What is the Worst Tarot Card to Pull if you are Looking for Love?
The Devil.
That’s the shortest and most direct answer to the question. While other cards can suggest delays, heartbreak, or confusion, The Devil is the most troubling pull when seeking love—especially true love. Its presence often points to toxic dynamics, unhealthy attachments, obsession, control issues, or relationships that keep you emotionally or spiritually bound.
But before you panic—context is everything. Let’s explore how The Devil card behaves in different tarot spreads, what its presence might mean for your love life, and how long it might take for things to improve when this card shows up. It has more of a positive meaning if The Devil card is pulled in reverse.
What Tarot Card Tells You Someone is in Love with You?
Why The Devil Is So Challenging in Love Readings
The Devil card is not about healthy, mutual love. It’s about being chained—sometimes literally depicted that way in the card art. Whether it’s an unhealthy relationship, codependency, lust without connection, or a person who’s emotionally unavailable but still somehow irresistible, The Devil points to something deeper than a delay—it points to a trap.
In love readings, this card raises red flags:
Are you staying with someone out of fear or habit?
Are you addicted to the drama or fantasy of a relationship?
Are you ignoring your intuition because the physical chemistry is strong?
Are you idealizing someone who is manipulating or gaslighting you?
These are difficult truths to face, but The Devil forces us to acknowledge what keeps us stuck.
Which Tarot Cards predict upcoming love and the meaning of reversed cards
The Devil in a Three-Card Spread
In a three-card spread, the position of The Devil makes a significant difference in how to interpret it.
1. Past – The Devil
If The Devil appears in the past position, that’s actually a positive sign. It means you have overcome or are in the process of breaking free from toxic relationship patterns or emotional entrapment. You may have recently left a manipulative partner or realized your own attachment issues. This placement often signals growth and a better future—though there may still be healing work to do.
What to Expect: Emotional residue from past unhealthy relationships might linger, but you’re on the right path. New love may take time but will be healthier.
How Long Before Things Get Better? 2–3 months as you release lingering baggage and reclaim your independence.
2. Present – The Devil
This is the most intense placement. If The Devil is in the present position, you may currently be in or tempted by a relationship that looks passionate on the surface but is damaging underneath. You might feel drawn to someone unavailable or feel trapped in a situation that isn’t serving your higher self.
What to Expect: Difficulty seeing the truth, feelings of entrapment, intense desire, potential power imbalances, jealousy, or manipulation.
How Long Before Things Get Better? 4–6 months if you actively work on awareness and choose to let go or break the pattern.
3. Future – The Devil
When The Devil shows up in the future, it’s a warning. This card could mean that the next romantic connection you attract may not be ideal. There may be red flags, or you might repeat an old relationship pattern unless you approach things more consciously.
What to Expect: You might be tempted by a seductive partner or drawn to someone who triggers addictive emotional patterns. This placement calls for caution and grounding.
How Long Before Things Get Better? 6–8 months if you heed the warning now and shift your energy before diving into a new connection.
The Devil in the Celtic Cross Spread
In the Celtic Cross, The Devil’s meaning becomes even more layered based on position. Here’s what to expect in each spot:
1. Present (You Now):
You're currently in the grip of an emotionally or sexually addictive connection. You may feel powerless or obsessed with someone, even if you know they’re not good for you.
What to Expect: Strong attachments, but little fulfillment.
2. Challenge/Crossing:
The Devil as a challenge means your own fears, desires, or unhealthy emotional habits are preventing you from finding love. It’s an internal block, not necessarily external circumstances.
What to Expect: Self-sabotage, over-idealization, fear of loneliness.
3. Past:
You've had toxic relationships or trauma influencing your current love situation. You may be repeating learned behavior from earlier experiences.
What to Expect: Unpacking and healing from old emotional conditioning is required.
4. Future:
A possible upcoming romantic encounter could seem intense and irresistible, but will likely be destabilizing. Tread carefully.
What to Expect: A karmic or magnetic relationship that serves more as a lesson than a long-term connection.
5. Above (Your Goal/Ideal):
You may subconsciously desire intensity, passion, or fantasy rather than true partnership. There’s a need to evaluate your romantic ideals.
What to Expect: You might be confusing lust with love or fantasy with reality.
6. Below (Subconscious):
You might be unconsciously attracting partners who reflect unresolved trauma or emotional wounds. There's a need to become aware of inner shadows.
What to Expect: Inner work around self-worth and patterns is essential.
7. Advice:
Break free. Let go of what is controlling you emotionally. Seek clarity, grounding, and self-empowerment. The Devil here is a strong call to action.
What to Expect: Difficult choices, but ultimately liberating outcomes.
8. External Influences:
Someone in your environment (partner, ex, crush) may be manipulative, emotionally unavailable, or codependent. You might be pulled into someone else’s shadow work.
What to Expect: Drama, entanglements, emotional chaos.
9. Hopes and Fears:
You may fear being trapped, manipulated, or repeating the past. Or, paradoxically, you may hope for that “intoxicating connection” that looks like passion but feels like a loss of self.
What to Expect: Conflicting desires that need to be sorted out internally.
10. Outcome:
The Devil here means the current path will lead to emotional entrapment, obsession, or a false sense of security. You must change course or risk being bound by illusion.
What to Expect: A wake-up call. You’ll be shown the truth—whether you want to see it or not.
What If The Devil Card Is Pulled Reversed?
When The Devil appears reversed in a love reading, the message shifts—often dramatically. Reversed, this card is not necessarily bad. In fact, it can indicate breaking free from toxic dynamics, obsessive attachments, or limiting beliefs about love and relationships.
You may be in the process of recognizing what’s been holding you back—whether it’s a destructive relationship, fear of vulnerability, or negative self-talk—and starting to release it. The reversed Devil can symbolize empowerment, liberation, and a renewed commitment to healthier connections.
In a three-card or Celtic Cross spread, a reversed Devil might suggest:
You're waking up to the truth of a situation
You’re ready to set boundaries or end a toxic cycle
You’re reclaiming your independence and emotional clarity
While there still may be emotional residue to work through, a reversed Devil signals progress and awareness. It's a sign that you’re moving toward a more conscious love life, where passion doesn’t come at the cost of peace.
Takeaway: If you’ve pulled the Devil reversed, you’re on the right path. Keep going. The hardest part—seeing the truth—is already behind you.
Can Other Cards Be Worse?
While The Devil is the top contender, other difficult cards in love readings include:
The Tower: Sudden breakups, shocks, or revelations.
Three of Swords: Heartbreak, betrayal, emotional pain.
Five of Cups: Regret and loss, especially over past relationships.
Seven of Swords: Lies, deception, or emotional manipulation.
Ten of Swords: Feeling emotionally devastated or abandoned.
Yet The Devil is unique because it symbolizes entrapment with complicity—you’re part of the dynamic, even if unconsciously. That’s what makes it so difficult to overcome.
Tarot Cards can help with ending relationships, divorce and breakups
How Long Will It Take to Heal or Find Healthy Love After Pulling The Devil?
It depends on your willingness to:
Break cycles
Reclaim self-worth
Set strong boundaries
Say no to what drains your spirit
Here’s a general timeline if you do the inner work:
| Devil’s Position | Estimated Timeline for Shift |
|---|---|
| Past | 2–3 months |
| Present | 4–6 months |
| Future | 6–8 months |
| Celtic Cross Outcome | 6–12 months (with effort) |
| Celtic Cross Challenge | 4–8 months (shadow work) |
If ignored, The Devil can linger. If faced head-on, it becomes a powerful force for transformation.
What to Do If The Devil Shows Up
Pause and Reflect: Don’t rush into new relationships. Take time to journal and observe your patterns.
Get Grounded: Practice grounding meditations to center yourself emotionally and spiritually.
Cut Energetic Ties: Consider cord-cutting rituals to release attachment to toxic relationships or past wounds.
Talk It Out: Speaking to a trusted advisor or a psychic can offer clarity. Outside perspectives can illuminate what you can’t see alone.
Reclaim Power: Recognize that you can change your patterns and attract healthier love.
Final Thoughts
Pulling The Devil when you’re looking for love is like getting a warning sign before a storm—it’s not punishment, it’s a gift of awareness. It doesn’t mean you’ll never find love. It means you’re being asked to redefine what love means to you.
If you do the work, love will come—and when it does, it will feel freeing, not binding.
Want Insight Into Your Love Life?
A psychic reading from one of our trusted advisors can help you:
Recognize hidden relationship patterns
Break free from toxic attachments
Identify soul connections and future love opportunities
Call The Psychic Line today for a confidential, insightful reading from an experienced psychic who truly understands the path of the heart.
1-800-966-2294 Expert Love and Relationship Psychic Readings you can Trust
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