Monday, December 21st, 2015 8:08pm

Major Arcana

Death, to me, is a favorable card simply because, at its deepest level, it signifies letting go of something that no longer benefits you and the resulting process of something new coming into being. Death’s bad rap comes from the reality that the act of “letting go of something that no longer benefits you” is not something that comes naturally for us. Many times, what is no longer “benefiting” us is a limited or outworn way of thinking, a relationship, an addiction, a paradigm that no longer fits, a dead-end job, the list goes on. Our life issues

that influence these types of things are emotional and of high importance to us; therefore, the lessons are painful and do not come easily. It is usually after much trial and tribulation when we have eventually had enough that we finally jettison the outworn mindset, ideals, or relationships that are no longer working for us. The resulting “death” in our lives is both very real and symbolic at the same time.

Although it can feel like torture while we’re living it, in the end, looking back from a survivor’s perspective, we can see that we are far better off now. How did we ever believe/act/feel that way for so long? How did we ever stay in that life situation/job/relationship so far past its expiration date? The phoenix rising from the ashes, one door opening when another one closes, nature’s transformation from winter to spring, however you choose to look at it, it’s all the same. Death is not just the end; far more importantly, it’s the beginning of something else.

The Death card reminds us that our lives are a series of cycles strung together, beginnings and endings melding into one long stream of events in constant motion. When the Death card appears, it is heralding that life-altering, most likely painful but ultimately beneficial, changes are afoot. It’s when we hold onto things and try to keep them from changing that can make the cycle of Death painful. Accepting when cycles are over and moving forward are what the Death card is all about. When all is said and done, we are left with a feeling of completion and in turn, renewal. A new beginning is underway!