The Death Card: Embracing Change, Even Through Grief
The Death card in tarot often brings with it an air of fear and apprehension, but it’s not a card to be feared. Unlike the Tower, which represents sudden, often disruptive change—like a winter storm clearing away everything that no longer serves us—the Death card signifies a different type of transformation. It’s a gentler change, one that might be expected or even chosen, though we may find ourselves resisting it all the same.
In my readings, the Death card often shows up when there’s a need to make space for grief. This doesn’t mean we’re necessarily grieving something tragic or lost, but it’s a reminder that grief is an important part of any significant change. Grief is essential, even when the changes we’re experiencing are ultimately positive.
Take retirement, for example. We celebrate it with joy, but how often do we allow ourselves to grieve the loss of the work-life structure? We may lose our daily purpose, the community of coworkers we’ve built, and the routine that has shaped us for so many years. The same applies when we enter other new phases of life—when we get married, have children, or experience any major life transition. We should be allowed to grieve what we’re leaving behind, without the fear of being labeled “bad” or “ungrateful.”
When we marry, we often don’t acknowledge that we may feel sadness over the end of our single lives. And when we become parents, we should be given the space to grieve the freedom we once had. These aren’t negative feelings, but natural, human responses to change. My hope is that we’re moving toward a world where we can hold dualities without judgment—that we can celebrate and mourn, be happy and sad, all at once, and that we can be supported in doing so.
So, when the Death card appears in your next reading, I encourage you to pause and reflect: Is there an area of your life where you need to make space to process a change? Whether it's an expected transition or one you're resisting, the Death card is here to remind us that grief and celebration can coexist. It’s all part of the beautiful, messy, and ever-evolving journey of life.
