Death Teaches Us to Celebrate the End: A Look at the Impact of Major Arcana Card Thirteen

When the Death card appears in your tarot readings, do you get chills? Perhaps a bit nervous? It’s an understandable impulse, one that is amplified by the kooky way the tarot is often portrayed in the media and the fact that death is something people (especially in the west) tend to fear and distance themselves from at all costs.

But the interpretation of the Major Arcana’s thirteenth guide as a bad omen is lazy at best. Could the Death tarot card warn of someone’s impending demise? I mean…anything is possible. This is so rarely the case, however, that I hesitate to say yes at all. Death here is more metaphorical than literal. We do Death’s guidance a great disservice when our understanding is limited to a literal interpretation.

Instead of focusing on dying, the Death card’s main message centers on a significant, inevitable, necessary end. When he appear in a reading, Death is usually telling us that the thing we’ve desperately been trying to sustain has lived long past its prime. As painful as it may feel, it’s time to let go.

Death is also an invitation to be honest about our feelings around endings. If saying good-bye is painful and challenging, we should take time to mourn our loss, to honor the change and, eventually, celebrate the new opportunity that is born from this end.

In the upright position, Death gives us permission to stop striving. We can accept the inevitability that all things (even those of beauty and wonder) must come to an end. We can honor the lessons we learned from our experiences and still leave those experiences in the past where they belong. We can choose to shed the old. Or, we can resist fruitlessly and pretend everything is peachy keen.

Death’s reversed position tells us what happens when we make this choice: stagnation, obsession, denial, paralysis and fear. Long story short, things can get pretty ugly pretty fast. Nothing lives forever. The sooner we accept that and do what needs to be done, the sooner we can welcome in all the abundance that arises from the ashes of the things we burned away.

To fully understand Death’s nuance, it helps to see how the tarot card impacts and is impacted by other cards in a spread. This will become clear as you read through the four general energy readings below. A general energy reading uses tarot cards to give an overarching perspective about someone’s present circumstances. It is not meant to answer a specific question. I write the readings below as if I am speaking directly to you.

One other thing to note: This blog post is written in conjunction with the Cup of Sugar tarot newsletter. While you do not need to receive the newsletter to understand the readings below, it will give greater context to the cards. Basically, the newsletter is an extended version of the introduction above that also includes more information on how to read and connect with each tarot card. If you’d like to sign up to receive the remaining newsletters in the series, you can do that here.

Spread 1: Embrace an Opportunity to Tap into Your Magic

This reading is filled with good news. Although the Death card may seem intimidating, he has your best interests in mind. His message here is simple: Something significant needs to end, so that a truly magical next chapter can begin. I get the sense that this thing that has run its course is challenging to release because of the work you put into it. Remember that nothing is ever lost. You are wiser and stronger for your efforts.

The Magician, The Emperor and the Ace of Wands are the cards that await you on the other side of this release. The Magician tells me that you have the chance to really tap into your personal power and the tools at your disposal. The Emperor supports this by saying that those tools will be necessary to build something that lights your heart on fire.

The death of something that no longer serves you will help you transform your focus for the better. It’s understandable that you’re afraid. The unknown is a place we all work to avoid whenever possible. The Ace of Wands encourages you to make moves regardless of your reservations. This card is one that will help you foster determination and harness the forces you need to successfully progress your true passions.

The cards are on your side. You are the only person that can get in the way of an abundant future. Accept that this ending will happen with or without your blessing. It will be a loss, but know that it is necessary. The greatness ahead can only manifest after you’ve moved beyond your current situation.

Spread 2: Release What Isn’t Working and Foster Your Flow

Something in your life feels extra difficult right now. You’ve been diligently working to pull all the pieces together, trying to make them fit. The reversed Three of Wands tells me that things are not going according to plan.

Despite your best efforts, there are a lot of moving parts and nothing to hold them together cohesively. It’s time to stop willing things to work. It won’t help. This situation is beyond salvaging—you’ve got to walk away. Death is the card that confirms this course of action. You know that it’s time to call it quits. This is the message your heart has been trying to express for a while.

Temperance indicates that stepping away from this situation need not be dramatic. You can do so with ease by choosing a middle-way approach. Be firm but kind. You may find that those involved are relieved to hear that this project is ending. I would be surprised if they haven’t also felt the rising tides of tension and frustration.

The Two of Cups is a promising sign that the disconnection you’re feeling now will dissipate as soon as the current circumstance concludes. Your people are waiting for you. While this group project of sorts has been an upward battle of clashing personalities, the Two of Cups tells me that you’ll find a sense of flow by accepting the next opportunity, the one that will replace what you’re leaving behind. You’ll know it’s the right thing by the peace that accompanies it.

Spread 3: When Letting Go Feels Like a Betrayal

There is a lot going on in your world right now, and not a lot of it feels great. That’s unfortunate. It’s also a situation of your own making. Death in reverse is a sign that you’re paralyzed by the fear. I get the sense that you’re trying to figure out how to get yourself out of this mess without hurting feelings or stepping on toes.

That may not be possible. The Eight of Swords tells me that you feel attacked from all sides. It feels like everything and everyone is against you. While this is mostly the story you’ve created in your mind, it’s hard to tell where your challenges truly begin and where you’re simply blind to the reality of the situation. You need to get out of your head and open your eyes.

Seven of Wands indicates that stepping away from this situation feels like a betrayal. Again, you feel attacked. This has severely impacted your ability to trust your instincts and others’ intentions. The good news is that you will achieve whatever you put your effort toward. The bad news is that you have to overcome your resistance and commit to taking action.

The reversed Five of Coins is a sign that you will receive what you need as soon as you make the necessary moves. In the effort to avoid betraying others (something you can’t be certain they even feel), you’ve betrayed yourself. There’s no need to wither away out in the cold. Take confident steps forward in the direction of your dreams. You won’t be sorry you did.

Spread 4: The Problem with Golden Handcuffs

“What’s the problem with golden handcuffs,” you ask? They keep you stuck. I understand. It can be challenging to leave money on the table, but is it really worth sacrificing your soul?

The reversed Death card is a solemn reminder that your denial is what makes you feel continually adrift. This certainly isn’t a call to make rash decisions. Instead, it’s time to take a serious look at what your heart is trying to tell you. From this place, you’ll have the confidence to make decisions that benefit you in the long run.

The aforementioned golden handcuffs are explained by the Knight of Coins, a methodical and grounded figure who cherishes wealth and stability. He knows that success in the form of financial abundance is attractive. You can tell by the way he admires the coin in his grasp. Unfortunately, he is not the guy you want to encounter when the time comes to go in a new and untested direction. He’s rarely one for risk-taking.

The Chariot, however, is telling you to stop stalling. The horse-drawn chariot is leaving the station, and trust me, you’re going to want to be on it when it goes. The only path worth following is the one that takes you forward. You can stand still and argue with Death all day. It’s not going to change the fact that things are changing and soon. You don’t need to be on the gold-plated ship when it goes down.

The reversed Page of Coins reminds you not to act rashly. Bad news could be around the corner, but proceeding with caution and your wits about you will be key. Death has given you a warning and the benefit of foresight.

Use what you know to seize the opportunities that come your way. And when you make a choice, be sure to follow through. Your ability to thrive in the aftermath of a less-than-ideal situation depends on keeping your head squarely on your shoulders.