Death card worries

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 19 Dec 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Bean Feasa	19 Dec 2003
I hope this question isn't sensationalist or in bad taste or anything, but I really was wondering whether, for those of you who have a great deal of reading experience, physical death has ever shown up in a reading. I mean, people do die all the time, so it seems to stand to reason that, sooner or later, that would appear in the cards for someone or for someone close to them. I know it's said a lot that the death card is more likely to mean death of old ways, transformation, rebirth, etc. but are there's always a little niggle at the back of my mind that maybe once in a while it simply means what it seems to say? I suppose what prompts this question is that it's been turning up constantly in readings my sister does for herself, and ones I've done for her. We're both assuming that's because she's going through a trial separation after 15 years of marriage, so many changes are afoot for her. Sometimes, though, I get a flash of superstitious fear that she's going to discover she's ill or something. How would you differentiate between the shades of meaning of this card?

Imagemaker	19 Dec 2003
For me, the Death card was not what appeared when I was getting warnings about my father's health condition. I often do a spread I call "What do I need to know?" and I was getting a lot of Emperors (Robin Wood deck) when they didn't seem relevant to the others. So I worked out that the Emperer was referring to my father. As far as any of us knew, he was fine--in his 70s, but doinging fine. I did a spread on "what did I need to know" about him, and got the Ace of Pentacles --bingo--that scene is precisely a depiction of the cemetary where my mother is buried and where he had bought a tombstone for the two of them (his name on it, date still blank). I immediately realized that the cards were warning me of his possible death. I made reservations to visit (a plane trip) and one week before we were to go, he had a massive heart attack. He was very lucky to survive it with expert 911 care, but has had 2 more near death experiences since, and is still in the hospital. All through these months of his health emergencies, I've gotten the Ace of Pentacles card as a warning. It's clarity is now THE reason I use the Robin Wood deck for its relevance to my life, because no one else in the whole world would know that our family's cemetary looks just like that picture (and the card has lilies in front, too--which my mother hated and always called "funeral flowers"). When I get the Death card, it's always been related to other things ending, not physical existence.

Kiama	19 Dec 2003
I guess it varies from person to person, as Imagemaker's post will tell you: if a certain card speaks to you as the Ace of Pentacles did to Imagemaker, then go with it. I don't think there is ever any set-in-stone way to interpret a card. Personally, I don't have any other cards that speak to me of death like Imagemaker does: I have the Death card, accompanied by knowledge of the querent, and other surrounding cards such as Judgement (release) and maybe the 6 of Swords (transition.) Just one Death card in a reading however, for a seemingly healthy person, does not make me think of physical death: before I thought of physical death I would also need to know that the person I am reading for was ill in some way. Even if the Death card came up with other cards I associate with physical death, if the person is in good health I would not interpret it as physical death: it is true that it could be physical death, but then again it might not be, and I would not like to say it was because it would scare the querent witless. On the other hand, if the querent was very ill and *knew* death wasn't far off, I would tell them what I saw. But only if I am sure they would accept it. I would also have to know a bit about the querent's life in general: if they were going through a time that is full of other changes, I wouldn't see the Death card as physical death at all, no matter how often it came up in readings for them. So much change in one's life at one time is bound to draw the Death card out. I doubt your sister's readings were actually pointing to physical death, simply because she has so much change going on in her life right now. She also sounds to be in good health. Please don't worry about this: for me it would take alot of 'death, ending, release' cards aswell as knowledge that the person is nearing death anyway, before I see physical death in the cards. Your sister hasn't got any of that. :D I think the Death card refers more to the changes in her life. Kiama

Thirteen	19 Dec 2003
The question's not in bad taste--it gets asked a lot actually. And it's certainly relevant. But alas the poor death card. It really would be better named "metamorphosis" if only to keep that "niggle" out of people's minds every time it turns up. I've never personally had this card come up for an actual death. That's a good 15 years readings and not one death in the Death card. BUT I certainly do believe the Death card can signal a real, physical death. What you have to remember is that it's rarely (and we're talking astronomically rare!) that the Death card appears in the way it does in movies. I.e., tarot reader flips the card, recoils as music swells, zoom in the camera on....the Death card!. Tarot reader, whispering: "You're life is in danger...death follows you...beware!" Please! If the Death card signals a physical death, it's usually related to someone old or sick. Someone who you already suspect is likely to go soon because of their very poor health, age or very trecherous lifestyle--and, again, I mean obviously trecherous lifestyle (ex: "If you keep racing cars while drunk and on drugs...."). And what's especially important, even more ignored by those movie tarot readers, is that the rest of the cards are going to reinforce the signal. Tarot rarely gives you only one card to indicate such a...well, dramatic life change. In addition, as Imagemaker's example proves, it can also relate to "near death" not death. In short, if your sister was in danger of, say, falling ill, the Death card probably wouldn't show up at all--a card signaling illness would. If the Death card showed up AFTER she was seriously ill--THEN it would be reasonable to worry about it. And even then...there's no guarantee of anything. Unlike in the days when the Tarot was created, mortality rates are very much down. We don't have a black plague to worry about, a 50% child mortality rate, a life exspentancy of only 40 years or a lack of modern medicine. People survive near death experiences and even the worst cancers go into remission. So try to put that niggle at the back of your mind to rest. The answer to your question is yes--but you don't want that "yes it can," interfering with what the Death card is REALLY trying to tell you. On the side: it might also be a good idea to pull the Death card out and set it down, centering a reading around it. Ask the deck to explain and clarify why it's appearing so regularly in your sister's readings. In addition, I would wonder if you two might not be doing too many readings--Death might be showing up because there's no other message to give you. Rather like saying: "that's the question you asked yesterday and the day before, and the day before that! I answered it. The subject's dead, ended, finished."

Diana	19 Dec 2003
There was a thread on Death recently. http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?threadid=20175 Bean Feasa: It is so hard to interpret a card all by itself. It also depends on what question you are asking. But considering that your sister is going through such a big transition due to her marital problems, I would assume that this card is telling her to take all the steps that are needed in order for her to make this transition as smooth as possible. There are possibly steps she could take now to avoid the after-shock (there is usually an after-shock, sometimes depression, or a feeling of having been a failure, etc. etc.) In your sister's case, I see no cause for worry at all (concerning physical death, I mean.)

MeeWah	19 Dec 2003
Bean Feasa: As Thirteen indicated, your query is not in bad taste & one frequently asked. The appearance of Death can be worrisome, but much of it is due to the stereo-typing of its significance. Based on its appearance in readings I have done, I have to state that it rarely means physical death; however, it has meant same on those very rare occasions as well alone or accompanied by other cards. It seems more likely the Death card is appearing in readings by & for your sister because of the ensuing life changes. That life changes can be accompanied by a physical imbalance is possible, too--understandable that the familiar life goes into a tailspin, but it depends on the mind & heart of the individual. Your fears may be influencing your feelings--understandable because ye care about your sister. The surrounding cards can describe with what the card may be connected. When my marriage was in serious trouble, I dreamed of a glowing Ace of Swords, hanging in a night sky studded with stars. That was a warning & a prophetic dream that immediately told me what I needed to know. Since then, Ace-Swords has also meant separation/divorce. I never got Death in visions or readings about the situation. Though I was not actively looking to read about it, 6-Swords appeared at least once, but the frequent cards were 3-Swords, 8-Swords, 9-Swords, 10-Swords. The year my Da passed was an 11-Justice Year. Prior to its onset I spontaneously saw his passing & included seeing problems with my youngest son, a Libra. I associate the card with Libra, too. Since then, too, I can also see Justice as indicating death &/or problematic situations. For a terminally ill querent who was a stranger to me until I read his cards, the preponderance of Swords cards referred to his condition & eventual passing; included Ace-Swords & 7-Swords. If ye have not seen a recent discussion on the same subject, please check it out: http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?threadid=20175&perpage=10&pagenumber=4 Edited to add: looks like Diana & I thought of the same previous thread :)

Bean Feasa	19 Dec 2003
Many thanks for your replies everyone, they clarify things a lot for me; thanks too for the thread referrals (should really have searched first, shouldn't I?). Thirteen, I like your idea of doing a clarifying reading centred on Death. I'll be seeing sis over the Christmas, and I think we'll put our heads together and try this out. Blessings to all of you, Kate.

lark	19 Dec 2003
I would like to add one little thing here. It isn't about the death card. So I'm sorry to go off topic. The quote above would be my proof that your sister is not facing death in the real sense. When I have an intuitive hit it is never accompanied by any sort of emotion. It just is . Like fact. I might attach emotion to it later, but at the time it comes to me I never feel fear or any other feeling. Over the years this is how I've learned to distinguish between a worry or fear of my own making, from a true psychic experience. I wish your sister the best. Namaste. lark

Imagemaker	19 Dec 2003
Quote: Originally posted by lark When I have an intuitive hit it is never accompanied by any sort of emotion. It just is . Like fact. [/b] A key, key observation. The Knowing arrives, ping!

casia	26 Dec 2003
I´ve had readings with the 5 of cups about death. Once it kind of anounced it and the last time it appeared in a reading I did for a friend who´s father just past away a couple of months ago. I had a thread on this but I can´t find it any more.

casia	26 Dec 2003
Ups!!! Found it: http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19443 I maybe this is another option...

Bean Feasa	13 Jan 2004
Thought you might be interested in a strange and sad update on this topic. An old friend of mine from my hometown (we grew up on the same street and were very close until circumstances separated us in our twenties, after which we only got to see each other occasionally) was taken into hospital on New Year's Day. A week later she was moved to a national hospital and since I live in the capital, I went to see her - this was last Thursday evening. After a brief upturn her condition had worsened and she was in intensive care, all tubed and wired up to machines. She had slipped into a coma, and it was touch and go. Having hardly slept I was up early the next morning, and I drew a card - 8 of Swords reversed. I had a quick flash of the wires and tubes - her bonds, and felt certain that she was free of them. It was like lark mentioned, no emotion (at least not at that particular point ), just knowing. About a half an hour later I got a call to say she had died during the night. I didn't expect quite so soon to have such a stark illustration of the answer to my question about how the cards go about signifying death. Even in the middle of all the sadness there's room for amazement at the accuracy of the cards. May her spirit be free and fulfilled, Goddess bless us all, Kate

Imagemaker	13 Jan 2004
Bean Freasa, my condolences on the passing of your friend. Having the question and topic of death in mind just prior to this event was a sort of alert that sometimes comes to us. Your 8 of swords was a profound clue, and verifies my thought that the cards give us what makes sense in our situation, not necessarily the obvious archetype, to convey the message. I'm grateful to add "medical bondage" to my own 8 of swords meanings. My father continues to be in medical bondage of his own, though not with literal tubes. It's a terrible time for him, still. Release would be a gift.

Bean Feasa	14 Jan 2004
Thanks for your kind condolences, Imagemaker. I hope your father's situation improves soon. blessings, Kate

firemaiden	15 Jan 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Imagemaker ... the Ace of Pentacles --bingo--that scene is precisely a depiction of the cemetary where my mother is buried and where he had bought a tombstone for the two of them (his name on it, date still blank). What an amazing story Imagemaker, and what a perfect example for your new thread: When the Image says it all -- Bean Feasa's flash on the 8 of swords rx as release from medical bondage is another dazzling example of how the illustration spoke almost literally. I've only just posted a death-image on your other thread, imagemaker - it was the Hierophant, opening the door to the shadows...

Imagemaker	15 Jan 2004
I can seldom see the Ace of Pentacles as other than a cemetary card now . . . bodes ill for my financial potential :-)

Phoenyx	15 Jan 2004
Quote: Originally posted by lark When I have an intuitive hit it is never accompanied by any sort of emotion. It just is . Like fact. I might attach emotion to it later, but at the time it comes to me I never feel fear or any other feeling. What an apt way to describe a vision or intuitive hit. I've been trying to describe my visions to people that I'm close to but it's so hard to put into words. The only time I got an emotional intuituve hit, was last night, when I was doing a Tarot card reading just for practice, and I had this horrible roiling sensation in my belly (you know the one you get when you're very anxious about something). I realized the cards were telling about a friend of mine, and that the anxiety was what she was feeling over the situation.

velvetmirage	15 Jan 2004
This question reminded me of a recent experience. I've been reading Tarot for years, but had never had a clear instance where I knew a death was coming. A friend of mine who was in the process of divorcing his wife asked me to do a reading. The first two cards were the 3 of Swords and the Nine of Swords. I told him he needed to call Lori (his wife) and tell her that he was sorry for the things he'd said and that he would like to remain friends even though he knew the marriage couldn't continue. He said he couldn't talk to her, he wanted to, but she'd hurt him too much. Two weeks later he called me and told me she was in a hospital halfway across the country with a blood clot in her heart. Three days later she died. He still hadn't called her or even written her a letter like I'd suggested. The last thing he'd ever said to her was "F*** off, you b****" and hung up on her. He'd found out from her family she was in the hospital. The three of swords was significant because she had a severe heart condition and had already undergone several surgeries. When I looked at the nine of swords, I knew he'd be devestated over the loss.

The Death card worries thread was originally posted on 19 Dec 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.