Death is everywhere, especially at this time of year. How else do you explain why Charles Dickens’ “Christmas Carol” has ghosts in it? It really isn’t surprising. People told ghost stories around the fire at this time of year, probably, as far back as they did at Halloween. “How can this be?”, you might ask. “This time of year is a happy time and celebrates life.” That’s mostly true. This time of year celebrates Rebirth, which is exactly what the Tarot card, and Death in general, and the Winter Solstice are all about.
It’s true that when we think of Death, we think of the ends of things. However, the meaning of the Death card is nothing more than an omen of transition or change, (which many people fear and hate anyway). It symbolizes the end of one cycle and the beginning of the next, you know, like a New Year’s Eve party…. This is why all 3 of these holidays seem to take place on top of each other: Halloween, Christmas/Winter Solstice, and New Year’s Eve/Day. Halloween is merely one half of the coin, with Bealtaine as the other half, but all of these holidays are celebrations of Rebirth.
The Dragon Death Card, illustrated by Peter Pracowmik, depicts a skeletal dragon amidst some dark and mysterious storm, which may symbolize a gateway of some sort into the “Great Beyond”. He holds a scythe, the ever-present tool used to reap plants at full harvest. Surrounding his gateway is some ancient stones, no doubt, hinting that Death is as ancient as ancient can be. In addition, he is surrounded by decayed trees and blooming flowers. Beside him is an hourglass, symbolizing the passing of time, and an egg, completing the cycle of Life, Death, and Rebirth.
Tarot cards are rife with deeper meaning. Just because you draw the Death card, doesn’t mean you’re going to “pass on”. The basic meaning for the card is one of growth: the concept of moving on. Getting the Death card during a reading simply means that you will close a chapter of your life, e.g., finally getting over a particular break-up. Conversely, a Death card inverted means that you are stuck in some part of your life and are unable to progress to the next chapter. This could be considered an endless period of darkness, or winter.
There is a reason why things don’t last forever, despite millions of children wishing Xmas could stay longer. Things change because they must. The lack of change creates a state of stagnation, like Sisyphus eternally pushing the boulder up the hill. It is, literally, a punishment, Hell, and that is scary in, and of, itself. Oh, did I mention that the Death Card has the number 13 on it? Spook on….
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