The Death card is a Major Arcana card in the Tarot deck. It is not a harbinger of death, but rather dramatic change. It is a reminder that often things need to come to an end in order for new things to begin. This can be painful, but the pain will transform you as a person and make you more prepared for what is to come.
Upright Tarot Card Meanings – In Brief
In the upright position, the Death card suggests that you are on the cusp of a major change, and it may be one you do not expect or welcome. But it pushes you to embrace this change as it will help you grow as a person. While you may feel like you are losing things that matter to you, remember, you often have to let go of things to make room for new blessings.
Reversed Tarot Card Meanings – In Brief
In the reversed position, the Death card suggests that you are actively fighting against meaningful change and that this is hurting you. It asks you to examine why you are so scared of making changes that, deep inside, you understand are essential. Perhaps you need to realize how much you have changed on the inside recently to see what you need to change in your external world.
Number – 13
The Death card is associated with the number 13, which is considered by many to be unlucky. But the number is not inherently bad news; but it is a harbinger of Karmic debt, which can be positive or negative. The number 13 is also a sign of dramatic change.
Element – Water
The Death card is linked with the emotional element of water. This is a complex connection because while death is just and takes everyone without emotion, no one is left emotionally untouched by the hand of death.
Planet – Pluto
The planet Pluto rules the Death card. This planet refers to the great cycles that govern the universe, especially in its most destructive form where the slate is reset. Think the extinction of the dinosaurs, the great flood, or a pandemic.
Death – Tarot Card Description
While the Death card appears differently in different decks, most pull on the symbology represented in the Rider Waite deck.
Death appears as a skeletal knight in fine armor riding a white horse. He is the angel of death from the bible and a herald of things to come. The skeletal body represents what remains of us when we are gone, and the armor the invincibility and unavoidability of death. His dark cloak, which represents mystery, contrasts with his white horse, which represents purity and strength.
Death carries a black banner that is decorated with a white rose with five petals. This symbol represents beauty, purification, immortality, and change; all factors that form an inherent part of death.
At the feet of Death’s horse is a dead monarch, and a woman, child, and bishop plead before Death. It is unclear whether they are pleading for themselves of their dead king, but in either case, Death will not be swayed from his task.
A boat sails along a river in the background, representing the barges that ferry people to the afterlife common in many belief systems. The sun sets between two towers in the distance, reproducing iconography from The Moon Tarot card. This represents the start and end of each day as a kind of symbolic death and renewal.
Read about Baron Samedi, the Voodoo god of death.
Death – Upright Tarot Card Meaning
When the Death card appears upright in a Tarot reading, it means that change is coming. That change is likely to be significant and surprising, and the Death card appears to help you prepare.
It is likely that the change you face means sacrificing things that have been important to you or core to who you consider yourself as a person. But it is important to remember that endings are also always beginnings. Often endings happen to clear out things that you no longer need to make space for new blessings, though they may not seem like blessings at the time.
Change is often hard and painful, but these experiences are essential to making us who we are as a person. We are not ready for the destination if we do not go through the fire.
What to do?
When the Death card appears upright in a reading, you need to prepare yourself for a major change in your life. The change ahead of you is likely to be sudden, large, and initially unwanted. But remember that the universe has a plan for you and that this is essential for you to transform into who you are meant to be. Your best course of action is to embrace the opportunity rather than resist.
Death – Reversed Tarot Card Meaning
When the Death card appears reversed, it usually means that you are actively fighting against change and hurting yourself in the process. You are holding onto things that no longer serve you. This is keeping you imprisoned in a negative situation and stopping you from growing and changing.
It is time to stop saying no in an effort to pause time and start saying yes to new opportunities and see where they take you. Nothing thrives in a stagnant environment; change is necessary.
The card may also indicate that you are going through a personal transformation that others can’t see. This has put you out of tune with your inner circle. It may be time that you speak to the people around you and tell them how things need to change, or it may be time that you change the people that you surround yourself with.
What to do?
When the Death card appears reversed, you should look for where change is happening in your life and where you are resisting that change. Why are you resisting? What are you afraid of losing? We often hold onto things that aren’t good for us just because we spent a lot of time and energy getting them. But that is not a good reason to hold onto something that no longer serves us.
Death in Relation to Other Tarot Cards
When analyzing The Death card in relation to other cards in the Tarot deck, its presence significantly underscores themes of transformation, endings, and the inevitable cycle of renewal. Symbolizing the process of letting go to make way for new growth, The Death card embodies the concept of necessary change, urging the querent to embrace the natural progression of life’s phases. This card invites the querent to acknowledge the transformations occurring within and around them, highlighting the importance of release in the journey towards rebirth and rejuvenation.
Relationship with the Major Arcana
Within the narrative arc of the Major Arcana, The Death card serves as a potent reminder of the transient nature of existence and the transformative power of embracing change. Its interactions with other Major Arcana cards can illuminate the various dimensions of metamorphosis and renewal:
– The Death and The Tower: This pairing emphasizes the sudden and sometimes shocking nature of transformation. While The Death card represents a more gradual process of letting go and renewal, The Tower signifies abrupt upheaval that forces change, together illustrating the spectrum of life’s transformative events and the liberation that comes from dismantling outdated structures.
– The Death and The Fool: Together, these cards symbolize the cycle of endings and new beginnings. The Fool represents the innocence and openness to embark on a new journey, while The Death card suggests that such fresh starts are often preceded by significant endings or transitions, highlighting the interconnectedness of beginnings and endings in the cycle of life.
– The Death and The Sun: This combination speaks to the renewal and clarity that follow a period of transformation. The Sun, symbolizing vitality, joy, and enlightenment, shines after the clearing away of the old by The Death card, indicating that rebirth brings with it light and a renewed sense of purpose.
Relationship with the Minor Arcana
The Death card’s connection with the Minor Arcana sheds light on how themes of change, release, and transformation manifest in the querent’s day-to-day life and personal development:
– The Death and Ten of Swords: This pairing reinforces the idea of ultimate endings and the opportunity for a new dawn. The Ten of Swords signifies a conclusive ending, often painful, which The Death card places within the larger context of necessary closure to make room for new beginnings.
– The Death and Ace of Wands: When appearing with the Ace of Wands, The Death card suggests that from the ashes of the old, new passion and creativity are born. This combination encourages the querent to view endings as opportunities for fresh ventures and the discovery of new desires and ambitions.
– The Death and Six of Cups: This pairing highlights the process of moving on from the past. The Six of Cups, associated with nostalgia and memories, alongside The Death card, suggests the importance of releasing sentimental attachments to embrace growth and the potential of the present moment and future.
Death Tarot Reading
When Death appears in a Tarot reading it is a signal that change is coming and that the only constant in life is change. The Death card helps you prepare for the often dramatic and surprising change that is ahead of you and can show you how to embrace it as an opportunity rather than a setback.
While change is often beyond our control, remember that much of our life is dictated by our previous actions and that some of the challenges that you are facing now are Karmic debt coming full circle. Use this knowledge to make better decisions for your future self.
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