The Meanings of the 22 Major Arcana Tarot Cards – Death:
Introduction to Death
The Death card is Key 13 in the Major Arcana of the Tarot deck. Death is a deeply spiritual card that indicates a major transition. It is a card with a clear meaning suggesting regeneration. The zodiac sign of Scorpio and its associated planet of Pluto both rule Death.
Death is depicted in many traditional and online Tarot decks as a skeletal figure holding a scythe to represent the harvest. In some Tarot decks skeletal Death is shown gathering a grisly harvest that includes hands reaching up from the ground amid shoots appearing to be beneath the earth that suggest both the futility of asking for mercy from death and to reaffirm that out of death comes life.
The appearance of the Death card in Tarot readings does not necessarily have the meaning of literal death. Death can mean the end of an old life and the rebirth of the soul and being free from old habits and routines. Death can be one of the adopted birth cards for undertakers, agents of change and those undergoing life-transforming experiences. It can also mean a new start or mark the end of an unendurable situation. Death is the birth card for those born under the sign of Scorpio, the zodiac sign thought to be ruled in modern astrology by the planet Pluto. Death is also one of the secondary birth cards for those having the Emperor as their primary birth card, for Death and the Emperor both represent the number four in numerology.
Death Upright
The Death card upright signifies a major transformation. A transition and sudden inevitable changes are indicated by the upright Death card. When Death comes with the Tower card in Tarot deck spreads, it could denote crisis or calamity on a global scale, but if the Tower is reversed in the Tarot reading, there will be a narrow escape from a disaster.
Death before the Tower in deck spreads may actually indicated death by a natural disaster, but if Death follows the Tower in a Tarot spread, a new life will begin on earth. If Death is before the Hierophant card in either orientation in Major Arcana Tarot spreads, any confusion will soon be explained and order will be restored.
If Death is followed by the World card in a Tarot deck spread, it can mean the fall of a national or world leader that will lead to a fresh start, but if Death precedes the World, there will be a violent revolution involved in the transition. When Death appears in Tarot deck spreads with the Moon card, any dreams will be prophetic. The appearance of Death following the Lovers card means the end of sex or marriage.
Death Reversed (RX)
If Death appears in its reversed position, it is an indicator of a resistance to change. Reversed Death (rx) has the meaning of being in an atmosphere of stagnation along with a fear of the unknown. When Death (rx) reversed appears in Tarot deck readings before the reversed Hierophant (rx), wise advice will go unheeded, but when the Hierophant is before the reversed Death (rx) card, the advice will be grudgingly accepted.
If Death (rx) reversed appears in a a Tarot deck spread before or after the Hanged Man card, affairs will be permanently stalemated, but if the reversed Hanged Man (rx) appears in the Tarot reading, an unfavorable outcome will occur. When the reversed Death (rx) is before the Temperance card, there will be hesitation and much delay before any action will be taken in a matter. One of the meanings of Death (rx) reversed appearing with the Wheel of Fortune card is a feeling of being trapped and helpless, especially if birth cards are used.
Death in Regards to Love, Sex and Relationships
Death is often a card that signifies the end of a matter but this is not always true when Death appears in a Tarot reading concerning love and personal relationships. The Death card can mean a fresh start of an existing relationship such as a second marriage or a reunion with an old flame as well as the end of a phase of life. The appearance of Death in a relationship Tarot spread denotes the end of an old relationship and the beginning of a new one on some level.
