Symbolizing: Death

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 23 May 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Thirteen	23 May 2004
And now we get to some of the really cool/sticky ones as we continue to examine the symbolism in the Majors. What you like and what you don't. What you feel ought to be there...or not. For this thread, Death. Just answer one or more of the following: 1) What elements from any Death card from any deck do you feel BEST symbolize Death? (Example: "I like the use of the Pheonix for the Death Card.") 2) What elements common to most Death cards in most decks do you really feel are all WRONG for Death? (Example: "I've NEVER liked that skeleton with the scythe.") 3) What symbol have you always felt was right for the Death Card, but you've yet to see it? (Example: "I'd like to see an Irish wake or New Orleans band on the card."). You don't have to answer all the above, but do offer some "why's?" as to what you answer. Why don't you/do you like the skeleton? What does the skeletal, grim reaper figure in Death cards mean that it feels/doesn't feel like the Death card to you?

jlbvt	05 Jun 2004
#1. I like the skeleton, because it is instantly recognizable. That said, I know the old bones do not tell us much about the death card. Or do they? I am a sucker for a Dancing Skeleton- It tells me that the spirit has been freed from the constraints of life, and is dancing to celebrate the new freedom. I like it when there is movement shown. #2. I dislike it when there is a skeleton just standing there, because death is about change, not stagnation.

TemperanceAngel	05 Jun 2004
I love the Death card in my Medieval Scapini deck...why???...well to put it simply the skeleton seems to be smiling and the position it's in is one of a Shiva pose, it has a real sense of humour especially when compared to my RWS deck. I find the RWS a little dramatic at times and when someone has their first reading, they always ask about it pretty much immediately if it's in their spread. The Scapini deck also has gold in it, which is wonderful. I think Death is to be celebrated and Scapini captures that with his card.

Sillanza	07 Jun 2004
I like the Death card in the New Palladini for an odd reason: the volcano in the background. It's a reminder that even something as (seemingly) permanent as the earth goes through necessary change. The remainder of the image only hints at change, but enough to scare people less than some of the others! Death looks oddly similar to Edgar Winter, or one of those Nelson twins. The mount on which Death rides has snakes in his mane and looks to be half horse, half zebra. Also, the animal is unrestrained. It carries Death, and the change it brings, willingly on to the next stage. I'd like to see a Death card that contains a moth: wings damp after just emerging from its chrysalis. I also wouldn't mind seeing a buried skeleton, its bones commingled with the roots of a flowering plant. I think the image of a burned forest, with seedling trees sprouting is also evocative.

The Symbolizing: Death thread was originally posted on 23 May 2004 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.