Death Tarot Card Meaning

The imagery of this Tarot card is eerie and mystical—a skeleton riding a white horse, carrying a banner, slowly moves across the Earth. Despite being unarmed, the rider's presence causes everyone he encounters to fall to the ground in reverence.

The path is lit by the rising sun, symbolizing the renewal of life. In Death's hand, there's a black banner with an embroidered rose—a symbol of life.

When the Death card appears upright in a Tarot reading, it's a sign of a pivotal moment in your fate. Many things that you once prioritized may lose their significance. The Death card signifies an inevitable personal transformation, the letting go of past plans and projects, and bidding farewell to ideas that have run their course.

Practically, the Death card can mean leaving a job, breaking up or even divorcing, moving, or quitting bad habits or external influences. However, the changes suggested by the 13th card might not always manifest physically, as they can also represent deep spiritual transformations—shifts in worldview, beliefs, and life goals, leading to an internal release from old thoughts.

The emotional aspect of this Tarot card is complex—on one hand, you may feel the bitterness of loss and fear of the unknown, yet on the other hand, there's joy in new horizons and a sense of freedom. The upright Death card tells us that the quicker we let go of the past, the sooner the painful phase of change will end, making way for renewal.

Just like withering branches need pruning to make room for new growth! No matter how painful or hard it is to part with what’s "dead," this card always foretells 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, irreversible change.
• Transformation, spiritual rebirth, new beginnings.
• A major life phase has ended; it's time to move forward!

The Tarot card Death, when reversed, signifies your resistance to change and the inner barriers you create to keep everything in your life just as it is. It's like clinging to an old favorite dress that's now too tight in the shoulders—refusing to acknowledge that the past is meant to be let go of. The longer and more fiercely you resist, the gloomier this phase of life becomes.

A reversed Death card indicates a challenging period of losses, emotional turmoil, farewells, and broken relationships. If the 13th arcana appears in your reading, try not to view the situation too dramatically. Approach it with a clear mind, let go of anything that has become unnecessary, burdensome, or uninteresting to you for whatever reason. Take this step, and you'll find it much easier to breathe, live, and connect with others!

Key Meanings of the Reversed Death Card

• Stagnation, depression, fatigue, inertia, reluctance for change, acute perception of situations.
• Breakups, loss, disruption of life's stability.
• Collapse of former plans, abandoning ideas, restructuring.

Most often, the upright Death card in love readings signifies unavoidable changes that can lead to either a complete breakup or a renewal of feelings. You might feel powerless and unable to influence the situation—events seem to unfold on their own, regardless of your desires and efforts.

The card advises not to despair if things aren't going as planned—a breakup isn't the end of the world. Keep moving forward—renewal and new happiness await you!

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

When reading about a suitor or loved one

In readings about a suitor or partner, the upright card indicates that your chosen one is an all-or-nothing person in love. For them, a new romance is a new chapter meant to transform their entire life, nothing less.

A reversed card reveals that your chosen one fears losing everything in love and thus tends to think things over multiple times before entering new relationships.

In business readings, the Death card signifies a period of expenses and the challenging adaptation to sweeping changes in affairs. To reduce psychological and financial stress, it's best to immediately cut off anything that serves as dead weight—outdated partnerships and obligations, ineffective earning methods, or expenses that "consume" resources.

This is the path of progress—shedding the old and embracing the new and unknown. However, this process isn't always painless. Old ways of thinking no longer work; you must wait for the old to fade away and the new to emerge, accepting that income might be much lower than expenses for a while. Job loss or losing a source of income is possible.

In its reversed position, the card suggests a reluctance to let go of the past, a state of depression, or a business failure.

When drawn upright in a reading about a person, the Death card signifies someone with immense life force, empowering them to overcome nearly any obstacle and find solutions even in the most challenging situations.

In its reversed position, this card represents someone quite conservative, who struggles to embrace change, even when it's for the better.

In its upright position, the card encourages you to boldly embrace upcoming changes and not fear starting a new chapter in your life.

When it appears reversed in a spread, the card advises you not to fear the changes brewing in your life and, most importantly, not to resist their arrival.

If the card appears upright, the outlook for your situation is quite favorable. You will achieve your goals, but be prepared for significant changes in your life.

When the card is reversed, the forecast for your situation becomes less clear. Your reluctance to change yourself, your habits, and your life might stand in your way.

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.