the following is from a post i placed on my site a year ago:

I often utilize the Tarot during Divination readings for myself and others. They are a regular part of my meditative and spiritual practice. One card that inspires reactions in people is the "Death" card. Number 13 of the Major Arcana has inspired Hollywood and misunderstandings in many people, but for me, it is a card I welcome. I truly believe that the only constant in life is change, and if the cycles of the universe teach us anything, is that for every life there is death and then rebirth. It is natural and beautiful. The death card often depicts a skeleton or the grim reaper in some manner, depending on the deck. The deck I use for Divination purposes features the image of a Shaman surrounded by skulls and fire, his center is open and a white dove is flying out. For me this is what the death card represents. Like the higher vibration of Scorpio, to see this card in a reading can symbolize freedom, deep change, release, and allowing something to end so that a new, grander version can emerge. Transformation. Regeneration. These are all the beauty symbolized in this card.

During readings for myself over the last few days, the death card has literally flown out of the deck. Cards that fly out of deck as I'm shuffling or repeatedly show up again and again are cards that are asking for attention...well, to have the same card jump out of a deck 3 times is demanding to be heard and contemplated! Today I began to understand why this was happening. The Universe conspired all day, in many ways, to show me what has ended in my life and the lessons completed, of which I can be grateful for. And as each experience presented itself, I saw the death card, standing in all the love and renewal that is promised with it.

The death card, like any card, is nothing to fear. Never fear the cards! They are here to help us, they are a mirror to our energy, and they are, for me, a symbol of the love and wisdom that is the thread of all existence of which I and we all are a part. Anything that brings me closer to my spirit is a gift, and the death card is no exception.

I wanted to share this post today because i think that this is such a spiritual card and a constant message for me. whenever something, or some attitude, has outgrown its usefulness i find myself thinking of this card and its magic.

the image on the deck i use features a shaman with skeletons all around his feet. a giant mouth is on his stomach, and from within the mouth a white dove is flying out...that's a powerful image! and so appropriate. sometimes letting people, places, and things go allows for the truth and purity of our most authentic self to spring forth. sometimes what seems like a lose can bring with is a lot of pain. particularly the pain of an ending. but from that ending springs forth new life that really allows us to soar as the divine beings we were created to be, not just who we have been conditioned to be. what is no longer needed, falls away, like roting skulls. what is left is truly a dance with the goddesses and gods. what is left is the freedom to be of the spirit.

transformation reminds me of scorpio energy. we all have the energy of all the planets and all the signs as a part of us, though some may clearly be more dominant at certain phases of our lives. like a phoenix rising from the ashes, as is one of scorpio's symbols, so too we each have the capability to choose rebirth in every moment.

this is what the death card means to me, and so much more. the most spiritual of messages.