XIII - Death

Death

A figure cloaked in black, holding a scythe, whom we can only assume is Death, sits on a pile of skulls. A white rose, symbolizing new life, grows from the base of the skull pile. A young girl sits nearby, next to a tree stump, mourning her loss. Death and the girl are together on a small island, indicating that the great loss of Death can make one feel alone. However, while the island is surrounded by water, there is other land within view, reminding us that the sorrow of death does end and we will return to our everyday lives again. Although not as bright as usual, the sun is rising in the distance, barely shining through the clouds. Above the island, a ghost of a woman floats upward. Her arms are out-stretched and her head is thrown back as if in relief and joy, as if she were released, at last, from something painful.

This card can, but rarely does, refer to physical death, which is some comfort. Death, though, whether physical or metaphorical, is not an easy experience. This card implies the end of something, perhaps a job, a relationship, a situation, an organization. The actual ending will likely be hard, but once it’s over the cycle continues and something new will come. On the other hand, it may be a welcome closure, such as an ending of a bad relationship, quitting an unhappy job, or selling a house to get a new one. On a spiritual level, this can mean a symbolic death where you eliminate old beliefs that no longer work for you and were perhaps holding you back. Death is usually hard, but it must happen before transformation or resurrection occurs.

If reversed, this card can imply resisting death and perhaps even stalling it. Letting something drag n beyond its natural life span leads to stagnation.

Use your intuition:

What is the story of the woman and the little girl? Are they mother and daughter, the same person, or is there some other relationship?

Is Death hanging around the girl, or has the girl sought out Death?