Card 13

Death

Brief Description

Death, depicted as the Grim Reaper, symbolizes the fragility and sacredness of life and the inevitability of endings. The scythe represents linear time while the orb suggests sacred time, and the setting sun signals that an end is drawing near. Rather than an absolute termination, death signifies a transference of energy from one form to another and a necessary transformation. This card points to endings that clear the way for fresh beginnings and encourages awareness of life's tenuous, sacred nature.

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Story

Perhaps the most famous symbol of death is the Grim Reaper, a portentous figure that surfaced into cultural consciousness around the time of the Black Plague. With its omnipresent scythe and insidious cloak, death lacked identity, further adding to its sinister appearance. But the specter of death can help us become more aware of how tenuous and sacred life is. Death holds a scythe, symbolizing linear time and an orb, symbolizing sacred time. The setting sun indicates the end is drawing near.

Divinatory meaning

All things must pass—change is an inherent part of cosmic phenomenon. Death is not "the end", but represents the transference of energy from one form to another. Death can also open up pathways to fresh beginnings.

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Ghosts and Spirits tarot

✍️ Deck author(s): Lisa Hunt

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