DEALING WITH DEATH by Errol McLendon, CTM, CTI

Depending on the deck you use for your readings, the thirteenth card of the Major Arcana offers even the uninvolved client a moment of pause as it is turned. Even though physical death is only one of the many possible definitions for this card, in a client's mind, it is the definition they first expect. This reaction is deeply rooted in the depiction of Tarot in movies and television. I have never watched a movie in which The Death card was turned at the beginning that the ultimate outcome did not involved a physical death. I have never watched a television show in which a gypsy turns The Death card and proceeds to say, "I see a period of transition and reawakening."

In my early readings, I would immediately stop when The Death card appeared and go into a short explanation about the possible meaning of the card and the influence of free will over the topics touched on in the reading. I sometimes felt that this was a case of protesting too much, so I moved the free will speech to the beginning of the reading and acknowledge The Death card with, "Don't panic, that is really a good card in this reading," or simply, "There are some interesting changes entering your life."

The main reason for the immediate, visceral response our clients may have to card thirteen, is the client's belief that death signifies a finality rather than a transformational process. An hour reading should not be taken up with a lesson in alternative philosophies on immortality, but using the concept of a picture being worth a thousand words can help. I choose a Death card from another deck that captures the more universal concept of the card and keep it close at had during the reading. I personally use the Celtic Dragon, which depicts an ancient dragon shedding his skin, or the Rhorig, which shows a beautiful and sensual lady surrounded by fall leaves emerging from a ethereal skull. Having this card handy during a reading is sort of like getting a second opinion from a doctor when you don't like the first diagnosis. As the darker Death card turns up in a reading, I can offer another illustrators interpretation of the card. This allows me graphically to get the client to focus on the broader possibilities of the card.

But what do we do as readers when the message we are receiving indicates a physical death? In a three card spread, for example, The Death card followed by The Tower and 10 of Swords, may very well give a strong sensation of a physical ending. The important thing to remember is that the client is watching both you and the cards. Your reaction is going to speak much louder than your words. In fact, if your reaction is too evident, the client will never hear or believe your words. Stay calm. Maintain a poker face. Interpret The Death card honestly and diplomatically, but focus on the free will aspect and take into account all possibilities. Dialogue with the client to find out if they are aware of any major transitions in any aspect of their life which may be happening. Never focus on physical death as the only outcome. Keep all options open and focus on the individual's power to control their life. After all these explorations of possibilities, if you are still convinced that a physical death is imminent, prepare your client for a major transition in their life, but never make a definite statement over what that transition may be.

There are decks which have renamed The Death card to soften the impact. I believe that the creators of the earliest decks chose their words for the Major Arcana based on which individual words best captured the depth of meaning in the cards. When selecting a deck, I only choose decks that have not renamed The Death card. I feel that one of my challenges as a reader is to deal with any negative card which surfaces, unlike my wife, who in the early days of our studies of Tarot, wanted to do readings with no Sword suite because the cards were so negative.

Dealing with death and transformation is something we must confront many times in our physical life, so we should not be surprised to see The Death card show up regularly. If we as readers avoid revealing the messages the cards give us, we are not fully preparing our clients for important decisions they have to make. Dealing with Death honestly, tactfully and intelligently can give your client the power to leave behind old burdens and move toward a better life.