Death tarot card from the Simply Tarot deck

Death Tarot Card Meaning

The Reaper
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Endings • Transformation • Renewal

Something is coming to an end or has run its course. Letting go can be painful and the saying “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” is apt. This change is necessary and your capacity to accept it will make it easier to endure. Turn to face a new future, a new reality knowing new opportunities are available to you.

Death is probably the most famous and feared Tarot card of all. Rather than foretelling the death of the Subject, or someone they know, this card relates to a process of change. Death indicates the physical and emotional challenges that must take place for the Subject to move on....the final recognition that something has ended and they must start again. This can be extremely upsetting for the Subject; having to let go of a way of life, a relationship or anything that has been loved is clearly distressing. One of Death’s messages is that acceptance and understanding can ease the Subject's pain and suffering.

When they are ready they will direct their attention and energy into something new. They will turn to face the future and be ready for a new reality. When Death appears in a spread it is time for the Subject to accept that what is gone is gone. By looking forward to a new beginning they can start the process of healing that will ease the pain of letting go. The Subject is encouraged to redirect the energy they spend in lamenting over the past, to working towards a new future, to follow the direction of the ever dawning, nurturing sun rather than turning back to what was.
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Love & Relationships

The heart is shedding an older version of itself. Some relationships deepen through transformation, while others quietly reach the end of what they were able to become. Grief and renewal often sit beside one another far more closely than people expect.
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Material Life

One chapter of material life is ending completely. A job, financial structure, living situation or identity tied to survival may no longer be sustainable in its current form, even if releasing it feels frightening. Stability sometimes requires allowing the old life to die first.
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Notes from the Artist

Here, Death is portrayed as the traditional Grim Reaper scything away all before him. Everything he touches dies and he leaves a wake of destruction behind him but ahead of him there is sunshine, life and promise.

The imagery here is intense and can often be rather daunting, but the picture is merely symbolic of the past, which is being left behind and is of no use to us now, and we must face the future. Each brand new day brings bright promises and the sustenance we need to grow. The sun always rises and it seems Death can never keep up with the sun - it continues to rise daily, come what may.

From the archive

The Original Artwork, Reimagined

Before Death became part of the Simply Tarot collection you see today, it was drawn and painted by hand for the original 2011 Tarot House Deck. The style has evolved, but the meaning and character of the card remain at its heart.

Original hand-painted Death tarot card by Patricia House from the 2011 Tarot House Deck
2011 Original 2011 artwork Death Hand-painted by Patricia House
The tarot card of Death is, as most traditionally depicted, a dark hooded faceless figure with a skeletal hand gripping a scythe. He lays waste to everything he passes through.
Today Death reimagined The current Simply Tarot artwork

The original first edition

Buy the Original 2011 Deck

The card shown above is part of the original 78-card Tarot House Deck. Every image was drawn and painted by Patricia House before the deck was professionally printed by Cartamundi in the UK. A limited number from the original print run are still available.

  • 78-card first-edition deck
  • Two tarot-spread cards
  • Short meanings leaflet
  • Brocade drawstring bag

£25.99

Shop Now Read how the deck was created

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