Death
The Child of the Great Transformers; the Lord of the Gate of Death
Transformation by decay: the form dissolves so the life in it can move on.
| Trump | XIII of the 22 (Atu) |
|---|---|
| Letter | נ Nun, “fish”, value 50, Simple letter |
| Path | Path 24, Tiphareth to Netzach |
| Astrology | ♏︎ Scorpio, fixed Water, Oct 23 – Nov 22 |
| Old title | The Child of the Great Transformers; the Lord of the Gate of Death |
| Rider-Waite | Death |
| Colour | Green blue (King scale) |
In a reading
Transformation, the end of a phase, decay that is the beginning of growth; not literal death as a rule. Badly placed: stagnation, clinging to the corpse of what is over.
Working with the card
| Do | End it cleanly; clear the ground. |
|---|---|
| Bring | Nerve, acceptance, a sharp scythe. |
| Beware | Clinging to the corpse; destruction with nothing behind it. |
| Ask | What is already over that I haven't buried? |
Correspondences
On the card
A black skeleton crowned with the Osiris headdress dances with a scythe, and from its sweep rise bubbles in which new forms are being made. Around it are the three forms of Scorpio, the scorpion, the serpent and the eagle; a fish and a lily accompany the change.
Kabbalah
Nun, the fish, on path 24 from Tiphareth to Netzach: the fish that lives in the waters of change, and the letter of the seed (Nun means both). Beauty descends into the emotions and is dissolved so that it can be reborn.
Astrology
Scorpio, fixed Water, ruled by Mars: putrefaction and regeneration, the three stages of the sign shown in its three creatures. The decans of Scorpio are the Five, Six and Seven of Cups.
Number
Thirteen, the number of unity beyond the twelve (and the value of the Hebrew words for love and for unity), and Nun's value 50, the gates of Binah. Death is unity restored by dissolution.
Depth psychology
Ego-death, the nigredo of the alchemists, the dissolution that individuation demands before the Self can appear. Death is the great agent of shadow-integration: what is refused decays, what is accepted transforms.
Thoth and Rider-Waite
Waite's armoured Death rides a pale horse past a king and a pope; Crowley's skeleton dances, and the emphasis moves entirely to the bubbling new life it generates.
The sign in depth
| Dates | Oct 23 – Nov 22 |
|---|---|
| Type | Fixed Water |
| Ruler | Mars |
| Exalts | No planet |
| Weakens | Venus (detriment), Moon (fall) |
| Motto | “I desire” |
| Body | Genitals |
| Opposite | Taurus, The Hierophant |
| Gifts | Depth, loyalty, intensity, psychological insight, resilience, emotional power |
| Shadow | Jealousy, obsession, vengefulness, control, secrecy, destructiveness |
More in the astrology chapters: Scorpio.
Related cards
Pairs with
The decans of Scorpio
- ♂︎Five of Cups DisappointmentMars, Oct 23–Nov 1
- ☉︎Six of Cups PleasureThe Sun, Nov 2–12
- ♀︎Seven of Cups DebauchVenus, Nov 13–22
Courts ruling Scorpio
Other paths touching Tiphareth
- גII The Priestesspath 13
- זVI The Loverspath 17
- לVIII Adjustmentpath 22
- יIX The Hermitpath 20
- סXIV Artpath 25
- עXV The Devilpath 26
- הXVII The Starpath 15
Other paths touching Netzach
Correspondences follow the Golden Dawn system as used in Crowley's Book of Thoth and Liber 777. Paintings by Lady Frieda Harris, © Ordo Templi Orientis. Where sources differ.