Death
Element: Water
The Death card continues the theme of feminine power, with the figure modeled after Joan of Arc. She was a national heroine of France and a canonized saint of the Catholic Church, playing a key role in the Hundred Years' War between France and England.
Originally a peasant girl, Joan claimed to receive divine visions at the age of 13, urging her to reclaim French lands occupied by England. After many twists of fate, she was granted military command by the Dauphin Charles. Within a few months, she helped reclaim vast territories in northern France and led Charles to Reims, where he was crowned King Charles VII. Tragically, she was later captured during battle, and under English-controlled church authority, she was sentenced to death for heresy and witchcraft—burned at the stake at the age of 19. Years later, after England was driven out of France, the Roman Church retried her case, absolved her, and Pope Benedict XV canonized her as a saint.
When we draw card XIII, we may instinctively fear the arrival of Death and fall into despair. However, tarot cards are inherently polar in nature—despair also signals hope. The end of something, whether a situation or relationship, also means a new beginning, a rebirth.
UPRIGHT
Keywords: Endings, letting go, major transformation, rebirth
Relationships:
1. A relationship comes to an end
2. Emotional distance grows, feelings are lost
3. A new hope on the horizon
1. A relationship comes to an end
2. Emotional distance grows, feelings are lost
3. A new hope on the horizon
Career & Study:
1. Decline and stagnation
2. Projects end or are cut off
3. Job adjustment or unemployment
1. Decline and stagnation
2. Projects end or are cut off
3. Job adjustment or unemployment
Finance:
1. Financial loss
2. Transactions come to a halt
1. Financial loss
2. Transactions come to a halt
Mental & Spiritual Health:
1. Accepting life’s transitions 2. Courage to release the past
1. Accepting life’s transitions 2. Courage to release the past
REVERSED
Keywords: Change of plans, reinvention, rising from hardship, comeback
Relationships:
1. Unable to move on from past love
2. Lingering emotional ties
3. Rekindled romance
1. Unable to move on from past love
2. Lingering emotional ties
3. Rekindled romance
Career & Study:
1. Gradual improvement, turning point
2. Rigid adherence to old patterns
3. A new beginning emerges
1. Gradual improvement, turning point
2. Rigid adherence to old patterns
3. A new beginning emerges
Finance:
1. Holding on to hope
2. Recovering lost assets
1. Holding on to hope
2. Recovering lost assets
Mental & Spiritual Health:
1. Struggling to release the past 2. Preparing for a fresh start
1. Struggling to release the past 2. Preparing for a fresh start