DEATH - THE CARD OF DARKNESS AND FEAR, Part 1 of 2

After several set-backs, I am inspired by the advent of Samhain (Halloween) to address the subject of DEATH! (Cue: dramatic music crescendo and bloodcurdling scream) What better time to broach this second card in the "Deer in the Headlights" trilogy than at this time of the year when the veil is the thinnest between the living and the non-living?

Even the key card number XIII (13) has traditionally negative connotations, but when we consider that numerology holds significance and so much is written on thirteen's mythical background, it is apparent that it is hardly a sign of evil (cue: a sigh of relief). I repeat the quote, "There are no bad cards, only negative-thinking readers." So, with that said, let's begin our journey into the realm of Death and walk among the shadows.

Rather than succumb to our misgivings and fear or emulate those bad horror movie heroines who stumble in the dark, we shall carry a flashlight to see what is really there. In May, we explored the balance between the negative and positive aspects of the Tower Card, and we shall follow that same line of thinking with the Death Card. Our goal will be to replace old opinions and misunderstanding with positive energy.

Most tarot decks depict the Death Card with an image of the Grim Reaper in a variety of poses, costumes based on various mythology, without emotion, and occasionally with no facial features at all. Death, in whatever guise he may select, eventually makes an appearance into everyone's life in a matter-of-fact way, quite oblivious to mortal whims, plans, or desires.

Again, the deck of reference is the Rider-Waite, on which the figure of death is a skeleton astride a white horse (power, movement, strength, and the creative feminine) trampling humans and religion (a Pope) beneath his hooves. Overhead a dark banner waves the symbol of purity (white rose) to announce his arrival; and over the horizon beyond is a colorful sunrise which promises a better tomorrow once the dark, stormy skies clear. There are severed limbs and pieces of bodies trampled into the earth (dust-to-dust), representing that drastic change severs parts of the whole person and destroys indiscriminately. The ego that is unwilling to realize that earthly endeavors are subject to death's ride is subject to isolation and loss. However, the wise who focus on their soul's purpose are not caught unaware, but observe the need to change and embrace it before Death tramples all asunder.

Simply put, Death demonstrates loss, endings, completion of the status quo, drastic changes both good and bad, and a transition from the known way of living into something completely new and different. One only has to allow change to occur to remain whole and relatively unscathed.

Death - the word itself sends chills up the spine and just the sight of the Death Card in a reading usually elicits a gasp or two. Most decks print the word "DEATH" predominately at the bottom of this dark, spooky pictorial image, which creates a dramatic sense as it lays amidst the other cards in a reading. This traumatic card must be read as a part of the whole, rather than singled out, and then it becomes apparent that there is no harbinger of death before us. Personally, I prefer those decks which deal with this card by printing "TRANSITION" (or something similar) and treat the imagery with images that are less stark than skeletal figures. It takes a bit of the sting out of this card and reminds that the whole of the meaning is not a physical ending to life, but rather a great and extreme change at hand.

During the Halloween season, many world cultures celebrate the dead in a myriad of ways. In the United States, Halloween has become a holiday to frighten ourselves with ghost stories, scream at horrific slasher movies, create bizarre costumes ranging from the cute to the gory, pig out on candy, cider, and treats, and to observe hauntings in a variety of ways. We have forgotten the significance of the cycle of life, which our ancestors understood without calendars and time pieces. October 31st ends one season and begins the next.

At this juncture of season, the veil between the dimension of the living and the non-living is at it's thinnest. A dumb feast was once observed to honor ancestors and seek their connection with the living. There are many other cultures which routinely seek wisdom and guidance from those ancestors who have passed on without fear of the phenomena of physical ending. They believe that their loved ones can intercede for them on both planes of existence.

Psychics and Mediums tell us that this is the time when communication with our loved ones is easiest. Though you may be skeptical as to whether there are ghosts or life continues in spirit form, it isn't important to convince you but to point out that the Tarot Death Card actually offers hope by the creative power of the prancing horse and its brighter horizon.

Whether you believe there is another plan of existence or not, closure is needed with those who cross over and the manner in which they still effect your life is palpable and true. The Death card offers stark reality, while the purity of the rose expresses the truth of spirit in all phases of life. Faith is often all that we can hold onto - a skeleton is the bare bones of all truth. When we look at this image without eyes of fear, the dark becomes illuminated with promise. The color black, which is the absence of color, is often considered the color of evil and negativity; but it is also the non-color of the VOID from which all life is created.

It should be each person's goal, to make wise choices, but that isn't as easy as it sounds. It is never easy when faced with a serious illness, death of a loved one, a loss of a business, or other other such stressful crises. On 9/11, this was thrust into our lives. There were those who left for work that fateful day and were literally disintegrated within hours of sitting down at their daily routine. People across the country were affected in ways that they could never have predicted or comprehended. Yet, for all the fear and terror that was released into the world on that day, there are an equal number of stories of courage and positive energy exerted, as well. Similarly, the trampled souls on the Death Card are alive and capable to pull together the scattered parts of their lives and change devastation into renewed strength in some incredible ways. The key is transformation - Death of the old and the making of a way for new to enter.

We can be surrounded by stress, complacency, fear, and trouble; and submit to this energy. Or we can choose to change and to embrace what comes as a blessing - be it in disguise or costumed for Halloween. Seek reality and truth which hides behind the mask. The death of the old is always difficult whether we expect it or not. Our perceptions either allow us to find that silver lining within the storm clouds or an ominous hurricane approaching. The Death Card's grim reaper is oblivious to the feelings or plans of those he tramples underfoot, so it is up to us to focus our energy in order to ride out the storm and seek truth within the situation and heal the issues that created it in the first place. Balance and meditation become valuable tools during stressful situations.

When the Death Card falls in a reading, it represents a situation that needs to end and may require the reaper's scythe to slash it from our lives. On the other hand, the brighter future in the background tells us that hope is not lost and becomes available after the death of the old ways, morals, beliefs, perceptions or states of mind. However, if we resist such endings and cannot accept subsequent changes, our energy becomes bogged down in the muck of negative thinking, and little or no progress toward a positive outcome can be made. It is true that the Death Card is not all peaches and cream, but it doesn't have to over-power a reading with negativity, either.

There are those rare instances when a reading's interpretation indicates that an actual physical death is evident when the Death Card appears. In those cases, it is usually accompanied by other cards such as the Nine (9) and/or Ten (10) of Swords. I know of another reader who has had a few such occasions when the querant did, indeed, meet with their demise following the reading - one by an accident and one by a murder that I know of. This is rare. I must note that neither that reader nor any other reader with ethics and a knowledge of the law would tell their querant that their death is eminent. That is both illegal and unethical. Although I am not sure of the exact way my friend dealt with the message, I do know that in such a situation a warning to be cautious, see a doctor immediately, or something similar would be the appropriate course of action. The Tarot is a guide and not an absolute, so readers need to be cautious in such instances. They may also exercise their free will to avoid seeing death altogether.

After discussing these rather negative aspects of The Death Card, it may be surprising that this card does have another side which can be hopeful, healing, and positive. I will use the same basic format to examine these positive aspects in order to find the balance within this card. One lesson from the Ancient Egyptian Mystery School speaks of the balance between positive and negative which is reflected in ALL that exists in this dimension. They understood their Neters (gods and goddesses) as lessons and examples to teach both morals and civilization. Each Neter represented both a dark and a light side - Representative of perfect balance or a mid-point gray image. From this concept comes the description of Gray Magic - A blending of Black and White Magic - although this is a distinction of terminology rather than an actual division of magic. I hope to shed some new light on this rather dark card and expand the possibilities for its interpretation for future readings based on several levels -- physical, emotional, mental, elemental, and spiritual (to be continued in December).

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