I’ve been writing about Egyptian things for some time this year and so thought I’d turn the page for this blog, which will also be divided into parts to make reading it easier in this format. I decided to address the MYSTERIOUS TAROT, taking a card from the Major Arcana (first 22 cards in the deck) to examine in depth. Because this format is rather long, I will present the card in 2 or 3 parts, beginning with Part 1 Introduction to the DEATH Card—the one that elicits the most concern when it appears before the eyes of a client; and sometimes startles the reader even whose skill knows its truth. Inspiration to begin a deeper investigate of the Tarot occurred as part of the work for my Master Certification and a question from a startled client upon seeing the Death Card in her reading. The other day, while clearing out some old Halloween/Samhain Decorations, this topic popped up again. Indeed, all oddly coupled things, but – as they say – there are NO coincidences and inspiration took root. I think this could become a series of similar studies of other oft-misunderstood Major Arcana cards—that is, if I get feedback that my readers would like to wander through some of the cards from the world of the Tarot.
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DEATH – THE CARD OF DARKNESS AND FEAR (Part 1)
I was inspired to address the Death Card first for it almost always elicits a gasp or two or three from clients whenever it appears in a reading. Regardless how quickly I explain the name is shocking, but it’s unlikely to indicate physical death pending in their lives, their worry and fear of it can sometimes be palpable. But, that’s understandable for as human beings we are all subject to fear on some level when the word “DEATH” is spoken in our regard or that of our loved ones . . . (Cue special effects guy to play the “overly dramatic music in crescendo and then the blood-curdling screams and uncanny growling, grunting or the deep vocalized—“GET OUT”) Certainly, the imagery of this card is the master at causing that “Deer in the Headlights” reaction, but it need NOT be when one understands the truth of and meaning of this dark card. Even the number assigned to this card is enough to add to our discomfort, especially if one is superstitious; even a little—The Key Card Number of Death is XIII (#13); a number with its own negative connotations.
Because Tarot interpretation is based both on the imagery, as well as its zodiacal and numerological relationships, this one becomes darker when one considers all that has been written on the number thirteen; including that it was the Friday 13th when the Knights Templar were executed and so the superstition of Friday, the 13th began as a day suspect of evil doings. However, the number 13 was not seen by the ancients as evil or negative; rather the completion – such as Jesus as the 13th apostle of the 12 known; some cultures have a central 13th sign in the zodiac, etc. (Cue your sigh of relief) Therefore, take notice: There are NO utterly bad tarot cards; ONLY negative-thinking readers or clients. And, with that said, let’s begin this walk through the shadows in the valley of the world as designed by and designated to the DEATH Card. Rather than succumb to any misgivings, fear or emulate some “B” horror flick where the heroine always stumbles as they run from the monster and falls to become easy prey or despite the scary music telling her otherwise, she goes into the dark, cobwebbed and murky basement where it waits; we will take a torch or flashlight to explore the darkness of misunderstanding that is this card . . . and thus, be able to SEE what is really there.
Keep in mind, that every Tarot Card – possibly the proof that ancient Egypt was the origination of the tarot in its earliest forms; tiles believed to have been entrusted to the Moorish Gypsies where they were distributed and changed over the years to what we recognized in the thousands of artistic renditions today – has a balance of meanings that related to negative and/or positive aspects. The goal here will be to replace old opinions or misgivings with positive energy as applicable to that balance of aspects and whether the card is seen in a plus or minus connotation, relating to whether it falls upright or upside-down in a reading for those readers who literally read them as they fall.
Most tarot decks depict the Death Card with the image of the Grim Reaper in various positions or poses with costuming based on that deck and its artistic design. Usually there is no emotion shown on the reaper’s face for he comes emotionless, irrespective of the mortal whim or desire; other decks his face is completely hidden inside a dark cowl or over-sized hood so there is an even more dire sense to his intentions. Regardless of the guise in which the figure of Death chooses, eventually he makes a first appearance in our life; always unexpectedly and oblivious to our current situation, plans or desires. I will be using the Rider-Waite Tarot Deck for illustration in this writing (see its example of Death above) for it is the deck upon which most every other deck is based and appears clearly or somewhat obscured within the variations in the artwork; but the meanings of all cards of the Tarot are general and thus universal regardless of the connotations used in their varied imagery. In the R-W deck, the figure of Death is a skeletal fellow, astride a white horse (representing power, movement, strength and the creative feminine) that is trampling humankind and religion (depicted as a Pope) beneath its hooves. Overhead is a dark banner waving the symbol of purity – a white rose – to announce death’s arrival; and over the horizon beyond is a colorful sunrise, symbolic of a promise of a better tomorrow once the dark, stormy skies have cleared. There are severed limbs and pieces of bodies trampled into the earth (i.e., dust-to-dust), representing that drastic change severs parts of the whole person and destroys indiscriminately. The ego that is unwilling to realize that earthly endeavors are subject to Death’s ride is subject to isolation, loss and perhaps a form of death. However, the wise ones who focuses on their soul’s purpose are not caught unaware; observing the need to change and embrace it before Death tramples all asunder. Simply put, Death demonstrates loss, endings, completion of the status quo, drastic changes – both good and bad – and a transition from the known way of living into something completely new and different; likely also much better than before. One only must allow change to occur, essentially riding on the back of Death’s mount, to remain whole and relatively unscathed by it all.
DEATH – The word by itself can send chills up and down the spine. Just the sight of the Death Card in a reading usually elicits a gasp or two or in the least, a single catch of the breath and roll of the eyes for the client. Among my diverse collection of Tarot decks, the majority print the word “DEATH” predominately at the top of the card and the Roman Number XIII at the bottom; the coloration of the card is often dreary tones of black, brown, darkest hues of blue and the imagery bleak clearly creating a dramatic sense of pending doom at first glance. Its spooky imagery can appear traumatic when it lies amidst the other cards in a reading, but always the reader must consider those surrounding cards with as much consideration as the dark Death card; not singling it out or allowing it to remain as if standing alone. In that way, it becomes evident quickly that there is NO “harbinger of physical death” present on the table before us. Personally, I prefer the decks that deal with this card by printing a word such as – “TRANSITION” – and I prefer them for the less frightfully stark artwork, which lends a calmer assumption of what is coming. There are rare times when a pending death is indicated, but only when the surrounding cards lend a hand in the whole of such an implication. Usually, this card indicates that some situation in life has outlived usefulness or become so stagnant that its ending has become imperative and immediate. Of course, the card seldom if ever is referring to a stormy Sunday School picnic, but to see it only in the darkest light cannot assist the client in comprehending the what or why of such a necessary major change coming their way.
The truth in the Tarot Death Card is one that offers stark reality and hope despite the bleak hues in the artwork. We need to focus on the flag with its purity depicted by the white rose as it expresses the truth of spirit in all phases of life. That faith is often all that we can hold onto. The skeleton is the representative of the bare bones of all truth. If we look at that image with eyes of fear, all we know is the suggestion that the skeleton is all that is left after physical death. As we look at that dark imagery with eyes of fear, we should realize that the skeleton instead is what supports everything that we are. Remember, too, that the common hue of this card, black, is illuminated by promise and black is the absence of color; often considered to represent all things evil and negativity. It is also the non-color of the VOID from which all life is created.
Ideally, each person’s goal should be to make wise choices, but that isn’t as easy as it sounds. It is never easy when faced with a serious illness, death of a loved one, ending/loss of a business or any other stressful crisis in life. On 9/11, this was thrust into our lives in ways few could ever imagine possible and it has not gone away no matter how hard people want. There were those who left for work that fateful day and were literally disintegrated within hours of sitting down at their daily routine. People across the country were affected in ways that they could never have predicted or comprehended before that day. Yet, for all the fear and horror that was released into the world, there are an equal number and more stories of courage and positive energy exerted, as well. Similarly, the trampled souls of the Death Card are alive and capable to pull together the scattered parts of their lives and change devastation into renewed strength in some incredible ways. The key is transformation – Death of the old and the making of a way for new to enter.
We can be surrounded by stress, complacency, fear and trouble and so submit to this energy – or we can choose to change and embrace what comes as a blessing, be it in disguise or some deviously intriguing costume. See reality and truth, which hides behind the mask. The death of the old way is always difficult whether we have expected it or not. Our perceptions either allow us to find the silver lining within the storm clouds or an ominous hurricane approaching that will devastate our life totally. The Death Card grim reaper is oblivious to the feelings or plans of those he tramples underfoot; so, it is up to us to focus our energy and ride out the storm and then seek truth within the situation for it is then that the situation can be healed, issues resolved, or structure rebuilt anew and stronger than before. Healing the issues that created the situation in the first place is rarely easy; balance and meditation become valuable tools during any stressful problematic situation. When the Death Card falls in a reading, it represents a situation that needs to end and may require the reaper’s scythe to slash it from our life with the most extreme effort and energy well focused. On the other hand, the brighter future as represented by the rainbow or the sunrise in the background of the tarot card, reminds us that hope is not lost and becomes available after the old ways, morals, beliefs, perceptions or states of mind have essentially died. However, if we resist such endings or changes and cannot accept subsequent changes to our lives, our energy becomes bogged down and clogged from its healthy flow in the muck of negative thinking; little or no progress toward a positive outcome can thus be made. It is true that the Death Card is not all peaches and cream, but it doesn’t have to over-whelm or over-power a reading with negativity, either.
Of course, there are extremely rare instances when interpreting a reading in which the Death Card appeared when an actual physical death is evident. In such cases, it is usually accompanied by several other supporting cards of which include cards such as the Nine (9) or Ten (10) of Swords, among others that can have a more negative connotation in certain instances. I’m aware of occasions when the querant did meet with their demise following the reading; having been ill with cancer or had an automobile accident. Such direct incidents are extremely rare and usually the reader never knows the outcome of their reading so there would be no way to know this had occurred. However, I have experienced readings in which the Death Card and its companion cards pointed to a pending serious condition or the likely hood of a physical death and the querant explained their loved one was in a bad way. Situations such as the querant or someone they know might later commit suicide or be murdered are even rarer, buy it is feasible to “see” something of that nature in the Tarot if the reader is open to do so--BUT THIS IS EXTREMELY RARE! Let me say that readers must obey the laws of their State and I believe most or all in the US and Canada have determined it illegal to report any pending death to their client. Both morally and personally, as a professional reader, I adhere to those laws and consider such messages both morally and personally unethical.
That is not a cop-out – in case you are wondering – but consider the responsibility if such a reading were to be given or possibly mistakenly? Considering the devastation physically or mentally that could ensue, it is never easy to lead the reading into questions that hopefully encourage the querent to get professional help; such as: “Have you been to your doctor recently?” “Have you changed something in your life that your instincts are telling you otherwise? “Have you had any pain or problems that you think questionable? “Do you have any medical tests pending and if not, are you overdue for a checkup? Something like that usually covers the law and ethics and gets the message across without causing resistance in the client so they will refuse to seek professional help, at all.
The most important aspect of the Tarot – inclusive of the Death Card and all its companions – to remember is that it is not an absolute; end-all for answers, but purely a tool for the reader’s intuitive, psychic or clairvoyant abilities to speak to or answer the questions of your client/querent. It is necessary for the reader to be cautious with how the message is delivered, making the interpretation of their cards as clear and concise as possible so there can be few if any misunderstanding (The reason I chose to record my sessions). If both reader and client understand that the tarot is merely a guide for their life, both get the most out of it. Also, I should mention that most readers do post a necessary legal disclaimer of both US and Canadian Law – “Readings are for entertainment purposes only”. I feel that with honesty, truthfulness and compassion atop my list of personal ethics, it allows my clients to enjoy and learn from their sessions. Many readers I know will exercise their Free Will and ask that their guides NEVER show physical death in a reading. I agree to a point. I had a reading prior to being diagnosed with the almost always deadly Multiple Myeloma (1997) and have always wondered if that reader had chosen to deny “seeing” pending or possible death situations or just missed the energy imprint, altogether. Not that it matters now, and I do not mean to imply the reader was bad, just that I can only respect that he had an ethical dilemma or chose not to mention it for a personal reason—or yes just missed it entirely – either way, it has caused me to feel there are certain situations when warning would be appropriate; albeit indirectly given.
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And so . . . this is part 1 – ending; Next month, I shall go into the deeper aspects of the Death Card as it applies to the Tarot and Life.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEATH – THE CARD OF DARKNESS AND FEAR (Part 1)
I was inspired to address the Death Card first for it almost always elicits a gasp or two or three from clients whenever it appears in a reading. Regardless how quickly I explain the name is shocking, but it’s unlikely to indicate physical death pending in their lives, their worry and fear of it can sometimes be palpable. But, that’s understandable for as human beings we are all subject to fear on some level when the word “DEATH” is spoken in our regard or that of our loved ones . . . (Cue special effects guy to play the “overly dramatic music in crescendo and then the blood-curdling screams and uncanny growling, grunting or the deep vocalized—“GET OUT”) Certainly, the imagery of this card is the master at causing that “Deer in the Headlights” reaction, but it need NOT be when one understands the truth of and meaning of this dark card. Even the number assigned to this card is enough to add to our discomfort, especially if one is superstitious; even a little—The Key Card Number of Death is XIII (#13); a number with its own negative connotations.
Because Tarot interpretation is based both on the imagery, as well as its zodiacal and numerological relationships, this one becomes darker when one considers all that has been written on the number thirteen; including that it was the Friday 13th when the Knights Templar were executed and so the superstition of Friday, the 13th began as a day suspect of evil doings. However, the number 13 was not seen by the ancients as evil or negative; rather the completion – such as Jesus as the 13th apostle of the 12 known; some cultures have a central 13th sign in the zodiac, etc. (Cue your sigh of relief) Therefore, take notice: There are NO utterly bad tarot cards; ONLY negative-thinking readers or clients. And, with that said, let’s begin this walk through the shadows in the valley of the world as designed by and designated to the DEATH Card. Rather than succumb to any misgivings, fear or emulate some “B” horror flick where the heroine always stumbles as they run from the monster and falls to become easy prey or despite the scary music telling her otherwise, she goes into the dark, cobwebbed and murky basement where it waits; we will take a torch or flashlight to explore the darkness of misunderstanding that is this card . . . and thus, be able to SEE what is really there.
Keep in mind, that every Tarot Card – possibly the proof that ancient Egypt was the origination of the tarot in its earliest forms; tiles believed to have been entrusted to the Moorish Gypsies where they were distributed and changed over the years to what we recognized in the thousands of artistic renditions today – has a balance of meanings that related to negative and/or positive aspects. The goal here will be to replace old opinions or misgivings with positive energy as applicable to that balance of aspects and whether the card is seen in a plus or minus connotation, relating to whether it falls upright or upside-down in a reading for those readers who literally read them as they fall.
Most tarot decks depict the Death Card with the image of the Grim Reaper in various positions or poses with costuming based on that deck and its artistic design. Usually there is no emotion shown on the reaper’s face for he comes emotionless, irrespective of the mortal whim or desire; other decks his face is completely hidden inside a dark cowl or over-sized hood so there is an even more dire sense to his intentions. Regardless of the guise in which the figure of Death chooses, eventually he makes a first appearance in our life; always unexpectedly and oblivious to our current situation, plans or desires. I will be using the Rider-Waite Tarot Deck for illustration in this writing (see its example of Death above) for it is the deck upon which most every other deck is based and appears clearly or somewhat obscured within the variations in the artwork; but the meanings of all cards of the Tarot are general and thus universal regardless of the connotations used in their varied imagery. In the R-W deck, the figure of Death is a skeletal fellow, astride a white horse (representing power, movement, strength and the creative feminine) that is trampling humankind and religion (depicted as a Pope) beneath its hooves. Overhead is a dark banner waving the symbol of purity – a white rose – to announce death’s arrival; and over the horizon beyond is a colorful sunrise, symbolic of a promise of a better tomorrow once the dark, stormy skies have cleared. There are severed limbs and pieces of bodies trampled into the earth (i.e., dust-to-dust), representing that drastic change severs parts of the whole person and destroys indiscriminately. The ego that is unwilling to realize that earthly endeavors are subject to Death’s ride is subject to isolation, loss and perhaps a form of death. However, the wise ones who focuses on their soul’s purpose are not caught unaware; observing the need to change and embrace it before Death tramples all asunder. Simply put, Death demonstrates loss, endings, completion of the status quo, drastic changes – both good and bad – and a transition from the known way of living into something completely new and different; likely also much better than before. One only must allow change to occur, essentially riding on the back of Death’s mount, to remain whole and relatively unscathed by it all.
DEATH – The word by itself can send chills up and down the spine. Just the sight of the Death Card in a reading usually elicits a gasp or two or in the least, a single catch of the breath and roll of the eyes for the client. Among my diverse collection of Tarot decks, the majority print the word “DEATH” predominately at the top of the card and the Roman Number XIII at the bottom; the coloration of the card is often dreary tones of black, brown, darkest hues of blue and the imagery bleak clearly creating a dramatic sense of pending doom at first glance. Its spooky imagery can appear traumatic when it lies amidst the other cards in a reading, but always the reader must consider those surrounding cards with as much consideration as the dark Death card; not singling it out or allowing it to remain as if standing alone. In that way, it becomes evident quickly that there is NO “harbinger of physical death” present on the table before us. Personally, I prefer the decks that deal with this card by printing a word such as – “TRANSITION” – and I prefer them for the less frightfully stark artwork, which lends a calmer assumption of what is coming. There are rare times when a pending death is indicated, but only when the surrounding cards lend a hand in the whole of such an implication. Usually, this card indicates that some situation in life has outlived usefulness or become so stagnant that its ending has become imperative and immediate. Of course, the card seldom if ever is referring to a stormy Sunday School picnic, but to see it only in the darkest light cannot assist the client in comprehending the what or why of such a necessary major change coming their way.
The truth in the Tarot Death Card is one that offers stark reality and hope despite the bleak hues in the artwork. We need to focus on the flag with its purity depicted by the white rose as it expresses the truth of spirit in all phases of life. That faith is often all that we can hold onto. The skeleton is the representative of the bare bones of all truth. If we look at that image with eyes of fear, all we know is the suggestion that the skeleton is all that is left after physical death. As we look at that dark imagery with eyes of fear, we should realize that the skeleton instead is what supports everything that we are. Remember, too, that the common hue of this card, black, is illuminated by promise and black is the absence of color; often considered to represent all things evil and negativity. It is also the non-color of the VOID from which all life is created.
Ideally, each person’s goal should be to make wise choices, but that isn’t as easy as it sounds. It is never easy when faced with a serious illness, death of a loved one, ending/loss of a business or any other stressful crisis in life. On 9/11, this was thrust into our lives in ways few could ever imagine possible and it has not gone away no matter how hard people want. There were those who left for work that fateful day and were literally disintegrated within hours of sitting down at their daily routine. People across the country were affected in ways that they could never have predicted or comprehended before that day. Yet, for all the fear and horror that was released into the world, there are an equal number and more stories of courage and positive energy exerted, as well. Similarly, the trampled souls of the Death Card are alive and capable to pull together the scattered parts of their lives and change devastation into renewed strength in some incredible ways. The key is transformation – Death of the old and the making of a way for new to enter.
We can be surrounded by stress, complacency, fear and trouble and so submit to this energy – or we can choose to change and embrace what comes as a blessing, be it in disguise or some deviously intriguing costume. See reality and truth, which hides behind the mask. The death of the old way is always difficult whether we have expected it or not. Our perceptions either allow us to find the silver lining within the storm clouds or an ominous hurricane approaching that will devastate our life totally. The Death Card grim reaper is oblivious to the feelings or plans of those he tramples underfoot; so, it is up to us to focus our energy and ride out the storm and then seek truth within the situation for it is then that the situation can be healed, issues resolved, or structure rebuilt anew and stronger than before. Healing the issues that created the situation in the first place is rarely easy; balance and meditation become valuable tools during any stressful problematic situation. When the Death Card falls in a reading, it represents a situation that needs to end and may require the reaper’s scythe to slash it from our life with the most extreme effort and energy well focused. On the other hand, the brighter future as represented by the rainbow or the sunrise in the background of the tarot card, reminds us that hope is not lost and becomes available after the old ways, morals, beliefs, perceptions or states of mind have essentially died. However, if we resist such endings or changes and cannot accept subsequent changes to our lives, our energy becomes bogged down and clogged from its healthy flow in the muck of negative thinking; little or no progress toward a positive outcome can thus be made. It is true that the Death Card is not all peaches and cream, but it doesn’t have to over-whelm or over-power a reading with negativity, either.
Of course, there are extremely rare instances when interpreting a reading in which the Death Card appeared when an actual physical death is evident. In such cases, it is usually accompanied by several other supporting cards of which include cards such as the Nine (9) or Ten (10) of Swords, among others that can have a more negative connotation in certain instances. I’m aware of occasions when the querant did meet with their demise following the reading; having been ill with cancer or had an automobile accident. Such direct incidents are extremely rare and usually the reader never knows the outcome of their reading so there would be no way to know this had occurred. However, I have experienced readings in which the Death Card and its companion cards pointed to a pending serious condition or the likely hood of a physical death and the querant explained their loved one was in a bad way. Situations such as the querant or someone they know might later commit suicide or be murdered are even rarer, buy it is feasible to “see” something of that nature in the Tarot if the reader is open to do so--BUT THIS IS EXTREMELY RARE! Let me say that readers must obey the laws of their State and I believe most or all in the US and Canada have determined it illegal to report any pending death to their client. Both morally and personally, as a professional reader, I adhere to those laws and consider such messages both morally and personally unethical.
That is not a cop-out – in case you are wondering – but consider the responsibility if such a reading were to be given or possibly mistakenly? Considering the devastation physically or mentally that could ensue, it is never easy to lead the reading into questions that hopefully encourage the querent to get professional help; such as: “Have you been to your doctor recently?” “Have you changed something in your life that your instincts are telling you otherwise? “Have you had any pain or problems that you think questionable? “Do you have any medical tests pending and if not, are you overdue for a checkup? Something like that usually covers the law and ethics and gets the message across without causing resistance in the client so they will refuse to seek professional help, at all.
The most important aspect of the Tarot – inclusive of the Death Card and all its companions – to remember is that it is not an absolute; end-all for answers, but purely a tool for the reader’s intuitive, psychic or clairvoyant abilities to speak to or answer the questions of your client/querent. It is necessary for the reader to be cautious with how the message is delivered, making the interpretation of their cards as clear and concise as possible so there can be few if any misunderstanding (The reason I chose to record my sessions). If both reader and client understand that the tarot is merely a guide for their life, both get the most out of it. Also, I should mention that most readers do post a necessary legal disclaimer of both US and Canadian Law – “Readings are for entertainment purposes only”. I feel that with honesty, truthfulness and compassion atop my list of personal ethics, it allows my clients to enjoy and learn from their sessions. Many readers I know will exercise their Free Will and ask that their guides NEVER show physical death in a reading. I agree to a point. I had a reading prior to being diagnosed with the almost always deadly Multiple Myeloma (1997) and have always wondered if that reader had chosen to deny “seeing” pending or possible death situations or just missed the energy imprint, altogether. Not that it matters now, and I do not mean to imply the reader was bad, just that I can only respect that he had an ethical dilemma or chose not to mention it for a personal reason—or yes just missed it entirely – either way, it has caused me to feel there are certain situations when warning would be appropriate; albeit indirectly given.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And so . . . this is part 1 – ending; Next month, I shall go into the deeper aspects of the Death Card as it applies to the Tarot and Life.
