DEATH

In the Whimsical Tarot, which uses fairytale characters, the Death card is known by its traditional name, although it is certainly not a menacing card and suggests that death is akin to sleeping, hence it being represented by the character 'Sleeping Beauty'. In other decks it can be known as "Transformation" or "Transition".

Nothing strikes more fear and terror into the hearts of those consulting the Tarot than the Death card! If you would like a detailed explanation, including examples of readings I have undertaken where the Death card has appeared, you may like to read a 3-part series of articles I wrote about this card, which you can find here.

What you need to remember first and foremost is that the Death card rarely means physical death. It is far more likely to indicate a significant change in a person's life, usually a change that will have far-reaching consequences and nearly always a change they would rather have avoided. The outcome of that change is invariably good, but the actual 'getting there' can be difficult, usually because it inevitable involves some sort of loss or sacrifice. This can be modified by the cards at either side of the Death card, particularly the two immediately next to it.

Many decks do not use the word 'death' at all to describe the thirteenth Major Arcana card. The two most popular alternatives, as mentioned next to the Whimsical Tarot Death card above, are "Transformation" and "Transition". Both these alternatives illustrate what I have just discussed in the previous paragraph, but they also stress that even if the card is referring to a physical demise, "death is not the end". You will find these alternative names appearing in quite a large number of decks as more and more designers reject the traditional word in favour of something pleasanter. They are especially likely to appear in decks with a strong Pagan or spiritual influence, where death as 'the end' is simply not an option!

In a nutshell, when the Death card appears in a reading, particularly in a prominent place, in the vast majority of cases it is a message of renewal rather than demise. However, it is likely to involve the loss of something which the subject of the reading is reluctant to part with, even though it is something (or someone) that they would clearly be better off without. Think of it as losing a penny, then finding a pound (change to fit your own currency!).

As this is a single card I have chosen another card to suggest possible areas where the Death card might be applying to me. The one I have chosen is QUEEN of PENTACLES. While some may see this as the death of a woman fitting that description (which, of course, is possible), it is more likely to indicate a change in financial or business matters. However, I do not really see how that could apply to me, at least not in terms of any major changes, but we will see what the coming day brings!

Results It would appear that the cards were having a bit of a joke with me today (they often do this). If the Queen of Pentacles is used to depict a particular person, it is usually a independent woman, often divorced and/or a single parent, quite often with a successful career. It is also used to indicate a woman who values her freedom and, in particular, her time alone. She is a woman who needs her 'own space'. I look forward to Fridays because I have a long period of time to myself due to the fact that my children go to their usual after-school club, followed almost immediately by another club. This basically means that they are gone for almost 12 hours, apart from about an hour in between school/club and club/club. Anyway, today they decided they weren't going to the after-school club as they wanted to play in the garden, only they spent most of the time running in and out of the house wanting this and that and driving me crazy. Then when it was time to get ready for the second club, my son spent so long changing his clothes that there were already enough children going on the bus that collects them and they weren't able to go. In other words, instead of having more time alone than usual, I had less. It does seem a little melodramatic to use the death card to show something like this, but at the time it did seem like a major catastrophe!!!