Up: [[Major Arcana]] Related: [[Descent in Life and Mythology]] Created: 2026-06-01 Updated: 2026-06-07 > [!leaf] In Brief > An ending for the sake of transformation and rebirth; profound change; cycle of death and rebirth > [!leaf] What Matters The Death card represents the archetypal theme of the Underworld — the death of some part of us or our life that no longer serves us in order to make room for transformation and rebirth. This isn’t small potatoes, tinkering on the surface, I might do it but might not, kind of change. It is, as *Star Tarot* says, change that *brings you to your knees and eliminates what is false and not working.* It is the card of [[Descent in Life and Mythology]]. While this magnitude of change is undeniably scary, we need to remember that the Death card does not signify physical death; that the changes are for our own good, and that every aspect of our journey so far was essential for this rebirth to happen. Something in our life is over and when we let it go, something new will emerge. > [!leaf] Actions to Take 1. Identify what is no longer growing in your life. It could be a relationship, a habit, or an attitude that used to work but now no longer serves you. Withdraw any energy you’ve provided to this in the past. 2. In your creative practice, this is the time to *kill your darlings.* Embrace new challenges, allowing old ways that were safe and easy to die out. 3. Once in the descent, use the tools of the unconscious to give you insights and direction. Those tools include: [[Intuition]], [[Dreams]], a sensation in your body, an old memory, meditation, [[Active Imagination]], [[Tarot]], and [[Expressive Art]]. If unsure what the descent is about for you, look for one or more myths or fairy tales that speak to you and see if you can identify the appeal. 4. Journal or freewrite responses to any of these questions or quotes: - What chapter or cycle of my life is coming to an end? How do I know? - What am I holding on to that is already dead? - What do I need to release in order to start over and live the life that I want to live? - How might contemplating my own mortality inspire me to live more consciously? (Moon Shed Substack) - What transformation might a descent be leading to? > [!Orbit] Joseph Campbell > We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us. > [!orbit] Leonard Koren > Is the plant complete when it flowers? When it goes to seed? When the seeds sprout? When everything turns into compost? ![[Death RWS (card).webp|300]] > [!leaf] Symbolism - The left side of an image is thought to represent the past or the unconscious so Death is riding from the unconscious towards consciousness, towards rebirth. - The sun between the two pillars is in the East so it’s the dawning of a new day or time of life. - The river might be the River Styx that transports individuals to the Underworld. - There are four aspects of ourselves facing Death: - The dead or wounded King, representing power in the mundane world. This is perhaps the easiest power to let die. - A priest or bishop, representing our spiritual beliefs. The bishop might also die but he has a greater understanding of life and death so is able to look Death in the eye. - A maiden (young woman) who wants to look away, a sign of the need for emotional growth - A young child who seems not to fear death and may be seen as the promise of new beginnings in the rebirth to come. The overall idea of the four characters may be that the descent will likely affect all aspects of our lives. Some contemporary cards emphasize the cyclical nature of death and rebirth, such as this one from *Light Seer’s* ![[Death Light Seers (card).webp|200]] and this one from *Sacred She* ![[Death Sacred She (card).webp|200]] I also really like the cards that emphasize the descent and rising aspect, such as this one from *Sun and Moon Tarot* with the phoenix rising from the ashes. ![[Death Sun and Moon.webp|200]]