Capricorn, The Devil, and 2022's Card, The Lovers

"Nothing is more exhausting than endlessly working on 'yourself.' When you offer your whole being fully to love, self-acceptance arises spontaneously." - Tosha Silver

Back in March, I began exploring with you all how the Zodiac and the Tarot are aligned. It has been a pleasure to use the Zodiac's anchor cards to discuss each season.

One topic I haven't touched upon, until today, is numerology and the Tarot. My opinion of numerology is the same as my opinion of astrology. When these symbols add depth and nuance to a lived experience, great. Anything that feels limiting, prescriptive, or predictive - forget it.

In Tarot, when we discuss birth cards and the "Card of the Year", we connect the numbers of the year, 2022, by adding them. 2+2+0+2 = 6. 6 is the number of The Lovers card in the Major Arcana.

When we discuss the card of the year, it is not a prediction or an instruction, but rather a grounding force that can contextualize the spiritual growth we, as a collective, are being invited to.

As a preface to all of my readings, I emphasize that there are no 'good' cards and there are no 'bad' cards. There are a few cards in the deck that I must always reiterate this fact, and The Devil and The Lovers are top of that list. We are all familiar with The Devil, a figure of darkness and evil. It makes sense that some folks with traditional religious beliefs might reject Tarot as a whole based on this card alone. However, I can promise you this card is an ally for your spiritual expansion. It's no accident that we enter into this card and Capricorn season on the darkest day of the year, the Winter Solstice. The image of Capricorn is that of a goat and the image of The Devil is a horned beast.

Atop The Devil's head is an inverted pentacle. He has the wings of a bat and his torch is lighting the tail of the male figure below, a symbol of sexual desire turned destructive. Both human figures are chained, but so loosely that they could easily escape. While they are presumably in a place of hell, their faces and their bodies do not reveal any discomfort.

Whenever The Devil arrives in a reading, and I assure my client that this is not a 'bad' card despite its black imagery, it's welcomed and relieving news. No surprise then, when The Lovers card arrives and I point out that this is not a 'good' card, there is a palpable disappointment!