From folklore to abandoned places, encounters with the Devil explore themes of trauma, the supernatural, and the battle between good and evil, says LUKE BARNES
Across worldwide folklore, there are instances of individuals who claim to have met the Devil himself. Be it at summoning rites, in backwater country lanes, or in some long-abandoned location, the Devil never seems to be far away.
Today, I want to examine this idea of a satanic meeting from a few different angles. Firstly, the Devil as a physical embodiment of ill tidings; then, the supernatural crossing over with our mundane world; and finally, these meetings as a psychological battle of wills.
Satanic Suffering: The Devil as Trauma
To step, for a moment, outside the idea of these chance encounters being literal and to approach it from the abstract: the encounter often resides in a forgotten place, one that might have long ago witnessed suffering but now stands empty and alone.
Within a poetic frame, trauma can never die. It can be mastered and dealt with, but it will always remain, much like a trapped spirit doomed to haunt the same location. The idea of trauma as an ever-present force is one that carries weight.
If we apply this concept to stories of the Devil meeting people in old abandoned buildings, perhaps disguised in some form, it could be seen as a metaphor. It may symbolise new people discovering old traumas, with the trauma infecting them with its tale as it had others long ago.
The Natural and the Supernatural
Another key idea of the Devil meeting story is that it often happens in nature. On secluded roads, in the woods, and at crossroads. Why is it that in 2024, when we can look anything up in an instant and are increasingly solving all our long-held mysteries, the woods and the wilds of the world still hold such a sense of the unknown and dread for us?
It is mainly due to the deep sense of unease these places hold in relation to our wild and superstitious past. They represent a less evolved time for the human race, a time in which mythological things were real — where one might stumble into a fairy trap or discover the lair of some long-imagined creature.
The idea of meeting the Devil in such places reflects this notion, with him coming to embody the mythological past that humans cannot seem to escape. It is a hardwired fear that still resides in the deepest recesses of our minds.
He is a primordial and natural being, one whom our modern society cannot comprehend. He represents both the past and a darker side of life that humans are afraid to confront directly.
A Faustian Bargain
The final aspect to consider in myths of Devil encounters is the battle of wills between the mortal and the immortal. The idea of a test has often permeated human mythology — are we good, or are we bad? A devilish bargain is the choice to have one’s desires met, even if they are not morally right.
In this sense, on a broader metaphysical level, it is a battle of wills between our good and bad halves. However, in a more supernatural sense, it is the fear of someone knowing our deepest desires and the terror that brings.
If you go for a stroll in nature this weekend or have an unexpected guest, remember that those things we often dismiss as myths and legends, relics of a bygone time, tend to be far more real than we ever imagined.
Do you live near somewhere with a tale of encounters with the Devil? Tell us in the comments section below!
LUKE BARNES is a horror film fanatic, who can be found at the cinema any day of the week. Ghosts, Ghouls and Gremlins – he writes about them all.