Death is, along with the Devil, one of the cards that generates the most fear when it appears. However, its meaning is not literal, it is not dying nor does it indicate the death of anyone. Death is a card that has a strong meaning, both upright and when it appears inverted in a reading.
Letter correspondences:
- Kabbalistics associates this card with the planets Pluto and Mars, with the letter Mem and the number 40.
- Esoterically it is associated with the astrological sign of Scorpio, the element of Water, and the season of spring.
- In numerology, it represents the number 13 or 4 (13=1+3= 4 ), which is change, transformation, and for some it is positive and for others it is negative.
Graphic description of the letter:
The card shows us Death in person, riding a white horse, carrying a black and white flag. Death is represented as a skeleton since the bones of the skeleton of our human body are the part of the body that survives death.
The armor she wears indicates that she is invincible and indeed, no one has yet triumphed over death. The horse that Death rides is white, the color of purity, therefore, death is the ultimate purification. All things are reborn with fresh, new, and pure air.
A bishop is seen paying homage to him, and all sectors of the human race are represented here, men, women, and children demonstrating that death does not distinguish between age, race, or sex, much less social classes or material possessions, as evidenced by the fallen gold crown belonging to a dead king.
The flag carried by death has a black background, indicating the absence of light. The white rose, on the other hand, indicates beauty, purification, and immortality.
In the background of the image, there is a rising sun, a representation of immortality, since the sun “seems to die” each night, but is reborn again each morning. The two thick pillars guard the gateway to the sun, which symbolizes the knowledge necessary to gain immortality.
The boat in the water in the background of the image is the one that transports souls across the river Styx or Styx (also Styx or Styx), which in Greek mythology constituted the boundary between the earth and the world of the dead. The background is a neutral gray, demonstrating once again the impartiality of Death.
Death to the right
General meaning:
This card represents the beginnings of things, change, transformation, transition, and the endings of cycles.
It is death in its sense of profound radical change and does not express the death of either the person consulting or other people, therefore there is no need to panic when this major arcana appears.
The change it announces is generally positive and it will depend on the other cards to understand what the change is due to. It could be the arrival of a new person, a diametric job change, an important move, or even changes in ideas that we believed were very deep-rooted and true.
Usually, the change is sudden and violent, it is a phase of your life that ends to give way to a better one. It is about letting go and putting the past behind, a deep cleansing that puts us facing new and potentially better horizons.
The change may be in external things, but there will be a lot of internal change, and the more open to change you are, the less you resist and the less control you want to exercise, the more beneficial it will be for you.
As it is a normally unexpected change, it can cause fearful and negative feelings, this is normal, but then you will understand that the change is optimal and will benefit you.
It is about leaving extra baggage, unhealthy affections, and attachments, or even, it is an excellent card to break behavioral habits or vices, such as drug or alcohol consumption.
If the Death card appears as the final result, it is an excellent omen. There will be profound renovations in many facets of your life, changes will come and cause a purging earthquake.
If it appears about a person, it will tell us that he or she is willing to change, is mentally open, capable of taking on challenges, starting over from scratch, and changing completely. She may already be changing or her transformation may be announced, but change is the word that dominates her.
If Death appears to describe a situation, it can signal the end of things, whether it be a long relationship, a job maintained for years, or a situation of poverty, if one was in it, on the contrary, a drastic change of life. having money to not having it.
That will depend on the context. The situation you describe is one of change or one that is going to change, and this will be for the better, important, providing new and necessary things.
Love:
As for love, if you are in a relationship, there will be favorable changes. All those things that were obstacles will be overcome. The couple evolves, moves forward, and becomes stronger.
If you are alone or waiting for love, it will come. A great romance may appear with prospects of being a great, lasting, and constant love. This card can also announce that lifestyles are changing radically and even signal changes of address or substantial home renovations.
Something important that this major arcana can tell us is that if you are in a relationship in which you are unhappy, but you do not change due to fear of loneliness, because you do not dare to “kick the board”, or because you are so used to the routine, is that you must do a serious rethinking, both within yourself and with your partner.
Changes and improvements are still possible, and if they are not, you will have to accept things and finally let the relationship go, that is, either it changes for the better or it changes at its roots, but a big change is inevitable with this card. of death
Job:
Regarding work, there are favorable changes, and new, fresh, and brilliant ideas, one is convinced and full of faith in what one is doing, the relationship with bosses, colleagues, partners, or subordinates is optimal, there is support and everyone is involved in the task.
On the other hand, if your job makes you unhappy, whether because of what you do or what you earn, this card encourages you to make a big change. Without fears. The change you choose will be the correct one, you should not have fears that tie you to the security of your current job. The change will be favorable, so decide to do it.
Money and bail:
Luck can appear like a ray of light in your life, chance can give you an extraordinary surprise. Inheritance and unexpected money gains may appear. It is a good time to diversify, grow, expand, and make investments of all kinds.
But as I said before, Death can signal an inverse situation: going from economic well-being to a situation that borders on ruin. This should be associated with other cards (for example the 5 of pentacles).
If so, try to minimize the impact, and try to change those things that have sent us bankrupt: bad decisions, terrible investments, waste of money, unnecessary expenses, borrowed money that does not return right now, and requested credits that are impossible to return.
Health:
Health is also greatly favored by this card. You recover or cure from an illness, you have strength and vitality, and there are improvements if you have serious ailments or long-standing acute illnesses.
It heralds an excellent general recovery in health. As you can see, it announces the opposite of dying!
Spirituality:
Cultivating a positive attitude is now key. You must understand that changes will benefit you, so try not to oppose or resist them.
Know that even if you are in the middle of a “night of the soul” this too shall pass. Don’t fight the change. Allow yourself to feel what you feel, but don’t wallow in the pain or sadness.
If you need help ask for it. Even when you feel alone in the world, you will see that you find someone willing to open their hands to welcome you and give you help and support.
