RWS Death & The Sun

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 28 Mar 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

wolfen045	28 Mar 2003
I was wondering if any one else noticed the similarities and (perhaps) esoteric/ occult meanings betwen these 2 cards in (specifically) The Rider-Waite Smith deck. First off, both cards feature a rider on a white horse. Both riders are carrying a banner. Further both riders and their mounts are in front of a wall/barrier with the sun in the sky behind them. The deeper occult connection springs to mind given their positions in the deck. Death is at the point of the Fool's Quest just after he has gained success in the "outer"/"materal" realm and at the beginning of his more "inward" journey to gain mastery of his spiritual be-ing. The rider is heavily armered as is the horse. This card at this point has the message that we must allow ourselves to "die" to the world in order to "live" beyond our ereryday Selfs and be reborn to our spiritual/ deeper Selves. The Sun card is at the end of this Journey just before the Judgement card which signals the Rebirth

Thirteen	28 Mar 2003
I think this is brilliant! I honestly had not thought to compare the two, but I like the comparisons you've made. Your argument is very compelling. Perhaps in some way a suggestion of the Sun itself? The sun sets in the Death card, rises (or seems to be rising) in the Sun card. Makes for interesting thoughts on the journey between Death and the Sun--if Temperance through the Moon can be considered a long night's journey to the dawn.

The RWS Death & The Sun thread was originally posted on 28 Mar 2003 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.