Death

The Tau shaped symbol of the Hanged man’s tree represents transformation as resurrection and a new beginning, but the next letter in the Greek alphabet, Theta (and the symbol on this card) represents transformation as an ending. That transformation does not normally mean death of the person, but it does mean a finality in some aspect of the person’s life.

Although endings can be seen as bad, remember that we are not talking about literal death, but the ending of one phase of your life, and this is typically happening to make way for a new phase or direction.

The death of something is therefore often to be welcomed in hindsight; it usually denotes a loss or purge, but sometimes we have to let go of something to gain another.

This often makes death a good card, although be aware that it can sometimes be a ‘wildcard’; the thing you thought would be lost is not what is actually lost, and this twist can be unexpected.

Another event the Death card can denote is a change in you as a person. The previous card, the Hanged man, refers to a rebirth, but the death card denotes an ending. Although the Death card does not speak of a new beginning following this ending, other cards will usually refer you to it.

In any of its forms, be ready for the ending caused by the Death card to be uncomfortable and even painful through a loss. There will be better days ahead as that loss is replaced by something else.

Although the ancients had many gods of death, they were all superseded by the effects of the Black Death in the 13th Century. One third of the population of Europe died, and the image of a skeletal figure holding a scythe became the archetype of this horror; death harvesting millions of the living as if they were corn in a field.

The Grim Reaper

Although the card uses the symbology of the Western Grim Reaper, the card also ties in with previous archetypes, specifically the High Priestess (Hecate) and the ancient concept of the Mind/Soul (Psyche, one of the two figures in the Lovers card).

Description and Symbology

We see Death as the Grim Reaper, a large and unseen specter stalking the battlefield of life on a dark horse, awaiting the casualties. There is a mist directly before Death’s horse. Death cannot cross it.

This mist initially looks like the smoke and burning created by war, but is actually a visualization of the liminal space between the living and the dead.

For all his power over mortals, Death stops short at this barrier because he cannot cross it; that path is protected by a Higher Power than mere Death.

In front of Death and his horse, we see a butterfly. In the Lovers card, we noted that the butterfly is a symbol for the soul, psyche.

The butterfly represents a soul moving from our side of the liminal space to the other. The transformation of the soul is likened to a caterpillar, spending its mortal life with no knowledge of a much wider and interconnected reality beyond the current leaf or tree. When it takes to wing as butterfly, the perspective changes and the soul finally sees the true reality.

Death and his horse quietly watch the butterfly. Despite its fragility, Death cannot touch the butterfly because it is again protected by a Higher Power. It flies where Death will not follow; it has become immortal.

The liminal barrier is the domain of the high Priestess, Hecate, and she is the Higher Power. This is proven by the shining light between the towers; it takes on the shape of the Torches that Hecate carries.

The butterfly reaches the end of its journey in this world as it touches the barrier, and flies through to the next world, where it will interact with another God, the King of Pentacles. We live for a short while under a mortal king or queen, but for the eternity after under this ruler, making him the richest King of all; Hades.

The soldiers in the scene are oblivious to all of this. They see neither Death nor the butterfly, and are not aware of the liminal barrier. They will carry on living their lives until their time comes, and then, like all of us, they too will rise and fly their final journey.

More importantly, the card tells us that Death is only one part in an intertwined journey, and he is not even the most powerful part of it. That journey is life, and Death is not an enemy of it; he is part of it.

The card also shows that soul does not simply cease; it travels on to another destination. Although death is seen as closure to those remaining, to the one affected it is simply another part of the journey.

Finally, the rising soul is often the most beautiful thing in the mortal world for those with eyes or intuition to see it. In comparison, the rest of the world is a monochrome, muddy battlefield.

Card Icon

The card icon is the Black Theta or theta nigrum, a symbol of death in both ancient Greek and Roman Latin. In Greece it was used as an abbreviation of Thanatos (Death), and also used in much the same way as the Skull and Crossbones is used to denote danger today (as it resembles a quick shorthand for a skull). It has also been found in ancient military and other records against dead soldiers.

Death as the Grim Reaper

Although later than most archetypes in this deck, the Grim Reaper is the most powerful symbol of death in Western thinking. The Grim Reaper is often shown with a visible skull, but that is perhaps a little obvious through overuse. Instead, the rider is more ambiguous until you spot a bare skeletal hand.

The Horse

The Grim Reaper’s horse looks almost as sinister as the rider and this is intentional; the specification for the card used the phrase ‘a dark horse - nightmare’. If you have a nightmare you are perhaps riding through your subconscious on this horse!

The Battlefield

The Grim reaper is ‘death stalking a battlefield’, and the battlefield symbolizes life itself.

The Butterfly

The butterfly's states from caterpillar, chrysalis to final butterfly were seen as mirroring the phases of human life. At the beginning, all humans think about is physical growth and material nutrition. We see a very small world. A butterfly no longer sees just a leaf on a tree, but the whole forest, and its sole purpose is to complete its lifecycle. A soul in flight is therefore not that different in purpose from the butterfly.

The Towers and mist

As seen on the High Priestess card, two pillars are a ward under the protection of the Goddess Hecate. The two towers represent the largest such ward. Nothing may pass without Hecate’s permission, and passing gives immortality. The tower’s border is denoted by a wall of mist. This is the liminal barrier between the living and dead.

Tips for Readings

The following table shows the upright and reverse meanings for general questions. The last row ('Yes/No') is useful when you are picking a single card to decide a yes or no decision.

As mentioned above, the Death card is unusual in that the thing the Death card refers to may prove to be unexpected, and not the main subject of the question being asked. Reading the Death card often means looking at the cards around it as much (and if not more) than the question being asked.

Upright

Reversed

Love

This card represents a significant ending; dissolution of a partnership, or letting go of a relationship that no longer works.

Relationships can be fixed only if old ways of thinking are ditched

You are resisting change in a relationship or partnership.

The Death card suggests being realistic. Let go of things that must pass to allow the future to bring in something new in its place.

Career

There will be a job loss or a significant change in direction that may be forced or unexpected

This may be painful but necessary for future growth.

The death card in a career context may suggest looking for a new job or change in career. Remember though, death is a prerequisite for rebirth, so it is certainly not all doom and gloom!

Check if you are guilty of inertia. You may be comfortable but your career may be going nowhere.

Look to new avenues early as fate may otherwise have a nasty surprise awaiting you if you stay put!

Health

A major change in health that signifies an ending (although probably not actual death).

The card suggests coming to terms with bad news earlier. What will happen will happen but how you feel about it often matters more.

You may have your head in the sand over issues you have been ignoring.

Whatever this is will end in its own time, but will go better if you address and accept it earlier.

Spiritual

This card represents a transition from one mindset to another and it may well be painful, involving grief and feelings of loss.

On the positive it may signal an end to grief is imminent, a clearer understanding of the past, and a more forward looking mindset.

A major upset is looming that you are ignoring.

This card suggests it will be better to address a loss or failure rather than hope for the best, because the best will not happen.

Wealth

Watch your income streams. One of them may suddenly dry up or change significantly.

It may be time to revisit old investments to see any of them are based on old assumptions; if so, sell them.

There may be a loss of income that you are ignoring and hoping for it to fix itself.

This will not happen. The Death card suggest you need to crystalize losses, take any hit and close the position or income stream.

Yes/No

Yes if the question involves change, no otherwise.

No, due to resisting change.

Reading the Card

The upright card

The upright Death card signifies endings and change in your life that may be challenging or difficult when they occur, but will reap rewards in the future. The card advices you to let go on something that has reached finality in your life, because holding onto it will cause stagnation, living in the past, or trying to keep something that no longer serves a purpose in your life.

This could refer to a relationship or business, career, or money matters. For these areas the card can be a forewarning. For example, the death card appearing for a career related question (and where the cards around it suggest that the Death card does relate to career), you may consider whether your current job is secure or fulfilling and perhaps start looking elsewhere. Staying may cause stagnation or a downsizing, or a layoff seems likely.

For health and spiritual matters, the card advices you to be ready to accept change. Hiding from them or ignoring a developing situation will make it worse.

In all cases, the card represents a break or ending in your current life, and advises that acceptance and moving on are the best course. There is better coming in the future, and although the current situation may be difficult, addressing it will ready you for future growth.

The reversal

The reversed Death card suggests the same endings, but you are clinging on to the past and are resisting or not acknowledging the change. This will ultimately result in the same thing as the upright card, but will have a longer negative impact on healing and future growth. Consider your position and whether you will do better by;

Accepting loss and adapting to the new situation.
Confront difficult truths.
Realize that maintaining old patterns will only result in wallowing in grief or clinging to the past.
Have the courage and insight to address today's pain by realizing this is necessary to have a brighter tomorrow.

Card Design Process

The card was designed based on mood boards created from video stills of a modern battlefield that was ongoing at the time the card was created; the Ukrainian war. The soldiers are based loosely on Slavic warriors. The positions and faces are based on images of modern soldiers readying themselves for combat.

Death’s horse has old and rusting armor across its back, and this is based on the patterns created by reactive armor blocks seen on destroyed modern tanks.

The overall aim of the image was to ensure everything was gray except anything of a spiritual or emotional nature. Thus, the butterfly is blue, and the more heroic soldiers also have blue on them. The direction of the battlefield and the area around the two towers has warm reds associated with it.

Final Words

The Death Tarot Card represents endings and change. It predicts significant life changes that will be challenging but you will need to accept and address them to move forward. This is important, as the challenge will bring you the darkest day, but after that, the future will be brighter, and herald new beginnings.

PreviousThe Hanged Man