People often say to me, "I'm too scared to have a Tarot reading. What if I get the Death card?" What indeed?

Despite the card's reputation, it is quite rare for it to indicate actual physical death. It generally indicates a major life transition, a rite of passage, or a significant life style change. When someone marries, it is the death of their life as a single and the beginning of life as a couple - they will get the Death card in their reading. Similarly, when the first child is born, it is the death of life as a couple and the beginning of life as a family.

The Death card will appear around significant events such as the end of education and the beginning of work, the last child in a family leaving home, a move to another city, a career change or retirement. Can it represent physical death? Of course it can. But ethical readers don't do death predictions unless there is a very good reason for doing so. An example would be where someone is in a very abusive relationship and there is a real risk of that person being killed by their partner. In that sort of situation, I would definitely draw the Death card to the client's attention! Similarly, if they were ignoring a potentially life threatening health issue I would point it out.

The Death card is a powerful card indicating major forces at work, but it is not a good reason to avoid having a Tarot reading. To make friends with the card is to make friend with the forces of change.