13 | Death
Model, Melaney Pettini
"From my rotting body, flowers shall grow and I am in them and that is eternity"
-Edvard Munch
Death is card number 13 in the Tarot’s Major Arcana. Number 13 in numerology is considered a karmic number, associated with transformation, new beginnings, and change. It’s also a number that’s associated with the sacred divine feminine, symbolized by 13 full moon cycles and 13 menstrual cycles experienced in a year. The number’s connection to the divine feminine plays a role in its bad reputation as an unlucky number, along with superstitious biblical stories, such as 13 guests at the Last Supper. But in reality, it’s nothing to dread nor worthy of any of its negative associations, unless of course, you fear the divine feminine 😉. The number 13 can also be broken down further: 1 + 3 = 4. When reduced to the number 4, it embodies the frequencies of stability, order, foundation, hard work, and practicality, with more on the number 4 discussed in The Emperor’s card.
Death comes up to notify the end of a chapter in life, one that can be met either with acceptance or resistance to the unknown it brings with it. Symbolizing the end of a significant phase of life that’s meant to be let go of and moved on from, the closing of one door to open a new one. Asking you to put the past behind you and embrace new opportunities and possibilities to come. While a transition into the unknown can feel scary and be difficult to wiggle into, transformation awaits on the other side. Don't resist this ending and hold on too tightly; otherwise, the inevitable will be unnecessarily uncomfortable to endure. Instead, find your flow and be honest with yourself about what you've outgrown and need to move on from. Seeing this call from death like a snake shedding its skin, ready for rebirth.
General Meaning - Endings, change, transformation, acceptance, release, & letting go
When out of Alignment - Resistance, fear of change, decay, holding on, & stagnation
Navigating Death’s archetypal energy-
The Tarot’s Death card is easily one of the most feared in the deck, but it’s also the most misunderstood. Rarely does it come up to represent the physical death of a loved one or the death of the person receiving the reading. To help alleviate the fear that arises with this card, try viewing it first as an ending to a chapter in life that’s ready to be put to rest, such as the end of a job, a relationship, or a significant move. Death is the only true certainty we can count on to happen, and while that feels morbid, it also provides contrast and gives meaning and significance to life. Nothing is meant to last forever or remain the same; nor would we want it to. There is much peace to be felt in endings, reflecting on our experiences and what we can take away from it all - the good and the bad. While some endings can feel bittersweet, you’ll find most are beautiful and give the perspective of how everything ties together and works out, much like completing a jigsaw puzzle and seeing the completed picture. After all, birth and death are two sides of the same coin and are in a constant state of harmony.
In this card, Death is depicted as an angel of death, dressed in all black, and holding a skull as she stands poised between two gravestones. Behind her, we see the leaves are beginning to change color, indicating that it’s the autumn season, with nature preparing for its own time of death and letting go. The black attire worn by death symbolizes mourning and the mystery. Even with its spooky elements, there is a sense of peace in this image with death patiently waiting to help with the transition, not forcing the process of letting go, but rather recognizing it’s a process best done by free will.
Next up, learning about transmutation of energy and spiritual alchemy with Temperance. Stay tuned for the next card release in The Green Mountain Major Arcana’s journey next Friday, 7/25!
With love,
Megan Gonzalez
