Death Tarot Card Meaning

The scene is eerie and mysterious: a skeleton carrying a banner rides slowly across the land on a white horse. The rider has no weapon, yet everyone in its path falls to the ground.

A rising sun lights the way, signaling life's renewal. Death carries a black banner embroidered with a rose: a symbol of life.

Death upright warns of a turning point in your life. Things you once put first may lose their meaning. This is a time of inevitable personal transformation: abandoning old plans and projects, and saying goodbye to ideas that have nothing left to offer.

In practical terms, Death can mean leaving a job, ending a relationship or getting divorced, moving home, or making a clean break with bad habits or someone else's influence. But the changes promised by card XIII may not be visible on the outside at all. They can be deeply spiritual: a new worldview, different beliefs and goals, or freedom from old ways of thinking.

The emotions here are mixed. You may feel the bitterness of loss and fear of the unknown, but also the joy of new horizons and a sense of freedom. Death upright says the sooner you let go of the past, the sooner the painful part will end and renewal can begin.

A tree's dead branches must be pruned to make room for new growth! However painful it feels to say goodbye to things that have already "died," this card always promises a new dawn and changes for the better. Death and rebirth go hand in hand.

Upright Death: Key Meanings

• Renewal, an ending, an inevitable goodbye, transformation, and irreversible change.
• A profound change, spiritual renewal, new beginnings, and rebirth.
• A major chapter has ended. It's time to move on!

Death reversed says you're resisting change and putting up inner barriers to keep everything as it is. You're fooling yourself, clinging to things you've outgrown like a beautiful dress that's now too tight across the shoulders. You don't want to accept that the past is there to be let go. The longer and harder you resist, the darker this stage of life will feel.

This card describes a difficult period of losses, heartache, partings, and broken relationships. If it appears in your reading, try to see events with less drama and more perspective. Let go of whatever has become unnecessary, excessive, uninteresting, or oppressive. Take that step, and see how much easier it becomes to breathe, live, and connect with people!

Reversed Death: Key Meanings

• Stagnation, feeling depressed, exhaustion, inertia, resistance to change, and taking events hard.
• A breakup, a loss, and disruption to a settled life.
• Old plans collapsing, abandoning ideas, and restructuring.

In a love reading, Death upright usually means unavoidable changes that can lead either to a complete breakup or to renewed feelings. You may feel powerless to influence things, as though events are unfolding by themselves, regardless of your wishes or efforts.

The card asks you not to despair if things go wrong. The end of a relationship isn't the end of your whole life. Keep living: renewal and fresh happiness lie ahead!

Reversed, it points to resistance to inevitable change, disappointment, and passivity in love.

How They Love

Upright, this is someone who wants all or nothing in love. A new romance means a new chapter that should change their entire life. Nothing less will do.

Reversed, the card says this person fears losing everything, so they'll think ten times before starting a new relationship.

In a career reading, Death means a period of expenses and a painful adjustment to sweeping changes. To ease the emotional and financial strain, cut away the dead weight now: partnerships and obligations that have run their course, ineffective ways of earning, and expenses that swallow your resources.

This is how progress happens: the outdated makes way for the new and unfamiliar. It isn't always painless. Old ways of thinking no longer work. You'll have to wait for the old to die away and the new to emerge, accepting that, for now, income will fall well short of expenses. Losing your job or another source of income is possible.

Reversed, the card means refusing to let go of the past, feeling weighed down, and a business collapsing.

Upright, Death describes someone with tremendous vitality, enough to overcome almost any obstacle and find a way out of even the toughest situation.

Reversed, this is a fairly conservative person who struggles to accept change, even when it's for the better.

Upright, the card advises you to meet the coming changes boldly. Don't be afraid to turn a new page in your life.

Reversed, it asks you not to fear the changes taking shape, and above all, not to fight them.

Upright, the outlook is fairly favorable. You'll get what you want, but much of your life will change radically along the way.

Reversed, the outlook is mixed. An unwillingness to change yourself, your habits, or your life could hold you back.

Pluto in contact with Saturn, and Pluto in Scorpio: a chance to transform your life, say goodbye to what has run its course, and welcome change.

The Fool — An accident; a dangerous interest; a reckless friend.

The Magician — An encounter with the supernatural; knowledge beyond your years; taking responsibility early in life.

The High Priestess — Overestimating your insight; secrets or plans being revealed; changing your view of events.

The Empress — Problems running a household together; criticism of a wife; spouses whose family values don't match.

The Emperor — A change of management; losing authority; scaling back or reconsidering your ambitions.

The Hierophant — A different mentor or teacher; revised company policy; another approach to solving a problem.

The Lovers — Every road leading to defeat; parting with a romantic partner; changing your approach to relationships.

The Chariot — An uneasy premonition; an unreachable goal; shattered hopes or a rift in a young marriage.

Strength — Something unusual appearing; efforts to solve problems; needing to summon all your willpower.

The Hermit — Life moving slowly; inevitable transformation; loneliness.

Wheel of Fortune — A situation with a catch; the opposite result; unpredictability.

Justice — Having to change or die; seeking another path; looking for protection or allies in the face of a threat.

The Hanged Man — Resisting change; trying to preserve what you have; an inner rebirth.

Temperance — Time healing wounds; a period of adjustment; acceptance helping you through a difficult phase.

The Devil — A setup; painful emotions; a clear curse or love spell; a flood of negativity.

The Tower — Sweeping changes; losing everything; a sudden blow from outside.

The Star — Rising from the ashes; hope for a favorable outcome; a new dream or ambition.

The Moon — Harmful dreams or prejudices; destructive habits; getting lost in imaginary worlds.

The Sun — Rebirth; a chance in a different field; changing professions or romantic partners.

Judgment — A long court battle; personal transformation; correcting past mistakes so you can move forward.

The World — Taking stock; staying friends with an ex-spouse; changing citizenship.

Ace of Wands — Changing direction; clearing the way; finding an unoccupied niche, though not necessarily a successful one.

Two of Wands — Living in the past; clinging to the familiar; following an old formula.

Three of Wands — Agreeing to something new; accepting the rules of the game; gradual development.

Four of Wands — A rift in a young marriage; serious domestic difficulties; rethinking how you treat your household.

Five of Wands — An end to a conflict; a disagreement proving more far-reaching; carelessness that brings a lot of trouble.

Six of Wands — Choosing a different team; hiring young employees; putting your faith in the next generation.

Seven of Wands — Trying to escape difficulties; defeat in a struggle; giving ground to competitors or a romantic rival.

Eight of Wands — A swift change of course or policy; a different environment; losing your sense of comfort.

Nine of Wands — Fear of the future; feeling unprotected; panic attacks.

Ten of Wands — Stepping down; buckling under life's burdens; leaving things to run themselves.

Page of Wands — Ignoring danger; recklessness; caring nothing for the future because you have nothing to lose.

Knight of Wands — Losing motivation or interest; the blues; inner obstacles or fear of major success.

Queen of Wands — Finding an acceptable solution; flexible thinking and a quick response to change; adapting.

King of Wands — A change in status; divorce or marriage; a promotion or demotion.

Ace of Swords — A dangerous social circle; death; a plan that leads to ruin.

Two of Swords — Moving apart; slander or false evidence; a shortsighted action or remark.

Three of Swords — Betrayal; a stab in the back; leaving a job or school because of gossip.

Four of Swords — Funeral rites; a cemetery; dark energy.

Five of Swords — A venture that won't succeed; wasting energy; financial loss.

Six of Swords — A farewell; self-sacrifice; a mournful mood.

Seven of Swords — Expectations that don't match reality; retreating into the background; publicity for an unflattering reason.

Eight of Swords — Waiting for instructions; incapacity; a crisis of belief.

Nine of Swords — Losses; a curse that keeps someone single; losing a loved partner.

Ten of Swords — A loved one's illness; trouble for members of your household; the need for further training or revised beliefs.

Page of Swords — A tormentor; trying to forget uncomfortable acquaintances; a provocateur.

Knight of Swords — A powerful enemy; an influential, intelligent rival; being out of the loop.

Queen of Swords — A woman's cunning; reforms behind the scenes; outright sabotage.

King of Swords — Spiritual poverty; murder; a ruthless person with no moral compass.

Ace of Cups — A party or meeting that goes badly; feeling weighed down; grief.

Two of Cups — A meeting that brings sadness; a missed opportunity; lost love.

Three of Cups — Negligence; creating a critical situation; talk that leads to trouble.

Four of Cups — Setbacks in your affairs; wasted efforts; failed attempts and disappointment.

Five of Cups — Being disinherited; hurt feelings or unfounded demands; rethinking your habits and giving something up.

Six of Cups — Alternative medicine; muddled priorities; giving away the last of what you have.

Seven of Cups — Illusions collapsing; harsh reality; hopes unfulfilled.

Eight of Cups — The end of a romance; a long-distance relationship; love that couldn't survive separation.

Nine of Cups — Intuition helping you avoid a crisis; optimism in a difficult situation; someone dependable to lean on.

Ten of Cups — Children making their own way; becoming independent; fear of losing support.

Page of Cups — A confrontation with a particular person; a romantic rival or an influential competitor; a likely defeat.

Knight of Cups — The end of a wild lifestyle; fading popularity; a low mood.

Queen of Cups — Seeking comfort in alcohol; losing your good judgment; going off the rails.

King of Cups — Empty boasting; false confidence; rash actions.

Ace of Pentacles — Capital disappearing; the end of prosperity; incompetent money management.

Two of Pentacles — Getting tangled up in your affairs; a lack of focus or skills; unjustified spending.

Three of Pentacles — Choosing work or education; neglecting a romantic relationship; the need to change your methods or technology.

Four of Pentacles — Self-treatment; loneliness; being a victim of circumstances.

Five of Pentacles — Assets being seized; bankruptcy; karmic setbacks.

Six of Pentacles — Ingratitude from loved ones; being unable to help someone; losing faith in charity.

Seven of Pentacles — An unprofitable investment; a mistaken forecast; getting less than you expected.

Eight of Pentacles — Changing jobs; leaving a position; dissatisfaction with where you are.

Nine of Pentacles — A false prophet; taking the wrong path; dishonesty.

Ten of Pentacles — Financial difficulties; a family that doesn't believe in a new project; an unsuitable mindset.

Page of Pentacles — A powerful temptation; a dangerous lifestyle; tighter restrictions or unwelcome changes.

Knight of Pentacles — A familiar approach that no longer works; a gambler; a clever, charming young man with problems.

Queen of Pentacles — Being caught lying or scheming; losing your investment; placing a bet and losing.

King of Pentacles — A career in science; giving up family or a relationship; money above everything; time lost.