I have finally settled in and feel back in balance with my regular schedule after an adventurous vacation in Mexico. One of the highlights of my holiday in Mexico was a visit to the Mayan archaeological site of Chichen Itza. The astounding ruins reminded me of a tarot reading I did where both the Death Card and the Sun Card sat harmoniously together. The two cards may feel like opposites, but like Chichen Itza, they hold compatible energies that illuminate transformation, rebirth, and a sacred reverence for the passage of time - lessons that deeply resonate with the approaching Winter Solstice.
The Platform of the Skulls reminded me of the Death Card. It is believed this platform was a place that displayed the decapitated heads of sacrificed victims and captives from war. Here there are carvings of skulls in the walls, but also of warriors, sacrifice, and blossoming fruit trees. The Tempolo de Kukulacan, or El Castillo, is the centerpiece of Chichen Itza and dedicated to the feathered serpent god Kukulacan. El Castillo feels like a living site to me, and seeing that the structure meticulously chronicles their calendar through reminds me of the Sun Card. At the base of El Castillo's stairs are serpent sculptures, and at each spring and autumn equinox the sun casts shadows along these stairs, creating the illusion of a serpent slithering down the pyramid. And, what we are looking at is layer three: there are two structures underneath it, the first being a complete mystery to archaeologists. Even more intriguing are the archeo-acoustics of El Castillo: if you clap at its base an eerie high pitched chirp reverberates through the area. This chirping is said to be in honor of the Resplendent Quetzal, a bird revered by the Mayans.
In the simplest sense the Death card indicates transition, transformation, and the endings of cycles. The Sun indicates hope, abundance, good health, good fortune, and rebirth. For me, the Death and Sun cards show the passage of time and the wondrous cyclical nature of existence, both on a very personal level and on a grander scale. Great civilizations rise and fall, and as they do we breathe in deeply and expressively sing the songs of their history and mythology. While roaming Chichen Itza I was reminded of the the Mayan calendar's conclusion of a "Grand Cycle" in 2012, and how the death of one cycle also heralds the birth of a new one. Change can be difficult for some to handle, and it can be easy to react instinctively to change with resistance or fear. But change can lead to opportunities for personal growth, gained wisdom, and new perspectives. Passage and transition is always happening, and even when we feel blocked or stuck, time is still moving forwards. Nothing is stationary, progress can be refreshing and beneficial. If you find the Death and Sun Cards appearing in your tarot readings, consider what in your life is coming to a close and how this might actually be and opportunity for personal growth. Endings of jobs, relationships, and chapters are natural. George Harrison sings “All Things Must Pass” and also “Here Comes the Sun.” So, perhaps consider that when an old cycles concludes a new one awaits you with brighter, more powerful, and more fulfilling opportunities. Acknowledge the stress and challenges of evolution, but celebrate the rewards of it as well.
Tarot Reflections: The Death Card
The Death Card has been appearing in many readings I have given over the past week, and rightly so. We are all feeling a shifting, transformative, and Otherworldly energy. It is apparent in the air, in the moods we are feeling, and in the nature of the world right now. I believe the reason we are feeling it so strongly and deeply right now is threefold: we are experiencing the New Moon in Scorpio, Samhain is approaching, and the Veil that separates our world from the Otherworld is thin. Today I would like to talk about the transformative energy of the New Moon in Scorpio and the Death Card. I will circle back later in the week to discuss Samhain and the Veil in greater detail.
The New Moon in Scorpio is an intense time where you may be working through some challenging emotions. Perhaps those bad habits, difficult relationships, or burdensome emotions that you left on the backburner all summer are now at the forefront of your attention. You may feel annoyed, angry, or depressed. Now is the time to examine those feelings and remove those difficult patterns and habits from your life. If you are having negative feelings try and identify what triggers them. You cannot turn away from whatever is causing suffering in your life now: these things need to be examined, understood, honored, and released. These lessons are similar in the Death Card, which happens to be ruled by Scorpio.
In the Smith-Waite deck, the Death Card depicts a skeleton in a black suit of armor. He rides a pale horse, a reference to Death in the Book of Revelations. Various figures respond to him in fear or discomfort, with the exception of a child who innocently offers him flowers. Tarot reader and author Madame Pamita observes that Death doesn’t carry a scythe, but instead carries a flag with a rose on it. This suggests that the Death card does not deal out scary or violent changes. He does however, impact everyone around him, showing that change is an inevitable and indiscriminate reality. As George Harrison sings: “All things must pass.”
In the background of the card the sun is rising through two pillars, show the dawn of opportunity. Perhaps the pillars represent a portal point, or a gate to the Otherworld, like the space where the sun peaks through sacred monoliths to mark the passage of seasons. The Death Card appears when we lean into change. Change is certain, loss is painful, and the removal of things that have become familiar to us can be brutal – especially if you are anything like me and stubborn to change. But, there is one thing you can keep in mind while experiencing transition: you can control of your reaction to change. So, I urge you to pass through those pillars, move towards that monolithic portal, and accept that the hard work must be done. You will ultimately be gifted wisdom through the evolution of mind, spirit, and magic.
Every time I write about a tarot card, I like to look at its imagery and discover something in it that I may have not noticed before. This time I have noticed the small sailboat on the river in behind Death. Some have said this is the river Styx from Greek mythology, the river that travels to the Underworld of Hades. Rivers have been places of power in many ancient cultures and myths. The sailboat in the Death conjures images of water flowing towards endings, inspiring me to contemplate Pharaohs’ final voyages along the Nile River towards the Valley of the Kings, Gilgamesh and Enkidu journeying along rivers to the Netherworld, hidden rivers in Central American caverns that Mayans revered as paths to the Underworld, and even King Arthur’s final mortal voyage across water to Avalon.
Imagine being a passenger on this sailboat: perhaps you once stood on that field facing Death (change), accepted that change was inevitable and unavoidable. In accepting change you are released of suffering, blockages, and stagnancy. You watch the banks of the shores passing you by, reflecting on the power of the river and how it not only created fertile land, but would be the passage to another world. The river marks the passage of time, and we all have got to sail it. How much easier would this journey be if you were not resistant to change?
If you are looking to deepen your understanding of the Death Card, or feel you need clarification on what the changes that you are going through personally, try to pull three cards: Card one indicates what is ready to end in your life or something that would be best removed from your life. Card two indicates how you can allow yourself to let go of that thing from Card One. Card three reveals the opportunities or beginnings that will appear as a result of the removal or ending.
I recommend wearing a blend of vanilla and cedarwood oils to help ground you, protect you, and surround you with love while moving through these transitions. A piece of tiger’s eye can give you courage, black obsidian or tourmaline can help protect you, or Mookie jasper can help you with accepting change. Today I will be harvesting the final herbs of my garden to create smoke wands, basil rinses, and herbal bundles – in doing this I help to facilitate transitions in my garden space. I also feel naturally inclined today to clean and organize the house, decorate it with pumpkins and apples, and take stock of what I’d like to fill in the cabinets for the winter. It is a lovely afternoon where I am to prepare the home for coziness, comfort, healing and security. Wherever you are I hope that this week you are able to do the same.
Finally, I would love to hear from you and have a few questions to ponder with the Death card:
What changes are happening in your life right now?
How does transition feel to you?
Do you feel a greater shift happening in our world?
How does the Veil feel to you, and how do you sense it is thinning?