Death Upright: The exact moment one gives up the old mask, role, or identity and allows transformation to begin. The clearing away, the editing out of old habits to allow new, healthy, more authentic behaviors to emerge. The elimination of people or things from your life, especially long established ones. The end of a close relationship, association or these morphing into a new form. Leaving the past behind. Letting go. Cutting through to see the truth. Can no longer tolerate a situation or fighting departing, even though you already know the old way is dead.
Image: Only dead thing on the card is the king, the old rule, the thing which had power over you.
The innocent, open child, offering a gift (an unknown thing to discover) to the rider.
The sleeping girl is the subconscious, one not knowing what is to come.
The pope indicating this is a deep spiritual journey.
The dark and rocky terrain, representing that this is a new, unknowable land to traverse. The terrain you are on is different from where you are traveling to.
River and ship represents a long journey.
In the distance, through the gateway of transformation, a sunrise and new city.
White horse: Movement, strength, forward motion, white for purity of purpose.
The skeleton: You are you to the bone but perhaps unrecognizable to yourself and others. Cutting to the bone, all inauthenticity stripped away.
You will need your armour on as you proceed.
The flag is you declaring your need and commitment for change. White rose: Pure passion.
Death Upright Best Course of Action: First, the change has already started. Don’t fight it. Commit to it. Trust yourself. Step forward. Release your fears and anxiety and step forward. Be courageous like a knight. Don your armour and proceed, leaving behind the unhealthy, the old, the restrictive behaviors which no longer serve you. Be brave. Know that you have the strength to proceed to the new self, the sunrise. Be honest.
Death Reversed: Being stuck in old habits, patterns, remaining in a situation or relationship which no longer serves you in its present form. Sluggishness, inertia, boredom, depression masking a deep terror of change or truth. Being bone-weary. An understanding you need to make a change but being unsure on how to proceed.
Death Reversed Best Course of Action: Think of what you usually do and then don’t do it. Then observe what occurs. Change is coming but you may need to wait. Sit with the past a little longer. Say goodbye to what has occured. Something may appear to be a standstill. Keep your mind active but stand still with it. Hold. Wait. Look at what is no longer working. Edit in your mind. Take the time to mourn, knowing that time is coming to an end soon. Before you can move ahead, you must take the time to grieve what has been lost.