Card 13

Death

Brief Description

Death signifies profound transformation and the natural ending of what no longer serves, enabling rebirth into a more authentic self. It describes the shedding of imposed identities and a dissolution that paves the way for renewal, using metaphors like the caterpillar becoming a butterfly. Though change is necessary and ultimately freeing, it involves loss and grief that must be acknowledged and mourned. The card advises acceptance and release instead of resistance, and when reversed asks where you are clinging and stagnating.

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Description

If the Fool knew that Death followed the Hanged Man, he might not have had the courage to live his beliefs so fully. But the truth is, this kind of death is not as scary as he thought. It feels natural, a fitting outcome to leaving behind all that he wasn't to embrace all that he is. That caterpillar/butterfly metaphor makes a lot of sense to him now. He truly was dissolved into nothingness in order to be reformed into something more authentic and more alive than before. The layers of identity placed on him by society, family, and his own fears have been peeled off and he feels, for the first time in a long time, actually free.

Divinatory Meaning

Events have worked together to create the need for change — a type of change that is organic, a natural outcome, an ending to a stagnant and unhealthy situation. Change is usually scary. Humans prefer the known to the unknown. And loss, even if it clears the way for theoretically better things, is still loss, and it hurts.

Advice

Change is coming and it is necessary. Don't try to stop it. That means acknowledging grief and taking the time to mourn.

Reversed

If reversed, ask yourself: Where am I stagnant and clinging to things I need to release?

Visual Description

A skeletal figure cloaked in black and red stands in the center holding a large curved scythe. Behind the figure a bright sun or halo radiates and a circular emblem at the top contains the Roman numeral XIII. Bare, leafless trees frame the scene and small petals or flakes drift through the air. A white banner at the bottom of the card bears the word "Death".

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Mystical Manga tarot

✍️ Deck author(s): Barbara Moore, Rann

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All card images and descriptions are taken from public sources. They are used for review purposes only. All rights to these images and descriptions belong to their creators. If you believe there is a copyright infringement, please contact us at [email protected].