The Devil

The Devil is usually seen as the ultimate embodiment of evil. But in Tarot he is used more to represent temptation. Traditionally the Devil doesn't have a great deal of power himself.
His power lies in his ability to entice human beings into doing things which will ultimately lead to their downfall. Therefore, if we have anything to fear in this card it is ourselves. The card is a reminder of how we are often enslaved by our own weaknesses. The reason we are trapped is because we are no longer in charge of our destiny. For a heavy drinker it is the bottle that is in charge while for a compulsive pessimist it is the negative thoughts that call the shots.
When this card turns up it often warns of an unhealthy situation developing where we are losing control of our lives.