Why you shouldn’t be afraid of the death card in the Tarot

The Death card is one of the most misunderstood cards in the game tarot. Even though it carries a certain kind of fear, this is what it really means transformation. Or well, this endings they are not always bad. Sometimes they are necessary. Needed even now, as October begins, it is even more important. Endings are necessary for change, and change is necessary for new beginnings. In a sense, all these words are synonymous with each other and therefore there is no need to fear Death if it appears in your spread. Just as the natural world changes as the leaves fall and the nights grow longer, the Death card reminds us that for renewal to occur, all things must come to an end, much like the transition from fall to winter.
The traditional version of the Death card shows a skeletal figure on a horse, symbolizing the certainty of change. In a landscape where rich and poor people alike face tragic consequences, a lifelong transformation is visible. The sun rises behind the skeletal figure, showing that when all is over, something new awaits at dawn. In this way, the lesson that October teaches us and the images in this card can be related: October is the time when nature prepares for sleep, clearing away the old to prepare for the new.
October is a delicate month in which the walls between the physical world and the spiritual world become thin. That’s why this is the month of the Death card, and it really encourages you to let go of what doesn’t serve you – whether it’s outdated beliefs, toxic relationships, or habits that are holding you back. Just as nature puts forth leaves, the Death card encourages you to accept necessary endings.
There must be an end. At the same time, the Death card also promises rebirth and transformation. In October, it is hoped that the energy of this card will motivate you to face your fear of change, trust the process of transformation, and welcome new beginnings. It reminds us that growth often comes from letting go, because by letting go we create space for something better to come and take its place.