The Devil. From the COSMOS Tarot & Oracle Deck.
"Andromeda" by Barbara Guttman
Queen Cassiopeia angered Poseidon by boasting of her daughter Andromeda’s beauty. In his rage, he sent the sea monster, Cetus, to destroy Cassiopeia’s kingdom. Andromeda’s father, King Cepheus, chained Andromeda to a rock by the sea as a sacrifice to the sea god, hoping that it would be enough to save his kingdom from destruction. Ultimately, Andromeda avoided death when she was saved by Perseus, but Andromeda’s chains can still be seen in the night sky. To this day, Andromeda has been given the title of “The Chained Woman,” in reference to her captivity.
The upright meaning of this card symbolizes Andromeda’s freedom-- a metaphor for a person’s ability to break free from their own routines, old ideas, or structures that had once bound or oppressed them. In a reading, this card may symbolize a new beginning after shedding previous burdens and the peace of mind that will eventually follow.
Reversed, it may symbolize a cycle of self-oppression or the inability to see where something may be stopping a person from moving forward. This could also be a reference to addiction, or an inability to flee from detrimental behaviors.
If this card appears with the Perseus card, it may mean another person will assist or take credit for one’s release.
If this card appears in a reading with Cetus, a person may still feel doubtful about their abilities to move forward without their past baggage.
