Death - 13

Shed the old to make room for what’s new

The Death card shows a mysterious skeletal rider in black, on a white horse, and carrying a black and white flag with a rose. Death is unavoidable and comes to all people as he walks through, some approaching it willingly and others with fear. It is a sign of change, shedding of the old in order for growth to come in. Behind him is a boat ushering people to the new life waiting them over by the sun shining between the pillars. Death is not the end, but is a point on the Fool’s journey.

Rider-Waite-Smith

Meanings

  • The Death card is a signal that the end of one phase is coming to a close and a new one is opening. What needs to be pruned from your life so you have room to grow

  • An upheaval and forced letting go can disrupt life, consider how you handle change and find ways to work with the change rather than resist it.

  • This is a season of transition and growth but is a chance to level up your understanding and enlightenment when you embrace transformation.

  • Warning to not resist change, it will come either way. You may be holding on to the past, remember that death brings life and loss creates room for new hope.

Numerology - 13

Thirteen brings transformation and rebirth and suggests coming growth, and positive changes. It’s placement after twelve suggests a potential beyond completeness, the enlightenment and sacred wisdom found beyond this life. Thirteen also echoes the numerology of 4 (1+3) reminding us of our firm foundation and structure that guides us through times of transition and the new foundations we are building.

Tarot de Marseille

Symbolism

Rider – a skeleton, perhaps the grim reaper in black tells us that death is coming.

Horse – the white horse contrasts with the rider in black and imitates the balance of light and dark found in our world. The white reminds us that death is a purifier.

Flag – the black and white echo the balance of the horse and rider. The rose (sometimes known as the Mystic Rose) is a symbol of purification, balance, and immortality and is a gateway to a new path.

People – the different people on the card remind us that death comes for all, we approach death and change differently, with surprise, fear, or willingness, but in the end it is inevitable and better to approach it with willingness rather than fear.

Ship – the boat is passing through the waters ushering souls to a new life, a reminder that death is a transition point, not the end.

Shining Gates – the two pillars mark a boundary between worlds. They are the gates of heaven and together with the sun of immortality they show us all that is to come. Death is not the end but enlightenment and spiritual understanding come from.

Tarot of the Abyss

Associations

Water – the suit of emotions and intuition, represented by the cups in tarot. Water brings renewal, new life, emotional growth, inner wisdom, and healing.

Pluto – associated with power and control, Pluto brings the destruction of the present in order to usher in the and build what is new. Because of it’s slow movement through the solar system it rules over deep, permanent, and slow-moving change.

Scorpio – ruled by the planet Pluto, Scorpio is associated with rebirth and transformation. It leads you to follow your destiny and release what is old and unneeded while embracing the new.

Ethereal Visions Tarot Deck

Archetype - those who let everything fall away to be reborn

  • Persephone – Greek Mythology

  • Jon Snow – Game of Thrones

  • Ebeneezer Scrooge – A Christmas Carol

  • Buffy Summers – Buffy the Vampire Slayer

  • Ishtar/Inanna – Egyptian Mythology

  • Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vadar – Star Wars

Shedding Snake - Rebirth

Snake knows when it’s time for a change, she’s growing and her old skin just doesn’t fit the same. Sometimes we have to shed the old to make room for new growth in our live

Make space for something new