"The Devil" as the solution to a problem?

Ruby Jewel

Lerena said:
Situation:
I asked my tarot deck why I can't enjoy anything I'm writing this month, and for the most part I understand its answer, but the last card in the spread tells me how to fix the problem. It's supposed to indicate how I can start feeling fulfilled by what I write. The Devil is in this position and I'm confused.

The Devil:
It's a card that generally indicates indulgence and materialism. It can show up when there's an imbalance in someone's life. Like, maybe they're eating too much, spending a lot of money, or they're spending too much time thinking about how attractive their lover is.

Either way, I don't understand why it appeared, because I have already tried to base my writing on instincts and basic needs. It hasn't worked so far. I keep feeling unsatisfied with what I'm writing even when I try to indulge my "dark side," so to speak.

----

It seems like I'm missing something about the meaning of this card, but I may be in the wrong mindset to see it.

Does anyone have any ideas about the card's meaning in this situation?

I don't know what you are writing, but if it is a romance novel, it is no doubt telling you it needs more sex....at least that was what it was telling me, and it was in response to a question I asked because an editor had told me it had to have a lot of sex for publishers to even consider it...apparently it is what publishers look for because it is what sells.

Lerena

Quick update: I will be unable to respond again until early Saturday morning or evening. Trust me. It took everything I had just to type this in the kind of pain I'm in right now.

Ruby Jewel

Lerena said:
Quick update: I will be unable to respond again until early Saturday morning or evening. Trust me. It took everything I had just to type this in the kind of pain I'm in right now.

Whatever it is, I hope you feel better real soon.

Lerena

@bee610: I don't know if your interpretation is correct, because the outcome didn't involve me giving up a habit. Additionally, I have no idea how I would get over my perfectionism.

@Ruby Jewel: I don't know if I could write a sex scene to save my life. It's a good thing I wasn't writing any romance last month.

Update:
I failed to achieve my goal.

Ruby Jewel

Lerena said:
@bee610: I don't know if your interpretation is correct, because the outcome didn't involve me giving up a habit. Additionally, I have no idea how I would get over my perfectionism.

@Ruby Jewel: I don't know if I could write a sex scene to save my life. It's a good thing I wasn't writing any romance last month.

Update:
I failed to achieve my goal.

I agree writing a sex scene is quite a challenge. It is difficult to find the balance between porn and mundane. It really has nothing to do with the writer...other than imagination....and no doubt you have an active imagination or you wouldn't be writing. But since you don't mention what you are writing, my attempt to answer here is probably pointless. You might consider working on your perfectionism and set yourself free to write because perfectionism is a death sentence to artists and writers....do the research on it and you will find it is characteristic of a neurosis.

*******

I just went back and read where you mention your temper....so, you are battling a neurosis....a neurotic temper is a tantrum that is a a power struggle that began in childhood...an attempt to compensate for having lost your confidence as a child.....no doubt it catches you from behind before you realize what is happening before you blow. Forget writing and go to work on this. Writing comes later.....and it will flow. I have been where you are. The one who saved me (at the age of 40) was "Our Inner Conflicts" by Karen Horney. You may wind up wanting her complete works, but this one will help you to diffuse that anger...You can go to a therapist I guess...personally though, I didn't like telling my stories...I wanted to know what he knew. You can beat it....but you have to look it in the face. It will bury you if you let it....Alfred Adler deals with the power complex in a marvelous way....explains it in such a way you will be able to see yourself...this is your journey and it really is up to you....I wish you all the success. .....

********
and relative to your original question, this is why you drew the Devil. The Devil is an archetype of the unconscious that becomes constellated (brought into consciousness) in a neurosis......so, let me address that. Temperance is stronger than the Devil. Temperance is your way through. Learn about Temperance. The angel in the Temperance card is Archangel Michael...who grabbed Satan by the ankle and cast him forever into hell. In the tarot, Temperance is 14 and the Devil is 15....so, you are in a war with the Devil..(your unconscious)....that is why you drew it. You are in the middle of a transformation....go and win this battle, Larena! Pay attention to your dreams...write them down, and meditate on Temperance for a starter.

Tamipie1

sometimes

I like to interpret the Devil as a kind of Bacchus character, suggesting maybe you need to get out and have some fun, play for a while, have some drinks (or whatever), then sober up and get back to it.

Lerena

@Tamipie1: You're most likely right, though in general, I think I need to have more fun.

Ruby Jewel said:
I just went back and read where you mention your temper....so, you are battling a neurosis....a neurotic temper is a tantrum that is a a power struggle that began in childhood...an attempt to compensate for having lost your confidence as a child.....no doubt it catches you from behind before you realize what is happening before you blow.

I'm not sure if I'm really battling my temper anymore, because I took violetdaisy's advice and found out that one of my medications can cause irritability. Well, actually, I was looking up if said medication could cause restlessness and I happened to see irritability listed there as a side effect. I am somewhat curious if it is my medication. Thing is, I seem to have adjusted to it, which adds to my curiosity.

Of course, on the other hand, I won't entirely dismiss the possibility that my anger has been building since childhood. I don't recall a single time that my anger has lasted long enough to do something about it and that may have resulted in it building up over the years. Right now, I am just exploring the possibilities with my therapist. I don't want to say this or that is causing my anger when it's a bit too early to tell.

violetdaisy said:
Also, some meds make me very apathetic, emotionally flat. Especially hard since I react very badly to ssri's. But meds are a devil I have to deal with. So the devil could be linked to a medicine. Just because you have to be tethered to something you shouldn't have to be trapped by it. You should be able to bring it with you on creative journeys.

Read up on what you're taking and things you might be able to take. Everything has an insane side effect list and most mention that if symptoms come back or get worse to seek help quickly.

I take back what I said. The Devil could have been linked to the antidepressant I'm taking, because it can potentially cause irritability and I think being too irritable is why I didn't get through NaNo this year. Based on how things were last month, however, stress may worsen the level of irritability it causes.

I'm not entirely sure how the medication works. It seems to increase my energy levels though, which strangely enough was the main complaint I had while I was angry and unable to think of something I wanted to write. If the Devil referred to one of the medications I am taking, it may have been pointing to the medication being a necessary evil but also a beneficial one.