Death Tarot Card Meaning

The plot of this Tarot card is eerie and mystical — a skeleton riding a white horse, slowly traversing the Earth with a banner in hand. The rider on the card is unarmed, yet his appearance makes all those he encounters fall to their knees.

His path is illuminated by the rising sun as a sign of life's renewal. In Death's hands, he holds a black canvas with an embroidered rose — a banner with the symbol of life.

If the Death tarot card appears in an upright position during a reading, it serves as a warning of a turning point in your fate. Perhaps many things that you've prioritized in life will lose their significance. The Death Arcana represents a period of inevitable personal transformation, renouncing past plans and projects, and saying farewell to ideas that have run their course.

In practical terms, the Death tarot card may symbolize leaving a job, severing relationships up to and including divorce, moving, a drastic abandonment of harmful habits, or breaking away from external influence. However, the changes predicted by the 13th card may not be physically felt, as they could be deep spiritual changes — a shift in worldviews, beliefs, and life goals, or an internal liberation from past thoughts.

The emotional content of this tarot card is ambiguous — on one hand, you may experience the bitterness of loss and fear of the unknown, but on the other hand, you may feel joy at the sight of new horizons and a sense of freedom. The Death card in its literal sense suggests that the sooner you let go of the past, the quicker this painful stage of transformation will end and renewal will begin.

Dead tree branches must be pruned to make way for new growth! As painful, sad, and regretful it may be to part with "dead" things, this card always foreshadows the dawn of a new day and changes for the better. Death always walks hand in hand with rebirth.

Key meanings of the upright Death card

• Renewal, ending, inevitable farewell, transformation, irrevocable change.
• Metamorphosis, spiritual rebirth, new beginnings, revival.
• A major life stage has ended, it's time to move on!

The inverted Death tarot card speaks of your resistance to changes and inner barriers you're constructing in order to keep everything in your life as it is. You are fooling yourself, clinging to things that have outlived their usefulness, just like a beautiful dress that has become too tight at the shoulders, unwilling to understand that the past is to be left in the past. And the longer and more fiercely you resist, the more somber this stage of life will become for you.

The inverted Death card signifies a rather challenging period of loss, emotional torment, breakups, and severance of relationships. If the 13th tarot arcana has appeared in your spread, try to view what's happening less dramatically, approach the assessment of the situation with sound judgement, and let go of anything that has become unnecessary, excessive, uninteresting, or oppressive to you for whatever reason. Take this step, and you'll find how much easier it becomes to breathe, live, and communicate!

Key meanings of the inverted Death card

• Stagnation, depressive state, fatigue, inertia, reluctance for changes, acute perception of the situation.
• Severance of relationships, loss, disruption of life's steady flow.
• Crash of previous plans, abandonment of ideas, restructuring.

More often than not, the upright Death card in love readings signifies some irreversible changes that can lead either to a total breakup or a renewal of feelings. In this process, you may feel powerless and unable to influence the situation — it seems as if events unfold on their own, regardless of your desires and efforts.

The card advises not to despair if things are not going well — the collapse of a romantic union should not be considered as the collapse of your whole life. Keep living — renewal and new happiness await ahead!

In a reversed position, the card indicates resistance to inevitable changes, disappointment, and passivity in love.

When reading about an admirer or a loved one

In a reading about an admirer or partner, the upright card suggests that your chosen one is a maximalist in love. For them, it's all or nothing. A new love is a new stage for them, meant to change their entire life, nothing less.

A reversed card indicates that your chosen one is afraid to lose everything in love, hence they tend to think ten times before entering into new relationships.

In business readings, the Death card signifies a period of expenses and painful adjustment to radical changes in affairs. To reduce psychological and financial burden, it is better to immediately cut off anything that serves as dead weight – outdated partnerships and obligations, inefficient methods of earning that "consume" resources.

This is the path of progress – through getting rid of the outdated and introducing the new and unknown, and this process doesn't always occur painlessly. Previous thinking patterns no longer work; you'll have to wait for the old to die and the new to emerge, while accepting that incomes will be significantly lower than expenses. There may be job layoffs, loss of income sources.

In a reversed position, the card indicates reluctance to let go of the past, a state of oppression, and business collapse.

When reading for a person, the upright card is interpreted as someone possessing immense life force, enabling them to overcome practically any obstacles and even find solutions in the most challenging situations.

In a reversed position, this card represents a rather conservative individual who finds it difficult to embrace any changes, even if they are for the better.

In the upright position, the card advises you to boldly embrace the impending changes and not be afraid to open a new chapter in your life.

When appearing in a reversed position in the spread, the card advises you not to fear the approaching changes in your life and, most importantly, not to resist their arrival.

If the card appears upright, the forecast for your situation is quite favorable. As a result, you will achieve your goals, but many things in your life will undergo profound changes.

In a reversed position, the forecast for your situation is ambiguous. It may be hindered by a reluctance to change yourself, your habits, and your life.

With the 0 Fool card — an accident, a dangerous obsession, a reckless friend.

With the 1 Magician card — encountering the supernatural, knowledge beyond one's years, becoming responsible too early.

With the 2 High Priestess card — overestimating one's intuition, revealing secrets or plans, changing perspectives on what is happening.

In combination with the 3 Empress card — issues in joint management of household affairs, criticism towards a spouse, mismatched family values between spouses.

With the 4 Emperor card — change in leadership, loss of authority, downsizing or reevaluation of ambitions.

With the 5 Hierophant card — a different mentor or teacher, reevaluating company policies, adopting a different approach to problem-solving.

With the 6 Lovers card — any path leads to defeat, parting ways with a romantic partner, changing the approach to relationships.

With the 7 Chariot card — a foreboding feeling, an unattainable goal, shattered hopes or rift in a young family.

With the 8 Strength card — the emergence of something unusual, efforts made to solve problems, the need to gather one's willpower.

With the 9 Hermit card — life flowing slowly, inevitable transformations, solitude.

With the 10 Wheel of Fortune card — a situation with a catch, opposite outcome, unpredictability.

With the 11 Justice card — change or perish, seeking a different path, seeking protection or allies in the face of threats.

With the 12 Hanged Man card — resisting change, attempting to hold onto what is already there, internal transformation.

With the 14 Temperance card — time will heal, a period of adaptation, humility will help endure a difficult phase.

With the 15 Devil card — deception, tormenting experiences, clear sabotage or enchantment, a flow of negativity.

With the 16 Tower card — major upheavals, losing everything, a sudden strike from outside.

With the 17 Star card — rising from the ashes, hope for a favorable outcome, new dreams or aspirations.

With the 18 Moon card — destructive dreams or prejudices, harmful habits, getting entangled in imagined worlds.

With the 19 Sun card — rebirth, a chance in a different field of activity, changing professions or romantic partners.

With the 20 Judgment card — prolonged litigation, personal transformation, correcting past mistakes to step into the future.

With the 21 World card — taking stock, maintaining a friendly relationship with an ex-spouse, changing citizenship.

With the Ace of Wands — Change the direction of development, clear the path, find a free niche (not necessarily successful).

With the Two of Wands — Living in the past, clinging to the familiar, acting according to the old scheme.

In combination with the Three of Wands — Agreeing to something new, accepting the rules of the game, gradual development.

With the Four of Wands — Division in a young family, serious difficulties in everyday life, reconsideration of behavior with household members.

With the Five of Wands — A turning point in a conflict, a disagreement that will turn out to be more global, carelessness that will bring many troubles.

With the Six of Wands — Assembling a different team, hiring young employees, betting on the next generation.

With the Seven of Wands — Attempting to escape difficulties, defeat in a struggle, yielding to competitors or opponents.

With the Eight of Wands — Rapid change of course or policy, changing the environment, losing the sense of comfort.

With the Nine of Wands — Fear of the future, a sense of vulnerability, panic attacks.

With the Ten of Wands — Relinquishing authority, collapsing under the weight of destiny, abandoning a task without completing it.

With the Page of Wands — Ignoring danger, recklessness, careless attitude towards the future (nothing to lose).

With the Knight of Wands — Loss of motivation or interest, melancholy, internal obstacles or fear of great success.

With the Queen of Wands — Finding an acceptable solution, mental flexibility and quick response to changes, adaptation.

With the King of Wands — Change of status, divorce or marriage, promotion or demotion at work.

With the Ace of Swords — Dangerous circle of communication, ruin, a plan leading to collapse.

With the Two of Swords — Separation, slander or false evidence, short-sighted action or statement.

In combination with the Three of Swords — Betrayal, a stab in the back, leaving work or studies due to gossip.

With the Four of Swords — Funeral rituals, cemetery, dark energy.

With the Five of Swords — Business won't work out, senseless expenditure of energy, material damage.

With the Six of Swords — Farewells, self-sacrifice, a mournful mood.

With the Seven of Swords — Expectations don't match reality, retreat into the shadows, public exposure for an unseemly reason.

With the Eight of Swords — Waiting for instructions, incapacity, crisis of beliefs.

With the Nine of Swords — Losses, the crown of celibacy, losing a loved one.

With the Ten of Swords — Illness of a close person, problems with household members, the need for further education or a reconsideration of beliefs.

With the Page of Swords — Tormentor, attempting to forget inconvenient acquaintances, provocateur.

With the Knight of Swords — Authoritative enemy, influential and clever opponent, being out of the loop.

With the Queen of Swords — Female cunning, hidden reforms, open mischief-making.

With the King of Swords — Spiritual poverty, murder, a reckless person without moral compass.

With the Ace of Cups — Unsuccessful party or meeting, oppressive state, sorrow.

With the Two of Cups — Meeting that evokes sadness, missed opportunity, lost love.

In combination with the Three of Cups — Carelessness, creating a critical situation, gossip leading to trouble.

With the Four of Cups — Failures in endeavors, futile efforts, unsuccessful attempts and disappointment.

With the Five of Cups — Deprivation of inheritance, resentment or unfounded grievances, reevaluate habits and find oneself without something.

With the Six of Cups — Unconventional medicine, getting tangled up in prioritizing, giving away the last.

With the Seven of Cups — Collapse of illusions, cruel reality, hopes unfulfilled.

With the Eight of Cups — End of a romance, long-distance relationships, love not withstanding separation.

With the Nine of Cups — Intuition helps avoid a crisis, optimism in difficult situations, a reliable shoulder.

With the Ten of Cups — Children shaping their own destiny, breaking free from guardianship, fear of losing support.

With the Page of Cups — Confrontation with a specific person, rival or influential competitor, the possibility of losing.

With the Knight of Cups — End of a carefree life, loss of popularity, a melancholic mood.

With the Queen of Cups — Seeking solace in alcohol, losing sound judgment, going to extremes.

With the King of Cups — Empty boasting, false self-assurance, reckless actions.

With the Ace of Pentacles — Disappearance of capital, end of prosperity, inept financial management.

With the Two of Pentacles — Getting tangled up in affairs, lack of focus or skills, unjustified expenses.

In combination with the Three of Pentacles — Choosing a career or education, abandoning romantic relationships, the need to change technology.

With the Four of Pentacles — Self-healing, loneliness, becoming a victim of circumstances.

With the Five of Pentacles — Asset confiscation, bankruptcy, karmic failures.

With the Six of Pentacles — Ingratitude from loved ones, inability to help someone, disillusionment with charity.

With the Seven of Pentacles — Unfavorable investment, being deceived by a forecast, receiving less than expected.

With the Eight of Pentacles — Changing jobs, leaving employment, dissatisfaction with one's position.

With the Nine of Pentacles — False prophet, following the wrong path, dishonesty.

With the Ten of Pentacles — Financial difficulties, lack of family belief in a new project, incompatible mentality.

With the Page of Pentacles — Strong temptation, dangerous lifestyle, tightening screws or uncomfortable changes.

With the Knight of Pentacles — A familiar scheme that no longer works, a player, a skillful and charming guy with problems.

With the Queen of Pentacles — Being caught in lies or intrigue, losing investments, making a bet and losing.

With the King of Pentacles — Scientific career, rejection of family or relationships, prioritizing capital, wasted time.