a million ways to die
according to rachel pollack
No one is ever happy to see Death appear in a reading. Much like the Tower, there’s always a sense of helplessness that comes with it. Death comes for us all, rich and poor alike. Divine intervention will always find its way, regardless of our will. I’m always fascinated by these cards, because they remind us of the chaotic nature of life- that which we have no control of. And they highlight how our responses to the uncertainty of life is perhaps more significant that our experiences themselves.
Let’s take another look at the Death card. Our eye naturally follows the Grim Reaper, armored up, impervious to our desire to hold onto what we have. It appears as if he even has a smirk on his face- amused at our futile attempt to negotiate a different ending. But it is the characters on the ground, humbled by Death, that are the most fascinating thing in this card. In 78 Degrees, Rachel Pollack dissected these individuals and highlights the difference in their responses to change.
“The cards are like little doors. You open them, and you get to see what’s on the other side.” - Rachel Pollack
Four approaches to surrender:
The priest is seen kneeling before Death and faces him bravely and directly. He does not hide nor does he try to broker an arrangement with The End. It is his core beliefs and strength of faith that supports him in accepting the change that he cannot avoid. The king, in contrast, is seen slain and struck down. The rigidity of his ego, nor the force of his will was strong enough to prevent Deaths arrival, and the weight of change has crushed this inflexible man.
The maiden on the ground turns her gaze away from Death. Her ego is not so hardened that she dare to challenge it, but she cannot face it straight-on, either. She submits before Death, recognizing it as the stronger force, but she cannot fully accept her fate. She cooperates, but does so under protest. Interestingly, it is only the child in this card that greets Death cheerfully. This is representative of the innate innocence of the child, who has yet to grow into an ego that can quantify anything as good or bad. Everything is new to this little one. Everything holds possibility. And the flowers in his hand indicate the sweetness of his offering to Death - as though he greets him as a new friend.
While Death highlights themes of ending, transformation and change - it really emphasizes the sanctity of life. We seem to always complain about life, until we want some more of it. But this card teaches us that if we want something new, we must forgo something old. And it is the characters in this card that remind us there are a million ways to die. Which one will you choose?