Death (tarot card)

Description

Some decks, such as the Tarot of Marseilles and the Visconti Sforza Tarot omit the name from the card, calling it "The Card with No Name", often with the implication of a broader meaning than literal death. There are other decks that title Death as "Rebirth" or "Death-Rebirth."

The Death card usually depicts the Grim Reaper, the personification of Death. In some decks, the Grim Reaper is riding a pale horse, and often he is wielding a sickle or scythe. Surrounding the Grim Reaper are dead and dying people from all classes, including kings, bishops and commoners. The Rider–Waite tarot deck depicts the skeleton carrying a black standard emblazoned with The White Rose of York.

In the background are two towers and a rising sun.

Examples

File:Death tarot charles6.jpeg|Charles VI (or Gringonneur) (15th century) File:Cary-Yale Tarot deck - Death.jpg|Cary-Yale Visconti (15th century) File:Death - Pierpont Morgan Bergamo tarot deck.jpg|Pierpont Morgan Bergamo (15th century) File:Jean Dodal Tarot trump 13.jpg|Jean Dodal Marseilles (1701-1715) File:Troccas-13-der-tod.jpg|Rauch Troccas (1831–1838) File:Minchiate card deck - Florence - 1860-1890 - Trumps - 13 - La Morte.jpg|Florence Minchiate (1860–1890) File:Piedmontese tarot deck - Solesio - 1865 - Trump - 13 - Death.jpg|Solesio Piedmontese (1865) File:T13 Tarot.png|Lequart Marseilles (1890) File:17 La Mort - Grimaud Grand Etteilla Tarot Deck.jpg|Grimaud Etteilla (1890) File:Papus Atout 13-sans-nom-without-a-name.png|Papus (1909)

Interpretation

According to Eden Gray and other authors on the subject, it is uncommon that this card actually represents a physical death, rather it typically implies an end, possibly of a relationship or interest, and therefore an increased sense of self-awareness.

In fact, Gray interprets this card as a change of thinking from an old way into a new way. The horse Death is riding is stepping over a prone king, which symbolizes that not even royalty can stop change.

The card, drawn in reverse, can be interpreted as stagnation and the inability to move or change, according to Gray.

According to A. E. Waite's 1910 book The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, the Death card carries several divinatory associations:

In astrology, the Death card is associated with the fixed-water sign of Scorpio.

References

References

1. Gray, Eden. ''The Complete Guide to the Tarot''.
2. Bunning, Joan. ''Learning the Tarot''.
3. Gray, Eden. ''Complete Guide to the Tarot'' (1970). New York: Crown Publishers.
4. Gray, Eden. ''The Tarot Revealed'' (1960). New York: Bell Publishing Company.
5. Waite, Arthur Edward. (1979). "The Pictorial Key to the Tarot". Samuel Weiser.
6. "The Death Tarot Card". askAstrology.