Death. Tarot Card 13, Major Arcana. Symbols, Meaning & Interpretations
Introduction
The Death card is number 13 in the Major Arcana of the tarot deck. It is a card rich with symbolism, often misunderstood but profoundly meaningful. Below is a detailed list of the primary symbols found in the Death card and their interpretations:
Skeleton
Meaning: Transformation and the inevitability of change.
Interpretation: The skeleton represents the bare essentials, stripping away the superficial to reveal the underlying truth. It symbolizes the inevitability of death and the transformation that follows. It is a reminder that death is a natural part of the cycle of life.
Armour
Meaning: Invincibility and the impartiality of death.
Interpretation: The armor signifies that death is invincible and impartial, affecting all beings regardless of status. It indicates that change is inevitable and unstoppable, a force that touches everyone.
White Horse
Meaning: Purity and spiritual journey.
Interpretation: The white horse symbolizes purity and a spiritual journey. It represents the idea that death is not an end but a transition to a new state of being. The horse carries the message of transformation and progress.
Black Banner with White Rose
Meaning: Life and rebirth.
Interpretation: The black banner signifies the end, but the white rose on it symbolizes purity, clarity, and the promise of new beginnings. It indicates that with every ending comes the potential for new life and growth.
Rising Sun
Meaning: Renewal and hope.
Interpretation: The rising sun in the background signifies renewal and hope. It suggests that after the darkness of death, a new day dawns, bringing light and fresh opportunities. It is a symbol of the cyclical nature of life and the constant possibility of rebirth.
Fallen Figures (King, Child, Maiden, Bishop):
Meaning: Universality of death and transformation.
Interpretation: The fallen figures represent different stages and aspects of life, emphasizing that death and transformation are universal experiences. They highlight that no one is exempt from the cycle of life and death, whether powerful or innocent.
River
Meaning: Flow of life and continuity.
Interpretation: The river symbolizes the continuous flow of life. It represents the idea that life goes on, even after death, indicating the continuity of existence and the ongoing process of change and transformation.
Bridge
Meaning: Transition and passage.
Interpretation: The bridge signifies the transition from one state to another. It represents the passage from life to death and beyond, indicating that death is a journey rather than an end.
White Rose on Death’s Armour
Meaning: Purity, promise, and new beginnings.
Interpretation: The white rose on the armor echoes the symbolism of the white rose on the banner. It reinforces the message that death brings purity and the promise of new beginnings, highlighting the transformative power of endings.
Number 13
Meaning: Transformation and rebirth.
Interpretation: The number 13 is often associated with transformation and rebirth. It signifies the end of one cycle and the beginning of another, emphasizing the transformative power of change and the potential for renewal.
Conclusion
These symbols collectively emphasize the themes of transformation, renewal, and the cyclical nature of life and death. The Death card encourages the seeker to embrace change, let go of the old, and be open to new beginnings. It serves as a reminder that every ending is also a beginning, and through the process of transformation, growth and renewal are possible.
The Platonic Solids
In the name of the Most Gracious, Most Merciful, embark upon the journey of Death, traversing through the celestial harmony of divine geometry, from the solid Cube to the golden Unity in the spiral of existence.
Death, standing in the place of the Cube, corresponds to the Earth element. This signifies the soul’s encounter with transformation and renewal, a grounding in the cycles of life and death. It is the echo of divine music that resonates deeply, guiding the seeker through the inevitable changes of the self.
Progressing towards the Octahedron, an embodiment of Air, the soul feels the freeing breeze of detachment, lifting it beyond the material confines of the Cube. Death, with its transformative presence, guides the seeker to internalize this detachment, this breath from the Divine, which allows the old to fall away and makes space for the new.
The seeker transitions again to the Octahedron, reinforcing the lessons of Air. This repetition represents the rhythm of divine Zikr, a sacred remembrance that resonates in the heart, allowing the winds of change to clear away the attachments within the self.
Moving towards the Tetrahedron, the symbol of Fire, Death guides the soul to the purifying flame of transformation. This fire, intense and renewing, burns away the remnants of the old self, refining the soul and preparing it for rebirth and new beginnings.
The soul’s journey through this gate involves various expressions: solitary reflections, communal transitions, and cosmic symphonies of renewal, all under the watchful eye of the Divine. As it is said, “When you are together, I will always be with you.” All harmonics align into a higher resonance, amplifying the soul’s readiness for rebirth.
The journey takes the seeker to the Icosahedron, representing Water, where the flowing currents of emotion and the wisdom of the heart merge. Death, like a celestial navigator, steers the soul through these deep waters, teaching the balance of letting go and embracing new beginnings, of mourning and celebrating.
Transitioning to the Dodecahedron, representing Spirit and the universe, Death leads the soul to the realization of interconnectedness, of unity in multiplicity, as symbolized by the twelve faces of the Dodecahedron, reflecting the cycles of the cosmos. Here, the soul witnesses the divine beauty in all creation, understanding the rhythm of life and death as part of the greater harmony of the universe.
The journey moves once again to the Icosahedron and then back to the Dodecahedron, signifying the rhythmic flow of life, the pulse of existence that moves between the seen and the unseen, the individual drop and the boundless ocean, guided by Death.
Finally, the journey culminates in Unity, represented by the endless fall into the golden spiral. Death, having led the soul through its transformative journey, now points towards the Divine, towards the unity of all existence.
The golden spiral, an embodiment of divine harmony and proportion, mirrors the soul’s return to its origin, to its unity with the Divine. It is a homecoming, the return to the eternal garden, the Garden of Eden.
This journey of the soul, as guided by Death through the mystic dance of the Platonic solids, embodies the Sufi path — a path that starts from the self, purifies the self, and eventually transcends the self, merging into the One Beloved.
As in the “Conference of the Birds” by Attar, it is in the reflection of the Spirit in the waters that the true Self is revealed, and in the heavens, the ultimate Self is seen.
Such is the divine love story, the sacred dance of existence, revealed through Death.
More …
