When we hear “Death,” we often envision macabre scenes—a grim reaper clad in black, wielding a scythe. But the Death tarot card tells a much deeper story than these horror-inspired images. Positioned after The Hanged Man and just before Temperance, Death, like The Fool, represents beginnings as much as it does endings.
Card number 13 (XIII), Death, marks the end of old cycles and the start of transformation. Today, we’ll delve into the symbolism of Death’s position, attire, environment, and more.
Death’s Role in The Fool’s Journey
Death follows The Hanged Man in the Major Arcana. In this transition, The Fool encounters an abrupt end to this chapter of his spiritual journey. It symbolizes the conclusion of one path and the start of a new one. The Fool sheds outdated beliefs, seeking to uncover deeper meaning in the world around him.
Death: Perspective Across Decks
He rides in black armor, mounted on a white horse. In the A.E. Waite tarot card, we’re greeted by an eerie skeletal figure. He carries a black flag adorned with a white rose. The black can signify mystery, while the white rose can represent purity and new beginnings. The figures around him seem to reflect different stages of life: an older figure pleads, the middle one swoons, and the youngest appears fearful.
In the Marseille tarot deck, we still see a skeletal figure, but this time he is barely clothed. No living figures remain; the ground beneath him is scattered with hands, feet, and bones. He is named “La Mort.”
The Visconti-Sforza deck has even less imagery. However, the lack of symbolism is symbolic in itself. Death, when referring to endings in patterns and habits, can be a desolate-feeling place.
Death: Lessons From The Major Arcana
What does it mean when you pull death in a reading? Your deck is likely not trying to predict someone’s demise. Death is, however, pushing us to see beyond what we think we’re capable of. It’s asking us to let go of the things that no longer serve us.
- Transformation and Change: Death represents transformation and change. Releasing old habits and patterns allows us to go through a sort of metamorphosis.
- Endings: Death, in tarot, also represents endings. When one job “dies,” a whole catalog of careers is open for you to explore.
Lessons From Death
Take some time to reflect on this energy. Here are a few questions to guide your meditation:
- What cycles can I let go of?
- How are things transforming in my life?
- What can I do with this new room to grow?
These prompts can help you align with the card’s energy and bring its lessons into your life.
Death’s Final Message
Death teaches us how to let go. This is a beautiful message shrouded in imagery that invokes fear. Don’t let the macabre symbolism frighten you! This card can aid you on your journey, so long as you allow it. Thank you for reading!