I was always fascinated by how symbols and concepts change their meaning over time. Many tarot cards suffer from this. When people see "Death" they usually think about tragedy, death, sad end... but that interpretation is closer to the Tower!
So let's talk about Death, the tarot card.
13 : Death
Death as a concept has been a part of human experience for millennia, longer than there ever existed anything that could be called human. Attitude towards death changed with times. Some saw it as an ultimate failure, some as crossing over to the spiritual world, some as a final judgement and many didn't want to think about death at all. The moment our life ends is an ultimate mystery, nobody returns from the dead to tell the tale. Nobody mortal at least.
But at the time tarot was created Death was associated with change. Every death was a change. Knowledge is lost, leadership replaced, every death creates a vacuum in community that sooner or later must be filled. The card symbolises transformation, transition, change. In upright position it means accepting the change, letting go of the past.
In reverse it symbolises what happens when we cling to the status quo. Stagnancy, decay, resistance to change. Standing boulder is slowly covered in plants, until the moment their roots will break it.
If Death is a question, it's "What is changing?"
If Death is a person, it's someone who accepts change.
If Death is an object, it's something that changes, phases.
If Death is a situation, it's change coming whether you like it or not.
If Death is a trait, it's acceptance of change.
If Death is an advice, it's "let go of the past and accept the change"
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