In this chapter of the tarot course we will see death and its meanings. The hidden details for its interpretation in the tarot, its correspondence with numerology, the elements and kabbalistics.
What does Death mean in the Tarot? What does the Death card mean in love, work, money or health? What is its spiritual meaning and what does it reveal to us? What does the Death card upside down or reversed mean?
Death and its strong message in the Tarot
Death is the 13th major arcanum. 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 death, nor does it indicate the death of anyone.
Death is a card that presents a strong meaning, both upright and when it appears inverted in a reading.
Correspondences of the card:
- 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 Water and the spring season.
- 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 card
The card shows us Death in person, mounted on 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 a 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, showing that death does not distinguish between age, race or sex, much less social classes or material possessions, as evidenced by the golden crown fallen on the ground belonging to a king who lies dead.
The flag bearing 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, as the sun “seems to die” every night, but is reborn again every morning. The two thick pillars are guarding the gateway to the sun, which symbolizes the knowledge needed 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 Éstige or Estige), 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.
What does Death mean in the Tarot?
Death in the right, general meaning. This card represents the beginnings or beginnings of things, change, transformation, transition, and the ends of cycles.
It is death in its sense of profound radical change and does not express the death of the querent or of other people, so there is no need to panic when this major arcane appears.
The change it announces is generally positive and it will depend on the other cards to understand what the change is about. It may be the arrival of a new person, a diametrical change of job, an important move or even a change of ideas that we believed to be deeply rooted and certain.
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 us, a deep cleansing that puts us in front of 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 exert, the more beneficial it will be for you.
As it is usually an unexpected change, it may 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 letting go of excess baggage, unhealthy affections and attachments or even, it is an excellent card to break habits of behavior 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 deep renovations in many facets of your life, the changes will come and will provoke a purgative earthquake.
If it appears in reference to a person, it will tell us that this person is willing to change, is open-minded, capable of taking on challenges, of starting over from scratch, of 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 may signal the end of things, whether it be a long relationship, a job held for years, a situation of poverty, if you were in it, or on the other hand a drastic change from having money to having none.
That will depend on the context. The situation it describes is one of change, or that is going to change, and this will be for the good, important, bringing new and necessary things.
What does the Death card mean in love?
In terms of love, if you are in a couple, there will be favorable changes. All those things that have been obstacles will be overcome, the couple evolves, moves forward, strengthens.
If you are alone or waiting for love, it will come. A great romance may appear with prospects of being the great love, durable and constant. This card can also announce that the lifestyles that you lead change radically, and even indicate changes of domicile or substantial reforms in the home.
Something important that this major arcanum can indicate is that if you are in a relationship in which you are unhappy, but do not change for 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 make a serious rethinking, both within you and with your partner.
Changes and improvements are still possible, and if they are not, you will have to accept things and finally let go of the relationship, that is, either you change for the better or you change at the root, but a big change is inevitable with this Death card.
What does the Death card mean at work?
Regarding work, favorable changes come, new, fresh and bright ideas, you are convinced and full of faith in what you do, 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 work makes you unhappy, either for what you do or for what you earn, this card urges you to make a big change. No fears. The change you choose will be the right one; you should have no fears that bind you to the security of your current job.
The change will be favorable, so make up your mind to do it.
What does the Death Card mean for money and finances?
Luck may appear as a ray of light in your life, chance may give you an extraordinary surprise. Inheritance and unexpected money gains may appear. It is a good time to diversify, grow, expand, make investments of all kinds.
But as I said before, Death can point to an inverse situation: going from economic well-being to a situation bordering on ruin. This should be seen in association with other cards (for example the 5 of gold).
If so, try to minimize the impact, and try to change those things that have sent us to bankruptcy: bad decisions, bad investments, waste of money, unnecessary and superfluous expenses, borrowed money that does not return, requested credits impossible to return.
What does the Death Card mean for health?
Health is also very favored by this card. You recover or heal from an illness, you have strength and vitality, there are improvements if you have serious ailments or long-standing acute illnesses.
It announces an excellent general recovery in health. As you can see, it heralds the opposite of dying!
What does Death mean spiritually?
Cultivating a positive attitude now is key. You must understand that changes will work in your favor, so try not to oppose or resist them.
Know that even if you are in the midst of a “dark night of the soul” this too shall pass.
Don’t fight 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 find someone willing to open their hands to welcome you and give you help and support.
What does the Death card upside down or reversed mean?
Death in the reversed position, General meaning: This card reversed, loses all the positive that it indicated upside down. The change is still manifested, but it basically indicates that what complicates things is the great resistance that you oppose to change.
Often the changes have a negative first impression, but in the long run they are very favorable and if you are reluctant to make these changes, things will not improve for you.
It depends on which cards accompany this one in the reading, to know if the change is good and it is necessary to make it. If Death is alone, to describe specific things, its meaning is negative.
What does the Death card inverted mean in love?
In love it means breakups, there may be cheating and infidelity, your partner’s attitudes change suddenly or you yourself begin to present an unexpected change.
Relationships of years can become complicated and if you are alone and looking for love, you may not meet the right people. You run the risk of being lied to and cheated on affectively.
It also indicates that you yourself should make a deep rethinking of yourself and your attitudes, especially improve your self-esteem, because ultimately that is what others see and accept or reject you for it.
It does not mean that all is lost, but you have to be very careful. Talk deeply, communicate, expose and let out what you think and feel, that is the way so that the collapse does not occur.
What does the Death card inverted in the work mean?
As for work, it cries out for you to change jobs, you must innovate, generate new ideas, think in a different way.
It may show the end of a work relationship or partnership. Your attitude is key, if you do not accommodate, if you do not adjust to what is demanded of you, the occupational risk is serious. You must commit, comply and do your part.
What does the Death card reversed mean for money and finances?
On money and finances, Death is certainly negative. You can suffer losses of money due to bad decisions or just plain bad luck, such as, ill advised, buying shares in a company that a few days later collapses.
Money can be stolen, and it is not advisable to make loans, since the chances of recovering them are negligible. It is not a good time to gamble or try your luck at chance.
The only consolation is that, as they say, “money comes and goes”, therefore, you must hold on and be sure that this will not last forever. Economic failures and disappointments are something that everyone goes through to a greater or lesser extent.
Do not let money take center stage in your life, because just as it left, it will reappear.
What does the Death card reversed in health mean?
It in no way indicates death, neither yours nor anyone else’s, but special attention must be paid to health when this major arcane appears inverted.
Problems to which you have not paid much attention can become more complicated if you do not treat them in time. If you are recovering from an illness, it may be long and slow, from a simple blood pressure check to more complex checkups. Try to eat healthy.
Many times we are worried about an ailment and do not consult a doctor out of fear, but if you do, it is likely that it will not be as serious as you imagined and you will say to yourself, “but why didn’t I do this before”. Prevention is the key at this time.
What does the Death card reversed mean spiritually?
Whenever Death appears in any configuration or context, it is particularly important to cultivate a positive attitude.
Naturally there are situations in life where it is difficult to have a positive attitude, but you must avoid falling into pain, negativity, pessimism and anything that pushes you into depression and sadness.
Everything, absolutely everything changes in life, nothing is eternal! And even if you are now in the shadows, the sun will come in time.
Try to understand why and what is the reason for this change that has taken place in your life, surely it has a message and a lesson that you need to learn, to be better, to evolve in this incredible journey that is life.
