LexTalk

Imagine shuffling your tarot deck, thinking about your life, asking your question, and then flipping over your card…

DEATH.

UM.

EXCUSE ME?!

If I were completely new to tarot and pulled this card without knowing anything about it, I would probably be staring at my deck like:

“Okay… so are we just going to ignore the fact that there is a SKELETON riding toward me right now?!”

Because visually?

The Death card is INTENSE.

There’s a skeleton.

Black armor.

A fallen king.

A mysterious black flag.

People reacting to the figure riding toward them.

And then, just to make sure we really get the point, the card is literally called:

DEATH.

Subtle.

But here’s what makes this card so fascinating.

The Death card traditionally isn’t a prediction that someone is literally going to die.

Instead, it’s a card of endings, transformation, transition, release, and renewal.

And considering we’re getting closer and closer to Halloween, I couldn’t think of a better time to tackle one of the most recognizable—and probably most misunderstood—cards in tarot.

Welcome back to LexTalk Tarot: One Card at a Time, where I’m learning all 78 tarot cards by slowing down, studying the traditional Rider-Waite-Smith imagery, and figuring out what all those tiny symbols are trying to tell us.

Today we’re learning Death — Major Arcana XIII.

And surprisingly?

I think this might end up being one of the most beautiful cards we’ve studied.

Meet the Death Tarot Card

Card: Death

Number: XIII — 13

Arcana: Major Arcana

Traditional Astrological Association: Scorpio

Core Themes: Transformation, endings, transition, release, renewal, change

First, I think we need to get the biggest misconception out of the way.

Death does NOT automatically mean literal death.

In fact, when tarot readers interpret this card, it is generally associated with transformation and the ending of one phase so another can begin.

Something may have run its course.

Something may need to change.

Something may no longer fit the person you’re becoming.

And that doesn’t necessarily mean something terrible is happening.

Think about nature.

Every autumn, leaves change from green into gorgeous shades of yellow, orange, and red.

Then they fall.

The trees become bare.

Everything looks completely different.

But we don’t stand underneath an oak tree screaming:

“THIS IS THE END!!!”

We know another season is coming.

That’s how I want to remember the Death card.

Death = An ending that creates space for transformation.

Not necessarily destruction.

Not necessarily tragedy.

Change.

Why Is Death Card Number 13?

The Death card is Major Arcana XIII — 13.

And yes…

Of COURSE the Death card gets number 13.

Could tarot possibly have made this card any more dramatic?

Thirteen has developed plenty of superstitious associations over time, but within tarot, I don’t think we need to treat the number itself as some frightening prediction.

Instead, I’m going to remember:

XIII = transformation.

Because honestly, that is much easier than convincing myself every 13 I see is trying to tell me something ominous.

Let’s Study the Death Card Symbolism

This is where today’s card becomes REALLY interesting.

If you’re learning tarot alongside me, don’t try to memorize an entire paragraph about Death.

Look at the card.

The imagery gives us clues.

And this particular card has a LOT of them.

The Skeleton

Okay.

We obviously have to start here.

A skeleton rides prominently through the scene.

Skeletons naturally remind us of mortality, but they can also symbolize what remains when everything unnecessary has been stripped away.

And there’s another important message here.

Change is unavoidable.

No amount of money, status, power, or influence can make life stay exactly the same forever.

We’re going to change.

Our circumstances will change.

Our relationships may change.

Our goals will change.

Our bodies change.

Our priorities change.

Our lives evolve.

The skeleton is a pretty dramatic reminder that nothing stays exactly the same forever.

The Black Armor

The skeleton wears black armor.

Black can symbolize mystery, endings, darkness, and the unknown.

And I think the unknown is especially important here.

Because isn’t that often what makes change so scary?

Sometimes we aren’t necessarily afraid of what we’re leaving.

We’re afraid because we don’t know what comes next.

Even a change we desperately want can feel uncomfortable.

A new job.

A move.

A new relationship.

Ending a relationship.

Starting a business.

Changing a habit.

Beginning again.

There’s always that little moment of:

Okay… now what?

The Death card doesn’t promise us exactly what happens next.

It simply reminds us that transition is part of life.

The White Horse

Now here’s where the symbolism starts becoming much less frightening.

Death rides a white horse.

White is commonly associated with purity, cleansing, and renewal.

So we have this dark armored skeleton…

riding a bright white horse.

I LOVE that contrast.

Because it visually gives us both sides of the card.

Something ends.

Something else becomes possible.

That’s probably going to be one of my easiest memory tricks for this card.

Black armor + white horse = Ending + Renewal.

The Black Flag and White Rose

The skeleton carries a black flag featuring a white, five-petaled rose.

Again, we get that contrast.

Black.

White.

Ending.

Renewal.

The white rose is commonly interpreted as a symbol of purity, beauty, and renewal.

And there’s something about a flower appearing on the DEATH CARD that I absolutely love.

Because flowers don’t last forever either.

They bloom.

They change.

They eventually fade.

And then the cycle begins again.

White rose = Beauty and renewal within transformation.

Suddenly this card doesn’t seem quite as terrifying, does it?

The Fallen King

Beneath the horse lies a fallen crowned figure.

This is another powerful piece of symbolism.

Status doesn’t exempt anyone from change.

Money doesn’t.

Power doesn’t.

Age doesn’t.

Life continues moving.

And everyone experiences endings and transitions in some form.

There’s something oddly humbling about that.

The Religious Figure

A religious figure stands before Death.

Unlike some of the other people in the scene, he appears to face what is happening.

Different readers may interpret the figures in slightly different ways, but together they help emphasize how differently human beings respond to inevitable change.

Some resist.

Some fear.

Some accept.

Some don’t understand.

Which is…

pretty accurate.

The Child

There’s also a child in the scene.

And I think this little detail makes the card even more interesting.

Children often symbolize innocence, openness, or beginnings.

So again, within a card dominated by imagery of endings, we still have subtle reminders of continuation.

Life doesn’t simply stop moving because one chapter closes.

The Sun Between the Towers

THIS might be my favorite symbol on the entire card.

Look into the distance.

Between two towers, we can see the sun.

After everything happening in the foreground…

there is still light on the horizon.

Come on.

That’s beautiful.

The rising sun can symbolize hope, renewal, and another beginning waiting beyond the transition.

Sun = Something exists beyond this ending.

That’s the part I want to remember.

The River and Boat

There is also water flowing through the landscape, with a small boat visible.

Water frequently connects with movement, emotion, and life’s natural flow.

A boat traveling across water makes a pretty perfect symbol for transition.

You’re leaving one shore.

You haven’t reached the other yet.

You’re somewhere in between.

And sometimes?

The in-between is the hardest part.

Death Tarot Card Upright Meaning

When Death appears upright, common themes include:

Transformation • Endings • Transition • Release • Change • Renewal • Letting go

The card can encourage us to recognize when something has reached its natural conclusion.

That could be something enormous.

But it doesn’t have to be.

It might be:

An old habit.

A belief you’ve outgrown.

A routine that isn’t working.

A goal that no longer matters to you.

An unhealthy pattern.

A version of yourself you’ve been trying to remain because it’s familiar.

Sometimes we continue doing something simply because we’ve always done it that way.

But eventually we have to ask:

Does this still belong in the life I’m trying to create?

That’s the upright Death card for me.

Not:

“EVERYTHING IS DOOMED!”

More like:

“Maybe you’re ready to stop carrying something you don’t need anymore.”

Death Tarot Card Reversed Meaning

Our regular LexTalk Tarot reminder:

Reversed doesn’t automatically mean BAD.

With Death reversed, common themes can include:

Resistance to change • Fear of endings • Stagnation • Difficulty letting go • Delayed transition • Holding onto the past

And honestly?

This makes sense.

Change is scary.

Even when we KNOW something isn’t working, familiarity can feel safer than uncertainty.

We know what the current situation feels like.

We don’t know what happens if we change it.

So we hold on.

And hold on.

And hold on.

The reversed Death card can ask us:

Am I holding onto this because I still want it—or because I’m afraid of what happens if I let go?

Oof.

Okay, tarot.

Death Tarot Card in Love & Relationships

Let’s address this immediately.

You ask about your relationship.

You pull Death.

And suddenly you’re mentally dividing furniture.

NO.

Death does not automatically mean a relationship is ending.

In love and relationship readings, this card can represent transformation.

Relationships aren’t frozen in time.

People grow.

Circumstances change.

Priorities shift.

Connections evolve.

Sometimes a relationship needs to move into a different phase.

Sometimes an unhealthy pattern within the relationship needs to end.

Maybe the way you communicate needs to change.

Maybe old resentment needs to be addressed.

Maybe expectations have evolved.

Upright in Love

Themes can include:

Transformation • Relationship growth • Changing dynamics • Releasing unhealthy patterns • Moving into a new phase

Reversed in Love

Themes can include:

Resistance to change • Holding onto unhealthy patterns • Fear of moving forward • Difficulty releasing the past

And if you’re single?

This card might invite you to look at what you’re carrying from previous relationships.

Are old experiences influencing what you expect from new people?

Are you repeating patterns you already know don’t work?

Again, tarot isn’t telling us exactly what will happen.

It’s giving us something to examine.

Love Reflection

What relationship pattern am I ready to leave behind?

Death Tarot Card in Career

Nope.

Pulling Death does NOT automatically mean:

YOU’RE GETTING FIRED TOMORROW.

Career interpretations can involve professional transition and evolution.

Maybe you’ve outgrown a role.

Maybe your career goals are changing.

Maybe an old way of working isn’t effective anymore.

Maybe you’re learning something new.

Maybe you’re realizing you want something completely different.

Upright Death can connect with:

Career transitions • Changing priorities • Professional transformation • Releasing outdated methods • Moving toward something new

Reversed, we might explore:

Fear of career change • Feeling stuck • Resistance to adapting • Staying somewhere simply because it’s familiar

Career Reflection

If fear weren’t part of the equation, what would I want my professional life to look like next?

That’s a BIG question.

Death Tarot Card & Money

Financially, I wouldn’t interpret this card as:

YOUR MONEY IS ABOUT TO DISAPPEAR.

Nope.

Instead, I’d use it to examine financial habits and priorities.

Maybe you’re changing the way you spend.

Maybe you’re paying something off.

Maybe you’re becoming more intentional.

Maybe a financial goal that once mattered to you doesn’t anymore.

Maybe you’re realizing a habit needs to end if you want something different.

The card can encourage us to think about financial transformation, rather than predict a specific financial event.

Money Reflection

What financial habit would I need to change to better support the future I want?

The Death Card Reminds Me of Autumn

I think this is why I LOVE that we’re studying this card in October.

Look outside.

Nature is basically teaching the Death card everywhere.

Leaves change color.

They fall.

Flowers fade.

Days become shorter.

The entire landscape transforms.

And yet…

Nobody believes autumn means nature has permanently stopped.

We know the cycle continues.

That’s exactly how I want to remember this card.

Death = Autumn.

Something falls away.

Something changes.

There’s a period of stillness.

And eventually?

Something else grows.

That makes this card SO much easier for me to understand.

Not Everything That Ends Was a Failure

THIS might be my favorite lesson from today’s card.

Because I think we sometimes look at endings and automatically label them failures.

A relationship ended?

Failure.

You changed careers?

Failure.

You stopped pursuing a goal?

Failure.

You changed your mind?

Failure.

But…

why?

Maybe that relationship taught you something important.

Maybe that career helped you discover what you actually want.

Maybe the goal belonged to an older version of you.

Maybe you learned new information and changed your mind.

Something can matter deeply AND still have an ending.

Those things aren’t opposites.

You can appreciate what something gave you without needing to carry it forever.

And THAT feels like Death card energy.

You Are Allowed to Outgrow Yourself

Think about yourself ten years ago.

Would that version of you make every decision you’re making today?

Hopefully not.

We’ve lived more.

We’ve learned more.

We’ve experienced things.

We’ve changed.

And sometimes the hardest person to let go of isn’t someone else.

It’s who we thought we were supposed to be.

Maybe you imagined your life looking one way.

Maybe you thought you’d have certain things figured out by now.

Maybe you once wanted something you don’t want anymore.

Maybe you’ve spent years telling yourself:

“But I’ve already put so much time into this.”

The Death card can remind us that continuing something simply because we’ve already invested time doesn’t automatically make it right for our future.

You’re allowed to change.

You’re allowed to grow.

You’re allowed to say:

That version of me needed this. This version doesn’t.

Today’s LexTalk Tarot Journal Prompt

Grab your tarot journal because today’s question is a GOOD one.

What am I ready to release so something new has room to grow?

Then explore:

What am I holding onto simply because it’s familiar?

What part of my life feels complete—even if I’m nervous to admit it?

Is there an old belief about myself that no longer feels true?

And finally:

If I weren’t afraid of change, what would I do differently?

You don’t have to DO anything dramatic after answering.

We’re not quitting jobs, ending relationships, and moving across the country because we pulled one tarot card.

We’re reflecting.

That’s what I love about using tarot this way.

The Tarot Deck I’m Learning With

One thing this series is teaching me is that actually looking at the traditional artwork makes tarot SO much easier to remember.

Death is the perfect example.

Instead of memorizing a giant definition, I can remember:

Skeleton = inevitable change

Black armor = endings and the unknown

White horse = renewal

White rose = beauty and transformation

Sun = hope beyond the ending

River = transition

Suddenly, the card becomes a story instead of a vocabulary test.

I’m using a physical Rider-Waite-Smith style tarot deck throughout this series so I can study each card’s traditional imagery while I’m learning.

If you’d like to learn alongside me using the same style of deck, you can [check out the tarot deck I’m using here — paid link].

You absolutely don’t need my exact deck to follow along—I’m simply sharing the one I’m personally using throughout this journey.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Learning Tarot Through Journaling

I’ve also been writing down the symbols and little memory tricks that make each card easier for me to remember.

And today’s might be my easiest yet:

Death = Autumn.

I genuinely think I’ll remember that forever.

If you’re learning tarot alongside me, any notebook you already own will work perfectly.

But if you’d like a dedicated place to keep your tarot meanings, symbolism notes, and reflection questions together, you can [check out the tarot journal I found here — paid link].

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Fourteen Cards Into LexTalk Tarot!

And just like that…

We’ve added another card to our tarot vocabulary!

We’re officially 14 cards into our 78-card journey.

So far, we’ve learned:

The High Priestess — Trust yourself.

Ace of Pentacles — Plant the seed.

Page of Cups — Stay curious.

The Fool — Begin.

Eight of Pentacles — Practice.

The Magician — Use what you have.

Strength — Choose how you use your power.

Four of Swords — Rest when you need to.

Queen of Wands — Own who you are.

Six of Cups — Remember where you’ve been.

Two of Pentacles — Decide what deserves your energy.

The Star — Believe light still exists.

Queen of Swords — Be kind, but be clear.

Death — Let endings create space for transformation.

FOURTEEN!

And honestly?

This is exactly why I wanted to learn tarot this way.

I’m not sitting down trying to memorize 78 cards.

I’m getting to know them.

One by one.

Learning Death One Symbol at a Time

As always, you absolutely do NOT need to remember everything in this post.

If you remember one thing about today’s card, make it:

Death = Transformation Through Endings

And if that’s still too much?

Remember:

Death = Autumn.

That’s it.

Picture the leaves falling.

They’re beautiful.

They’re part of the season.

They served their purpose.

And then they’re released.

The tree doesn’t chase them down the street yelling:

“WAIT! WE’VE BEEN TOGETHER ALL YEAR!”

It lets them go.

Another season comes.

And eventually, something new grows.

Maybe that’s the real lesson behind this scary-looking card.

We spend so much time fearing endings that sometimes we forget they are part of beginnings too.

We don’t have to celebrate every ending.

Some hurt.

Some are confusing.

Some take time to accept.

Some aren’t what we wanted at all.

But even then…

life keeps moving.

And so do we.

Maybe a little differently.

Maybe a little wiser.

Maybe carrying fewer things than we did before.

And sometimes?

That’s exactly how transformation begins.

So, today’s little LexTalk assignment is simple:

Think of ONE thing you’ve outgrown.

You don’t have to get rid of it today.

You don’t have to make a major decision.

Just acknowledge it.

Maybe it’s a habit.

An expectation.

An insecurity.

A belief.

A routine.

An old version of yourself.

And ask:

What could grow in its place if I finally gave myself permission to let it go?

Because maybe Death isn’t tarot’s scariest card after all.

Maybe it’s simply the card brave enough to remind us:

Nothing has to stay the same forever.

And sometimes…

that’s very good news.

One card. One lesson. One little bit of magic at a time.

— Lex

Tarot interpretations are subjective and are shared here for personal reflection, education, and entertainment. Tarot should not replace professional medical, legal, mental health, or financial advice.