Death
☽ ☾
Death ☽ ☾
Death
Key Meanings
Upright: endings, change, transformation, metamorphosis, shedding, ego death, transition, release
Reversed: stagnation, resistance, regret, fixation, bitter, obsession, decay
Death:
Archetypes
The Angel of Death, The Destroyer, The Shadow
Examples: Kali (Indian mythology), Hades (Greek god), Hecate (Greek goddess)
Death:
Description
Death, depicted as a skeleton in armor holding a black flag with a white rose, rides past a deceased emperor on a white horse with red eyes. A sunrise appears in the background, and a child kneels, unafraid, while a woman mourns. The hierophant gives the final rights below a sun rising between the Moon card’s two towers. There is a river, akin to the River Styx, upon which souls float into the afterlife. This scene of grief, faith, wonder, fear, transition, and renewal shows the duality of death’s inevitable arrival as both a brutal and purifying force.
Death:
Upright Meaning
Death comes supercharged with cultural beliefs of what happens after the human soul leaves its mortal vessel. As such, the Death card prompts a visceral fear response. First, remember that in all likelihood, Death is not telling you that someone will die, but rather that something in your life will be removed or is in need of removal. The death you may experience can be the shedding of an old self, an old friend, a job, a lover, or a belief system. There may be a crisis point when the future feels uncertain, but trust that renewal lies ahead.
You likely already know what you need to release if you have not been resisting the truth. Humans form strong attachments, and the greatest lessons in this life teach us the art of letting go. Just as a tarantula or snake must shed its old skin, so too must you let your old form fall away. If the death in your life was sudden, remind yourself of the child in the Sun card who rides the pale horse, unafraid and reborn.
Death:
Reversed Meaning
Though it may seem counterintuitive, there are worse outcomes than death, such as the pain that comes from holding on to someone or something that only leads to ongoing pain and torment. If you hold on to what is no longer meant for you, bitterness and ever-growing grief may encroach on your heart. If you are not careful, this will begin to eat away at other aspects of your life. You will block yourself from potential success and happiness by refusing to let go of what no longer serves your highest good.
If Death has already come to pass, drawing this card reversed reminds you not to dwell too long on regrets or loss. If you feel stuck in this energy, you can follow the hierophant’s example and release by expressing gratitude for what the person or experience taught you. You can also follow the child's example, gazing at the world and its many changes not in fear, but in wonder. This is your permission to move on.