whether she would be successful.

The cards were:

Position 1: The Sun
Position 2: The Hermit
Position 3: The Pope
Position 4: The Star
Position 5 (Synthesis): The Pope

The reading begins with the Sun in the position of the querent. This card described Michelle remarkably well. She was warm, engaging, enthusiastic, and impossible to ignore. The Sun is open, honest, and direct. It illuminates everything around it and has little interest in concealment or reserve. Michelle’s natural inclination was therefore to approach the interview with confidence, sincerity, and considerable personal charm.

The situation itself was represented by the Hermit. Here we immediately encounter a contrast. Whereas the Sun shines brightly, the Hermit carries only a small lantern. The position Michelle sought required discretion, patience, and good judgement rather than exuberance and visibility.

A receptionist often acts as the public face of an organisation whilst simultaneously serving as a gatekeeper. Sensitive information may pass through their hands and they are required to deal with people tactfully and professionally. Consequently, the role demanded qualities that did not come as naturally to Michelle as the Sun’s warmth and openness.

The Hermit did not suggest that she suppress her personality altogether. Rather, it advised moderation. Michelle would need to turn down the brightness of the Sun somewhat and demonstrate a more thoughtful, careful, and measured side of herself.

In the position of advice appeared the Pope. This card proved crucial to the interpretation, and its significance became even more apparent when it later reappeared as the synthesis.

The Pope advised Michelle to combine confidence with empathy, strength of character with perceptiveness, and communication with understanding. Reception work is fundamentally a mediating role. One must listen carefully, assess situations quickly, and respond appropriately to a wide variety of people. The Pope therefore encouraged Michelle to demonstrate not merely competence, but wisdom in the application of that competence.

The card also suggested that she would benefit from learning as much as possible about the organisation beforehand. Speaking with someone familiar with the establishment, researching its culture, or gaining a clearer understanding of what the employer valued would allow her to present herself more effectively and show how her skills could benefit the organisation.

The outcome was represented by the Star, a highly encouraging card. The Star signifies renewal, hope, and guidance, all of which pointed towards a favourable result.

More importantly, the card highlighted adaptability. Just as the maiden directs water from her two pitchers, Michelle possessed the ability to apply her talents in different ways according to the needs of the situation. The Star suggested that she had the natural qualities required for the role and, crucially, the ability to adapt those qualities appropriately.

The synthesis was calculated as the Pope, reinforcing the importance of that card. Whenever a card appears both within the spread and as the synthesis, it deserves particular attention. Such repetition indicates that the principles symbolised by the card form the very heart of the matter.

The Pope revealed that the interview was not fundamentally about experience or qualifications. It was about demonstrating wisdom, tact, empathy, intuition, and sound judgement. Michelle already possessed the confidence and charisma represented by the Sun. Her challenge was to temper those qualities with the maturity, discernment, and understanding represented by the Pope.

True strength, the Pope reminds us, is not merely confidence. It is confidence guided by wisdom. Likewise, intuition is not guesswork, but perception informed by experience and understanding. The Pope therefore represented both the advice and the solution.

My conclusion was that Michelle had every chance of obtaining the position. Success depended less upon dazzling the interview panel and more upon convincing them that she possessed the judgement and interpersonal skills required for the role. If she could combine the warmth of the Sun with the wisdom of the Pope, the Star strongly suggested that the opportunity would be hers.

And so, it was! Michelle was successful and is still in post four years on.

This example illustrates another important principle of the tirage en croix. Repeated cards and recurring themes frequently reveal the true heart of a reading. Here, the Pope appeared twice, emphasising that genuine strength lay not in confidence alone, but in the wisdom to know how, when, and where that confidence should be applied.

Tarot Cards: Jean Dodal Tarot via Wikipedia Commons. Public Domain.