Empress and Devil tarot card combinations

Cards combination description

High arcan Empress and high arcan Devil combination - Careful with this one! A number of possible indications (depending upon situation)

Card 1 - Empress

The Empress depicts a woman sitting on a throne. From the abundant nature that surrounds her, we can assume that this woman represents the Earth Mother archetype, a goddess of fertility. Her world is ruled by venus which means that there is complete love, harmony, fertility and luxury by the grace of this goddess. The woman herself has blonde hair crowned with stars, signaling her divine connection with the mystical realm. She is dressed in a pomegranate-patterned robe that represents fertility, and she is seated on cushions embroidered with a venus sign. She is surrounded by an enchanting green forest with a river streaming through it. The Empress brings abundance and blessings in the readings of those she meets.

Associations:

Similar or supporting cards:
Seven of Pentacles (gathering in your harvest) Ten of Pentacles (home and family). Strengthens indications when appearing with other marriage cards.

Opposing or contradictory cards:
The Emperor is the male yang to The Empress female yin, where the opposite forces of duality complement one another. Four of Pentacles (withholding) The Devil (creates blocks)

Empress combinations
When The Empress precedes another card try adding, “nurturing” before the interpretation of the following card as you start to explore possible meanings. When The Empress completes a grouping it tends to indicate the abundance and satisfaction of a successful harvest (metaphorically speaking).

Full card's description

Card 2 - Devil

This card shows the Devil represented in his most well-known satyr form, otherwise known as Baphomet. Along with being half goat and half man, the devil has bat wings and an inverted pentagram on his forehead. He is standing on a pedestal, to which are chained a nude man and woman, as if to show that he has dominion over them. Both the man and the woman have horns, as if to show that the more time they spend with the Devil, the less human they become. The chains make it appear as though the devil has taken them captive. The man has a flame on his tail while a woman has a bowl of grapes on her tail, which symbolizes their addiction to power and finer things in life, respectively.  Looking closely, both the man and the woman don t look happy.  Their individual power has been taken from them, leaving them exposed and ashamed in their nakedness.

Associations:

Similar or supporting cards:
Ten of Wands (feeling weighed down) Nine of Swords (stress and anxiety) Eight of Swords (feeling trapped and restricted) all the secrecy cards (Moon, Five of Swords, High Priestess)

Opposing or contradictory cards:
Temperance (moderation) The Star (hope and optimism)

Devil combinations
Watch for the cards that surround The Devil, the clearest indication of what the problem concerns usually comes from the card that precedes it.   In simple lines or small groups, watch for Five of Swords and The Devil, or The Devil and The Moon, surrounding and either side of another card as it’s usually a sign of deception and dishonesty – the central card would indicate the area of concern. There are too many combinations to list here but those below provide a small flavour of possibilities... 

Full card's description