Death

Key Meanings (Upright): Transformation, endings, change, transition, letting go, release.

Key Meanings (Reversed): Fear of change, repeating negative patterns, resisting change, stagnancy, decay.

Death Tarot Card Description

The messenger of Death, represented by a skeleton riding a white horse and wearing black armour, is seen on the Death card. The armour denotes invincibility and the knowledge that death will occur regardless of what happens; the skeleton symbolizes the portion of the body that endures long beyond life. The horse is a sign of purity and represents power and strength, yet its dark hue is associated with grief and the enigmatic. Death flies a black flag with a white rose with five petals, signifying beauty, purity, and immortality, as well as the number five, which stands for change. Together, these images show that death is much more than just life expiring. Death is about changes and transformations, birth and rebirth, ends and new beginnings.

A young woman, a kid, and a bishop beg the skeleton royal image to spare them while it lies on the ground seeming dead. Death, however, spares no one, as we all know. A boat may be seen floating along the river in the backdrop, evoking the mythical vessels that carried the deceased to the afterlife. Even while many people associate the Death tarot card with physical death, this is not always the case. As a general rule, a tarot reader should never forecast demise (or the results of diseases or pregnancies, for that matter).

It is reckless and unethical. Aside from the ethical implications, the Death tarot card often represents a period of spiritual growth, transition, and new beginnings—not real death! Death can affect or change people in difficult, unforeseen, abrupt, or even traumatising ways, but it will also give them a fresh lease on life. The best course of action is to try not to fight the change that the Death Tarot card delivers about because doing so will only make the change uncomfortable and arduous. Try to accept the modification instead.

Death (Upright)

Upright Death tarot card meaning

Of all the Tarot cards, Death is presumably the one that people dread and misunderstand the most. Most individuals panic when you even mention the name of the card because they are afraid it will pass out and expire as soon as it appears. Relax! One of the most advantageous cards in the deck is the Death card. The Death card represents the end of a significant phase or element of your existence that you recognise is no longer functioning after pausing and reflecting with The Hanged Man, allowing room for something far more precious and important. To open another door, the first one must be shut. You must leave the past behind and separate ways prepared to seize fresh chances and opportunities.

Although it could be tough at first, you will quickly realise how important it is and how it holds the potential for regeneration and change. You may feel pain physically and emotionally if you refuse to accept these essential ends, but if you use your imagination to picture a different scenario, you enable more positive patterns to form. Death depicts a similar period of profound alteration, change, and transition. To welcome the new, you must alter yourself and get rid of the old. Any change in your life should be embraced as a beneficial, purifying, transformative force. A wider, more fulfilling experience of life may be possible after the passing and removal of restricting elements.

An abrupt and unexpected transformation is a theme of the Death card. It affects everyone; the same applies to a substantial alteration regardless of the person you are, how much wealth you have, wherever you reside, or what colour your skin is. The Death card can thus be seen as a warning that you may feel trapped in the wake of profound change and unable to escape its repercussions. Despite the upheaval being unwelcome and painful, any significant shift may also come with it several unanticipated shocks that result in new chances and advantages.

Love and Relationship (Upright)

Death in a romance tarot context might indicate that you or your spouse are clinging to a connection that isn't working or that you are clinging to old habits that are preventing your relationship from progressing if you are in a relationship. Death is a message that, whether you like it or not, things will change. Either you either accept the change or you can fight it. The Death Major Arcana card may suggest that you and your spouse need to make significant adjustments and let go of old habits or concerns if your relationship is not working out. It may also suggest that it may be best to eliminate things. The ingrained problems that the Death card aims to resolve can be excruciating. In such a scenario, relationship counselling could be something you want to think about.

The outcome depends on if you and your spouse are both open to accepting the transition and truly want the connection to persist because you respect each other instead of because you are afraid of not being part of the relationship. The Death Tarot card might signify an unexpected shift, such as a sudden engagement or pregnancy, which you may first find overwhelming. These changes can also be great for a relationship. If you are unmarried, the Death card may be a sign that you are about to let go of old ideals, problems, or behaviours that don't serve you anymore. Accept this change since it will lead to new love in your life.

Finance (Upright)

When the Death (upright) shows up in a situation involving money, you can see a sudden decrease in income or financial loss. If that occurs, don't let it get you down; this transition will take you in a constructive direction, and you will gain knowledge from it. Don't bury your foot in the sand if you suffer financial difficulty; instead, make necessary modifications and continue to make progress in a favourable direction. If money is limited, think about going back to the basics and substituting cozy evenings with close friends for expensive nights out. And keep in mind that if you make the appropriate changes, any financial problems will eventually be resolved.

The Death tarot card represents loss, thus you could unluckily be seeing a reduction in your economic resources. This time frame may also catalyze a change in your values and how you manage your finances. The lessons you take away from this experience can help you make spiritual and practical adjustments in the way you manage your resources and determine what is essential to you. This card serves as a reminder, to be honest, equitable, and fair in all of your financial dealings. Maintain a balance between your desires and those of others, as well as what you take and what you offer. If you keep everything in balance, your finances should be fine.

Career (Upright)

The word "death" in the context of a career is a caution not to become increasingly dependent on something that is not functioning for you. The only constant in life is that everything will change. Start looking for a new position if you're dissatisfied with your current one, or the universe could compel you to do so. Death may be telling you to take the right steps in your own business even if you have been hesitant to leave your current position because of the stability it provides. The upright Death card may be a message that you should move on with your plans to change careers if you have been thinking about doing so.

If you don't take prompt action, circumstances in life may compel you to leave your current employment. You may have experienced a time of indifference, disinterest, and dissatisfaction there. If you are dissatisfied or feel unchallenged in other ways, there is a lot more to risk than your convenience if you stick with your current course. You may be hanging to it because it provides stability, predictability, and protection. When one door shuts, another one frequently opens; accept the changes taking place today and jump in.

Health (Upright)

Remember that the Death card only ever predicts physical death in very rare circumstances and only in particular combinations, so don't be alarmed if you see it in a health reading. Death might foretell a transformation if you've been feeling that your health will never get better. However, the results will largely depend on how you respond to this adjustment, as per the predictions of the Death tarot card. Try to embrace the next changes by altering your mindset if your health has been poor and sickness has left you feeling pessimistic. Even if you're feeling under the weather, try to look for something good each day.

You may also experiment with a fresh strategy that you haven't tried previously, such as a new diet, holistic treatment, or energy healing. Recognize that your situation is not permanent and will change. When we physically die, our spirits leave the body behind and convert back into the spiritual beings that we are all innately. This is a sort of transmutation. The Death card signifies a change of heart. Moreover, it denotes a period of opportunity to forge a strong connection with your higher self and unearth a level of spirituality you might not have been aware you possessed. You may have gone through sadness, loss, or heartbreak that has prompted this spiritual metamorphosis.

Death (Reversed)

Reversed Death tarot card meaning

Death (reversed) might indicate that you are about to go through a significant transformation but are rejecting it. You could find it challenging to let go, or you might need help with how to implement the necessary adjustment. You still hold negative perspectives from history that might obstruct a fresh chance. Your life has stalled and you feel as though you are in limbo as a result of your rejection. When death is reversed, you have the chance to accept change rather than fight it. Watch what beautiful opportunities open up for you when you say "yes" to change. The future gets brighter when you learn to let go of the past and submit to the present. Repeat this affirmation: "I embrace the future in all forms" to help the process along. You'll be astonished at how this imperceptible change in energy makes it possible for gates to open in directions you would not have anticipated.

Death (reversed) might indicate that you are dealing with significant personal development, frequently in secret and out of sight of others. To create room for the new to appear, you are letting go of what no longer continues to serve you. To learn more about what you need to let go of and purge, draw a follow-up card or look at the remaining cards in the reading. You could be doing this by letting go of fear and limiting ideas, altering your behaviours, or using plant medicine or another type of spiritual healing to undergo a physical purge and change.

Love and Relationship (Reversed)

Death Major Arcana tarot card in a romance tarot reading indicates that you are unwilling to let your relationship alter if you are in a committed relationship. Because you feel reliant on your spouse or are afraid of being alone, you may be hanging onto a connection that has long ago reached its conclusion. Or you can be out of responsibility to stay with a relationship you no longer love. It may also portend the possibility of a long-forgotten relationship reappearing and rekindling. If you are alone, the Death tarot card is a powerful sign that you must let go of unhealthy coping mechanisms to create significant changes in your romantic life.

To bring a mate into your heart who will approach you with love and respect, for instance, if you tend to choose undesirable relationships because of low self-esteem, you will need to boost your self-confidence as well as release your self-sabotaging tendencies. Reversed, the Death tarot card romance meaning denotes a great aversion to altering how you go about dating and relationships. This might take the shape of holding onto a marriage that is unhealthy and isn't advancing either of your personal development. Dependency on the relationship could also exist, or you might simply be together because you find it convenient, feel responsible, or are afraid of being alone.

Finance (Reversed)

You might not be able to prevent losing financial resources, but you could find it difficult to accept and adjust to this. It may be necessary for you to adjust your spending to get through this brief period, but you could find it difficult to part with some necessities. You might not be understanding your lessons if you don't give this period the chance to alter how you view your assets and your values. You could find it much simpler to cope if you can learn to quit fighting these changes. This Major Arcana reversed card in a tarot card reading indicates that you may be in for some sort of financial downturn and will need to reevaluate how you handle your money to get through it.

Examine your spending patterns; are there any areas where you may be squandering money but are delaying doing so since doing so will help you better manage your finances? You could be paying off your debt, but do you habitually overspend? Be careful with your money and let go of unhealthy financial habits. If you handle your money wisely, any difficulties will only last a short while.

Career (Reversed)

The Death Tarot card's reversed interpretation, like its upright interpretation, suggests that it could be time to change careers or go on a new path. Because you don't want to give up your current level of security, you could be resisting this shift. Even though your job is unfulfilling, you could enjoy the regularity and stability it gives. You may have been acting in ways that have prevented you from reaching your goals. Consider what needs to be changed to move you up the professional ladder, then take the necessary steps to make it happen. Similar to the upright form of this card, you are being pressured to make a change in your employment or professional path.

In contrast, you could be making every effort to thwart this change. Even when the work atmosphere is unpleasant, the salary is low, or the projects are boring, you can decide to stay. Change is a given in both our professional life and other facets of our lives. We must have the ability to embrace it rather than shoo it away. When we hold on to a pattern that is no longer intended to be a part of our life, we witness it deteriorate and get drained over time. This card occasionally also represents the recurrence of unfavourable workplace habits.

Health (Reversed)

Death reversed, maybe a sign that you are delaying treatment or being proactive about your health problems in a health context. Perhaps you are reluctant to deal with a deeper issue that is the cause of your health problems. Perhaps you've been putting off checkups because of prior anxieties you had about a certain sickness. Get that out of the picture now; you'll feel more energised afterward. Similar to the upright meaning, when Death is reversed in a spiritual context, it denotes a spiritual transition brought on by a trying period, sadness, or loss in your life.

In a tarot reading, the reversed card, however, suggests that you are completely impervious to this change. Perhaps the upheavals you've gone through have made you so angry that you're reluctant to go ahead. You may have lost hope in the universe and believe that nothing good will happen to you in the future. Alternatively, you can be upset and believe that nothing the universe can provide you right now can make up for what you've gone through. Allow yourself to experience how you are feeling. However, keep in mind that refusing to let go of your sadness and sinking your heels in will only make matters worse. Even if you're too unhappy to recognise it right now, try to maintain some trust that the spiritual realm is supporting, guiding, and there for you.

Death Card: One card Pull

One card pull is performed when you want to have straight-to-the-point and quick answers. It is for the time when you wish to know specific answers, in the form of Yes or No. So, if you are going through any tough situation or are stuck in a dilemma, getting a one-card pull is always helpful. Post shuffling the card, you can choose one from the deck. Depending on your question, you shall get the answer to the question. The results for one card pull-in Death tarot card are:

Upright Position: If you get the pulled card in the upright position, it indicates Yes as an answer.

Reversed Position: If you get the pulled card in the reversed position, it indicates No as an answer.

Death Card for Timing

When others describe events and their involvement in them for you, the Death card warns you to pay particular attention. It is not required to express disapproval. It is your responsibility to watch, pay careful attention, actively engage, and keep your composure as the drama plays out.

Your knowledge will extend far beyond what you understand once you see how people would describe themselves. You will discover the facts that will enable you to make an educated and accurate decision by concluding clues and oblique inferences. An important event might happen during the next 30 days, according to Death. The Death card makes an appearance every three to four months and has a significant and lasting impact.