I’ve always wondered why so many Tarot reference books and deck instruction booklets won’t ever mention the possibility of the #13 card representing Death itself, the attribute of the card. In many modern versions of Tarot the singular interpretation of the Death card is often called Transformation or Irrevocable Change and is tied to the inevitable changes we all go thru as we journey through life.
What many of the modern interpretations of this card seem to overlook (in an effort to be all out positive?) is that the Death card can, and often will, appear in a querent’s reading shortly before a death occurs. Almost always when I’ve seen this, it appears in the position of the Environment, Near Future, or Possible Outcome. I experienced this myself recently when the Death card appeared in every reading I did for two days, regardless of what the reading was “about.” A day later I learned that an old friend I hadn’t seen in many years had died, unexpectedly, a couple of days before.
I too, have fallen into the habit of telling a querent Death shows up in a reading that the card often portends great transformation, or the irrevocable end of an era in their life. But I feel now, more than ever, I must also warn them to possibly prepare to hear news that someone has died. And not to fear it. After all, Death will come for us all one day. There is no escaping it.