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Tarot Card Meanings:
Death

Death: Overview and Symbols

Death is card number thirteen in the Major Arcana. It represents transformation, endings, and new beginnings. This card signifies the inevitability of change and the opportunity for renewal and growth through letting go.

Some Specific Symbols and Their Meanings in the Rider Waite Smith Tarot:

  • Skeleton in armor on a white horse: Symbolizes inevitable change, transformation, and purity in transition.

  • Black flag with a white rose: Represents the beauty of new beginnings and the potential within endings.

  • Figures facing the rider: Indicate acceptance of change and the equalizing nature of transformation.

  • Setting sun: Suggests the end of a cycle and the promise of a new dawn.

  • River flowing into the distance: Reflects the continuity of life, regeneration, and the ongoing flow of time.
death from the rider waite smith tarot
Death as depicted in the Rider-Waite Smith Tarot by A.E. White, illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith

Death: Card Meanings

Keywords/Phrases: Transformation, endings, rebirth, letting go, transition, renewal, closure, change.

Death in the tarot signifies transformation and the end of a cycle, encouraging you to let go of what no longer serves you. This card represents the closure of one chapter to make way for new growth, embracing change as an essential part of life’s journey. It reflects the shedding of old habits, perspectives, or situations, creating space for renewal and fresh beginnings. Death urges you to accept endings with grace, knowing that this transition will bring necessary transformation and open the door to new opportunities.

Death: Reversed Card Meanings

Keywords/Phrases: Resistance to change, stagnation, fear of endings, clinging to the past, delayed transition, avoidance.

When Death appears reversed in a tarot reading, it signifies resistance to change and an unwillingness to let go, leading to stagnation or delay. This card suggests that fear of endings or a reluctance to embrace transformation may be holding you back from growth. It reflects a period where clinging to the past prevents the necessary transitions that lead to renewal. Reversed Death urges you to confront these fears, release outdated attachments, and open yourself to the change needed for true progress and fulfillment.

Gallery: Death in Various Decks