The devil in the traditional Tarot is number 15. It signifies many energies that limit, restrain or bind one’s life force. The shadow, the ego, the demon Queen, the Banshee,the ogre, the prisoner, night watchman, the virgin whore and wolf man archetypes in Jungian philosophy. All given other names in the pantheon of energies beings in metaphysical language. Often equated to darkness, death all that embodies the unknown, fear but sensed. Isolation, alienation, inferiority, persecution and depression. “The darkness which clings to every personality is a door into the unconscious and the gateway of dreams” C.G.Jung from his Aion works. Psychic attacks, mid life crisis, breakdown, demons from the past, psychosomatic disorders, opposites and biases.
In the guise as the Ogre archetype this shows as abuse of power, repressed anger, fear of the father figure that leads to timidity as a child, rebellion or dominance in adult years. Psychic wounds left by the father are a tyrant to confront, the animus of Jungian archetypes. The virgin, whore archetype energies generally manifest as dysfunctional emotional or sexual relationships with self and others. “The anima is bipolar and can therefore appear positive one moment and negative the next, now young, now old, now mother, maiden now a good fairy, now a witch, a saint, now a whore” C.G.Jung from Aion. This is the Banshee, the anima quality of the psyche according to C.G.Jung.
Folk tales of Ireland debate whether the Banshee is a fairy, spirit or mortal. The Banshee, Bean-sidhe or woman of the fae has many forms. The form represent the Celtic triple goddess of war and death. Namely Badhbh, Macha and Mor-Rioghan. Maiden, stout woman or raddled hag and oft seen as the washerwoman Bean-nighe. The hare, stoat, weasel, crow associated with the Banshee add to her mystique. The cry of the Banshee is associated with death in many forms. She can forewarn like the reaper, death figure or not. It is at her discretion to assist one’s healing guiding the pain she feels, of one’s pain and suffering. The screaming is part of that expression of her presence. That sense of death that cages the spirit, self imposed limitations, entrapment, obsession, addiction, untying the knots, kicking the habit, fight for freedom from whatever or whoever ails the mundane, pain filled, repressed emotions of trauma, shame, guilt and whatever one hides or unexpressed. She senses and is brought to the light. From archetypes and the collective unconscious by C.G.Jung “What use now is his lofty perch and his wide horizon, when his own dear soul is languishing in prison?” Materially, mentally and emotionally in prison, bound, caged, the death tarot card reveals some of the mystique of the Banshee. A healer, Heroke empath, a Banshee.
Suppression, repression, lack of expression of one’s feelings and that of others that some harbour are detrimental to well being. The inner police or night watchman archetypes, energies within the self that one has to judge those fears that one conceals. A consciousness if based on dualism of good and evil can swing from positive to negative and the moral dilemma or perspective on the pain, issue at hand can become one’s caged night mare.
The past coming to haunt you, self blame, dishonesty, sinner saint complex with the potential for redemption, martyr, evasion of responsibility can all be presented in these moments. The importance of self introspection taking the time to attend to those demons, skeletons, secrets buried within takes it’s toll; from the Trolls who live under the bridge, deep within ones self.
Withdraw from the influences that invoke the tormented presence, face the shadow mindfully; be it in solitude or some prefer a group. The Hermit card is part of this self isolation, self containment process. In the words of C.G.Jung from psychology and religion “It is moreover, only in the state of complete abandonment and loneliness that we experience the helpful powers of our own natures.”
In group dynamics especially if one is highly empathic. Empathy is a quality often equated with ADHD, those of sensitive nature. Empathy is found in many personality types but seems lacking in the narcissist. Be aware of the group dynamics as sensitive individuals are prone to feeling others’ energies as their own compounding the very issue they desire to clear. This just complicates the whole process of healing and paradoxically self introspection can assist in sorting ones’ energies from those of another. Important in general family karma issues.
When motivated by excess fear of the power of others; someone who has poor self restraint, but who is easily restrained by others. Be it the work place, family dynamics or “love” relationship, the wolf man Jungian archetype is in play. Mixed messages from the psyche, false instincts from a fear conditioned existence are present. These are the devil or death itself presenting itself, the abyss has opened it’s mouth. On self introspection one may get to a point where upon questioning ask What the devil am I doing,? What the devil got into you? The devil made me do it! Unhealthy attitudes based on wrong conclusions, from a persecution complex build up from many moments of suppressed feelings; one’s own and those assumed by others.
Nature, instinct, separation from consciousness, what remains in the shadow, lack of restraint, animal nature, older, primitive responses and ancient sub physical senses. The intuitive archetype called the Wolf man signifies acuteness of sensing and the potential possibilities. “One special form of it’s manifestation namely it’s animal form” C.G.Jung in Archetypes and the collective unconscious. Those primal powers can be destructive on many levels. In the external world it is the archetype of the demon queen, a devourer and The Banshee, The remover of ones ‘pain’.
Your own inner demons, devil, dark forces, powers one is scared to tap into. From birth one is conditioned, restrained and limited in their self expression. Their is a fear of self, fear of abandonment. These energies show in poisoned relationships, binding relationships in love, work or family, as in self made emotional prisons. Unstable situations for example when there is obsessive clinging to a person or situation; rebellion against social stereotypes. The subconscious choice of a partner opposite in character to one’s mother to heal the psychological wounds she inflicted. “The woman, like the man, becomes wrapped in a veil of illusions by her demon familiar” C.G.Jung from Aion.
The Banshee is not an energy to fear but understand as thought creates form. That form depends on whomever is manipulating the energies around, within the self. That self can be transformed on every level even to the molecular level. The Banshee is a transforming force or energy. It is not peculiar to any one clan, kin or country. The Irish mentality has her stylized the way she is currently understood due to the intensity of their ancestral background energies that formed their land, emotions, mentality as in every country and culture.
The Banshee signifies the shadow side of the mother archetype. The mother figure varies especially if religion is the basis of that perception; and the attitudes towards women in general. To some the Banshee is a devourer, gold seeker, magpie, crow like energies. One that will think for you, live your life for you. Sounds like a narcissists, controlling, manipulating energy type, a Yaldaboath of Dualistic, ritualistic, evil step mother image, fallen female of religiosity. Emotionally they imprison you so that no one else may have you. Stockholm syndrome and abduction identification with abductor, and changelings in folklore, myth.
The Banshee can be a ruthless woman or man who will take everything away from you, whether it is money, beliefs, strengths, illusions identity, one’s purpose, one’s humanity and sense of wonder, childhood, rebellion against traditional gender roles, projection of hates and fears onto another, weaken the egocentric life force. Emotional blackmail or dependency on someone who doesn’t necessarily make you happy can be part of this devil energy that one senses. Those qualities are what one senses as like a thunder strike, Torrential rain, the harsh measures, that often have to be employed to set one on a better path of self alignment. Akin to the crumbling tower tarot card to rebuild afresh.
The ego, unclear thinking, sense of loosing to temptation, clearing of the fog, removing chains of negative thinking, excessive emphasis on material success and physical pleasures however imagined and all matters relating to ego are classified as the devil. The devil card asks what is in your heart and mind (Thought patterns) that imprisons you? What holds you hostage and renders you powerless?
The dark side I meet in others has it’s reflection in me. I slay my own demons, which will free me from the demons of others” DEVIL reversed is LIVED. The gnostic text “Thunder” of anonymous scribe is quite illuminating. These old movies are wholesome and not filled with later movies about psycho Leprechauns.
Darby ‘O’ Gill and the little people movie.
The luck of the Irish movie.
The war of the buttons movie.
The leaping fairies and Leprechauns movie.
The dark crystal movie. ( Weird looking animation in this)
The Last Sin eater movie
Ash lad stories
The Mabinogian book.
The Boon dock Saints 1&2 movie with Billy Connelly. (This is more Bloody)