Although Halloween and Samhain are behind us, we are still in the season of remembrance. November 1st was All Saints’ Day and November 2nd was All Souls’ Day. We are also well into Scorpio season on the astrological wheel, which is appropriate given the sign’s association with the occult, death, and taboos.
Death is the tarot card associated with Scorpios, for good reason, but there is a lot to unpack with the Death card. Scorpio is a unique zodiac sign. There are three symbols that represent the transformation of a Scorpio, rather than the standard one symbol for all other signs. The scorpion, the first stage of transformation, represents Scorpio’s baser emotions. The eagle is the second stage and is considered a symbol of courage and power. The phoenix represents the final stage of transformation for Scorpio, emblematic of the capacity for empathetic observation without judgment. The phoenix — strongly associated with rebirth, resurrection, and transformation — is a symbol that represents Scorpio breaking the chains of attachment, having learned the lesson of letting go.
The evolution of a Scorpio also parallels the changes we see in the Death tarot card. Yes, the Death card can represent a person’s death, but most tarot readers will say that this does not happen frequently. Typically, the Death card represents change or transformation. In order for us to move on, we have to let go of the past. If we want a new job, we have to be willing to leave the old job. We cannot accept new things in our lives if we do not clear out the old. That version of ourselves has to die so we can grow into the person we want to be.
The word death conjures many images and feelings for people. One thing people associate with death is grief. When a loved one dies, we are hurt by their passing. We mourn their potential or all the memories we will never make with them. We miss them. This is natural, and although we mostly fear grief, we need to accept when it comes. Grief can teach us many things. It prepares us for coming to terms with our own mortality, it brings communities and families together, and it can help us to mature and grow. It also teaches us empathy and understanding.
The Death card holds room for grief. In tarot, there are multiple cards that represent change and moving on. However, Death is one of the few that lets us know that although the change is good and necessary, it can be painful. The Death card gives us the space to grieve for those things that are dying in our lives. Sure, you want that new job and its better benefits, but that doesn’t mean you won’t miss aspects of your old job. Yes, we want to grow and learn, but that means we have to let go of bad habits and old programming — which is a decision you have to make every day. You may find yourself grieving for who or what you used to be, or even being upset with yourself because navigating growth can be difficult. The Death card knows this and holds space for us to process our feelings through our transformations.
As we struggle to model the evolution of Scorpio, from the jealous and angry scorpion, to the mature and wise eagle, to the final stages of the reborn phoenix, the Death card is there for us. The change represented by Death is deeply transformational — you will not be the same after your Death experience. That is the whole point. Death is the end of something, yes, but it is also the birth of something new. You cannot separate the end from the beginning — they are happening simultaneously.
As we navigate through November into the next round of holidays, we often experience grief and anxiety. When that happens, think of the Death card. Change is coming, and it may be difficult, but you are the phoenix who will rise above.
Emily Guenther is a co-owner of The Broom Closet metaphysical shop. She is a Memphis native, professional tarot reader, ordained Pagan clergy, and dog mom.
