The Death Card in the Rider-Waite Tradition

The Death card can seem scary, even for experienced tarot readers who, when it comes up in a reading, know that many of their sitters will be anxious. It is not that surprising. Not many people clap their hands and shout “Oh goody!” at the sight of the armoured skeleton on his white horse with the word ‘Death’ beneath it.

In the Rider-Waite deck, we see the armoured figure of Death, like a knight of old, riding his horse at a steady pace over the bodies of kings, children and even the archetypal figures of the Major Arcana. Even the priestly figure of the Hierophant tries to stop him in vain. It illustrates that no matter what our status, Death must always be victorious. 

Death as an honourable and reliable knight carries his banner with the huge, dominating image of a 5 petaled rose steadfast in his hand. The number 5 in tarot symbolises the inevitability and importance of change. In the background we can see an inundation from the gigantic waterfall that floods the plain, while the ship that represented hope and endeavour in the early Wands is trying to navigate the waters of emotion and loss in both the conscious and unconscious mind.

On the horizon the Sun is rising over the twin towers that we see in so many images from the Tarot, but it is especially reminiscent of The Moon card where we are held captive only by our fears and illusions. The Tower is our belief system, the meaning we attach to our lives, and it can be both our safe haven and our prison. The rising Sun assures us that there will be a new beginning and we will be given renewed life as we realise all the possibilities that lie ahead.  

The Death card appears in a reading when a significant part of our life is ending. Rejection, denial, grief, disempowerment, vulnerability, questioning, are natural responses to endings or change. Acceptance may not be easy but coming to terms with change is necessary if we are to grow into our best selves.

A Personal Death Card Story

 I am one of four sisters and a brother. Our parents were strong and supportive and the glue that held our family together. I was in my forties when we realised our father was dying of cancer. One of my sisters called me on the phone. She was crying as she said, “Now we’ve got to grow up”. It was true. We were all adults, scattered around the world with families of our own, and yet we still always turned to our father for advice and help. We spent our Christmases and summer holidays together and our parents were the repository of our family stories and memories. His death meant that we had to change. We did grow up. We looked after our mother and each other, and we finally learned that we were now the adults, whatever that meant. We also understood that it was okay. And we had been privileged to learn what it is to have a wonderfully supportive parent who will always provide a safety net, without judgement and without asking for anything in return.

The Death Card Meanings.

The Death cards signifies renewal, transformation, endings, change, transition, letting go, and releasing pain. 

We might fear change because we cannot conceive of what life will be in the aftermath. We are unable to let go, reluctant to end something that no longer serves us well, but with which we have become comfortable. We repeat negative patterns that we know are detrimental to our happiness because the alternative is unknown and fearful. 

Recognising stagnation and decay are principles of Death: old ideas, fears, prejudices that keep us stuck. An unwillingness to explore new people, places, talents, ideas, can stop us moving on.

Death can appear in a reading when children are leaving home to make a life for themselves. For parents it signals the end of years of hands-on parenting and questions about identity and self-worth.

Coronavirus meant the end of ‘normal life’ for millions of people but it also enabled many to explore new possibilities. Enforced isolation gave families time together to come to know and appreciate one another better. Working from home, home schooling, cooking, yoga and meditation, spiritual renewal, gardening, discovering new and old movies on Netflix – life was tough but there were also opportunities that many people would not have discovered without lockdown.

Death rides a white horse signifying the purity of death. It is inevitable, unstoppable and in its way perfect. Without death there can be no renewal.  The old retires to make way for the new. The danger lies in holding on to something that no longer works for you. 

Some questions we can ask when the death card appears in a reading.

1.  What has changed in your life? 

2.  What do you regret?

3.  What do you feel you need to change in your life?

4.  What has to stop, now?

5.   What do you need to walk away from?

6.   Shall we look at what you need to change in your life?

7.    What are the barriers to making the changes you need in your life?

8.   What makes you frightened of, or threatened by, change?

9.   What will you lose if you make the changes that you want to make?

10.  What can help you to make these changes?

11.  How do you see your life after making the changes that you need to make?

12.  How can you help others to accept the changes that you have to make?