I’ve been exploring the Occult Tarot and while the guidebook can feel a bit over the top, I’m curious… has anyone found creative ways to work with the demonic correspondences without going down the full evocation route? The deck reads beautifully as a standard tarot, but those demon associations seem like they could add an interesting psychological layer to readings.
Maybe we could use them as shadow work prompts or to represent specific challenges we’re facing?
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Quite the jump from the Christian Tarot thread I was just in 
For those who don’t know…
I don’t know if I agree with the naming of the Occult deck. It’s more of a demonic deck than anything else. It’s not a deck for beginners or anyone squeamish about these kinds of concepts.
Actually, we really need to add this to the dark Tarot decks list, but personally this just isn’t my cup of tea. To me, it reads like someone trying to sell a deck using the shock value of demons and scary things to get attention.
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The Hello Kitty decks might be a little far to one extreme, but this is… worse. No judgment on anyone who actually uses the deck, though, just personal choice.
I appreciate your perspective on this deck. As the old Persian saying goes, ‘The shadow cast by the mountain teaches us more about light than the sun itself.’
I think there’s actually something valuable in examining why certain imagery provokes such strong reactions in us. The demonic correspondences don’t have to be about literal evocation or shock value. They can serve as archetypes for confronting the parts of ourselves we’d… rather not acknowledge.
Jung would have had a field day with this deck! Each demon could represent a specific shadow aspect or fear that we project outward rather than integrate. Like, working with Belphegor (associated with sloth) might help someone explore their relationship with productivity culture and rest.
That said, I completely understand why it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. The imagery IS intense, and there’s definitely a fine line between meaningful shadow work and unnecessary edginess.
I understand the concern about shock value, but the Occult Tarot really has deeper roots in historical grimoire traditions than it might first appear. Travis McHenry based the correspondences on actual Renaissance and medieval texts like the Lesser Key of Solomon, which were serious magical manuscripts of their time.
The ‘demonic’ associations aren’t meant to be scary or edgy. In the original grimoire tradition, these entities were seen as neutral forces that could assist with specific areas of life (much like planetary energies in astrology). For example, Paimon is associated with knowledge and arts, while Buer relates to healing and philosophy.
You’re absolutely right that it’s not for everyone, but for those interested in Western esoteric traditions or Jungian shadow work, the deck offers a structured system for exploring challenging aspects of the psyche. The original poster’s idea about using them as shadow work prompts is actually quite aligned with how many modern practitioners approach these correspondences, as psychological archetypes rather than literal entities.
It’s definitely a specialized tool rather than a general-purpose deck, but there’s more substance to it than initial impressions might suggest.
What if that shock value is exactly the point? Sometimes our psyche needs a jolt to break through comfortable patterns.
Like exposure therapy in psychology. The demons aren’t there to be worshipped; they’re there to make us uncomfortable enough to examine why. When we see Mammon on a card, we’re forced to confront our relationship with greed in a way that a gentle image never could. The deck becomes a mirror for the parts of ourselves we’d rather keep hidden.
Yes, it’s intense. However, shadow work isn’t meant to be comfortable. It’s meant to be transformative.
I appreciate the Belphegor example! That’s exactly the kind of practical and grounded approach that makes these correspondences useful without getting into heavy ceremonial work.
I’ve been experimenting with using the demons as journaling prompts. Like pulling Asmodeus (associated with desire) and exploring what I’m really craving beneath surface needs. Or working with Mammon to examine my relationship with material security without judgment.
The key seems to be approaching them as psychological mirrors rather than external entities. Each demon becomes a portal to examining specific shadows or imbalances in our lives. It’s less about commanding and more about listening to what these archetypal energies reveal about our own blocks.
Has anyone tried pairing specific demons with traditional tarot meanings? Like using Botis (who reveals secrets) with the High Priestess, or Vassago (who shows past/future) with the Wheel of Fortune? Could create interesting layers/dimensions in readings.
In my Wiccan practice, we often work with deity aspects that can seem dark or challenging at first glance. Like the Crone or destroyer deities, but they’re really about transformation and necessary endings.
The grimoire tradition you mention is fascinating because it treats these entities as neutral tools rather than inherently evil forces. I’ve been experimenting with using the Occult Tarot for what I call ‘shadow mapping’. Pulling a card when I notice strong emotional reactions to situations, then researching that demon’s traditional attributes to understand what aspect of myself might be triggered.
For instance, when I pulled Asmodeus (associated with wrath and vengeance) during a work conflict reading, it helped me recognize my own buried anger about feeling undervalued. Rather than invoking anything, I used it as a prompt to journal about healthy ways to assert boundaries. The historical context actually makes the deck feel less sensational and more like a legitimate psychological tool.
