Death is a topic that has captivated human curiosity for centuries, and many seek answers to questions about the unknown. Tarot cards have long been associated with mystical practices and divination, but can they predict one of life’s greatest mysteries: death?
Tarot predictions are not scientific, and death can not be predicted through tarot cards. However, there are combinations of cards that are thought by tarot readers to indicate death. One of the combinations is Death and the Four or Swords.
While some may dismiss the idea as mere superstition, others believe in the power of the tarot to reveal the future. Join me as we delve into the world of tarot and explore the question: can tarot cards predict death?
If you feel that death is triggering, upsetting, or scary, I advise you not to read the article, as we will discuss tarot and death.
Tarot cards are not scientific, medical advice, or final but are only used for entertainment and self-growth. Please consult a professional health provider if you are struggling with health or mental issues. If needed, you find international suicide prevention helplines here. Take care, always.
Tarot and death predictions
While some people believe that tarot cards can predict death, there are a few reasons why this is not necessarily true.
It’s important to understand that tarot readings are not a science. Tarot cards are a tool that can help people gain insight into their lives, but they are not infallible. If it were, tarot would be used to end wars, stop plagues, etc.
Tarot is foremost a spiritual tool for self-discovery and growth, nothing more and nothing less. I know that this might trigger people, as many psychics use tarot cards to look into the future,
It is not the cards that give psychic messages – they can help a person with psychic abilities access messages. Most psychics can receive messages without any tools or gadgets.
Tarot cards are not designed to predict the future in a literal sense. They provide guidance and insight into a person’s life, but they cannot definitively predict the future. Tarot reads energies and karmic shifts.
Many factors can influence a reading, including the reader’s interpretation of the cards and the individual being read. This points to the fact that the cards will never predict death; it is the reader’s interpretation. Another reader might see something else in the cards.
There it is no reliable fortunetellers in any shape or form. Therefore they can’t predict death with certainty.
Free will and tarot
Most tarot readings are based on free will, meaning that the future is not set in stone and can be changed by a person’s actions and decisions. Nothing in the cards is, therefore, final. The answers are more as possible outcomes.
While it can be tempting to turn to tarot cards for answers, it’s important to remember that they should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional advice.
If you have concerns about your health or mortality, it’s always best to seek out the opinion of a qualified medical professional.
While tarot cards can be a helpful tool for gaining insight into your life, they should not be relied upon to predict death.
Keep an open mind, remember to take tarot readings with a grain of salt, and always seek professional advice when necessary.
Death as a human experience
If we look at death as a human experience, the tarot can indicate death as a part of life. It is as much a part of life as birth, heartbreak, divorce, marriage, etc.
If we look at death through the eyes of human experience, the tarot cards can help us deal with the emotions attached to death. This is how I mostly approach the topic of death regarding tarot readings.
I focus on questions like processing feelings of anxiety and grief about death. Not if death will happen or when. This is a more empowering way of dealing with the complex emotions surrounding death, the unknown, and final goodbyes.
The Death tarot card
The Death tarot card is one of the most notorious and widely recognized cards in the tarot deck. Many are terrified by the card, believing it will indicate death is approaching.
Contrary to popular belief, the Death card does not necessarily predict a physical death or indicate that someone instead. Instead, it represents transformation, change, and the end of a cycle.
In tarot, each card has multiple layers of meaning and symbolism that can be interpreted in various ways depending on the context of the reading. Most tarot readers agree that not a single card can indicate that death is around the corner.
The Death card can signal a symbolic death and end, such as the end of a relationship, job, or way of thinking. It can also represent a transition or a personal growth and renewal period.
It is important to note that tarot readings are not set in stone and should not be taken as a definite prediction of the future.
Instead, they offer guidance and insight into the present moment and potential outcomes based on the choices and actions of the individual.
Ultimately, the power of the tarot lies in the individual’s interpretation and application of the insights gained from the reading.
If you want to learn more about the Death card and if it might indicate death, you find in-depth information in the article below.
Further reading: The Death Card: Does it Really Mean Physical Death?
Tarot combinations that might indicate death
Even though we have talked a lot about tarot not being able to predict death, there are tarot card combinations that might indicate death is approaching.
It is also worth noting that if these cards appear in reading unrelated to death, they will not indicate death. If you, for example, ask if you will get the job you are applying for – these cards mean death. It has to be put in context to the question asked.
I want to state again that tarot is not scientific and should never be taken literary; we all have free will, and decisions can change the outcomes of any spread, regardless of what it might indicate.
There is a big difference between predicting and indicating as well. Predictions are things set in stone that tarot can’t do. Indications are another thing that signals that you might have to be aware of certain things to change the path.
No single card means “death” in the tarot. Some combinations of cards are by some tarot readers considered markers or indicators that death might be around the corner.
Regarding the tarot suits, the suits of swords have the most connection to death and final goodbyes. It is sharp and sudden endings that leave a standing message to the ones left behind.
If you want to learn more about the “scary” tarot cards, I invite you to read the article below.
Related article: The Worst Tarot Cards In The Deck
Death card and 4 of Swords
The most common combination is the Death card with 4 or swords. If you read the cards from left to right, an ending is coming, and the outcome is the final rest.
The Death card means that something is ending, which can be life or something else. One door is closing; another one is opening (you see the road to the towers in the background).
The 4 of Swords means rest, but it can also be seen as death as it is a coffin in a church. The lid is so heavy that you can’t escape. It is a final resting place. You see those tombs in Europe in cathedrals and larger churches. It is a coffin with a statue of the decieced.
10 of Swords and reversed Death card
Another tarot card combination that might indicate death is the 10 of Swords followed by a reversed Death card.
The 10 of Swords is all about rock bottom, and the battle is lost. The golden line is that the sun rises in the background for a new day.
The new day is a reversed Death card if we read the cards from left to right. Death is the new day, and it is final. There is nothing to follow.
Tower and the Death card or 4 or Swords
There are tarot card combinations that might indicate a sudden and unexpected death. If the Tower and a reversed Death card are showing, the end might be approaching unexpectedly.
The Tower means that something significant will happen to turn your life around. You see the bolt crushing the Tower, and people are falling to the ground. The world as you know it is about to change.
If you read the cards from left to right, the world will change in a way that never recovers – no new doors will open—the final ending. The same if you get the 4 of Swords, the final rest.
Tarot cards that in combination might indicate death
Well, as you might notice, no single card suggests death. But a few cards might point to death if seen together, not depending on the placement in the spread. The question asked must, of course, be in context with death.
If you notice a Tower followed by Death, 10 of Swords (upright or reversed), the 4 of Swords (upright), and the World, you have an epic tarot spread of death. It is like the Royal Flush of death cards.
The Tower indicates that something sudden and world-changing is about to unfold. The happening is about endings that will lead to a final battle that is sadly lost (if reversed, there is no new day). The new day is the final rest that leads to an ending of the world as we know it. It is an end of a cycle, and they might step into heaven or be reincarnated into a new life.
The tarot spread is, in my opinion, a story of sickness or an accident ending in death.
If you see a few cards in the reading, it might indicate that death is approaching.
But as always, tarot cards are not scientific or final. They are used foremost as a tool for self-growth. I don’t think you should ever dabble into these readings, as the answers you get might be upsetting. I focus on how to address the feelings of fear, uncertainty, grief, and mortality instead.
List of tarot card combinations that might predict death
Certain tarot card combinations may indicate the possible death in a reading.
| Tarot Cards | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Death + Tower | A period of anxiety, fear, or psychological distress may require the individual to seek support and self-care. |
| Death + Four of Swords | An ending leading to the final rest. |
| Death + Ten of Swords | A sudden and dramatic change or upheaval may involve a loss or end. |
| Death + The Devil | A period of suspended action or limbo, where the individual may need to let go of old thinking and embrace a new perspective. |
| Death + Five of Cups | A period of anxiety, fear, or psychological distress that may require the individual to seek support and self-care. |
| Death + Nine of Swords | A period of anxiety, fear, or psychological distress may require the individual to seek support and self-care. Mental health issues that might lead to the end. |
| Death + Knight of Swords | A sudden and, at times, the violent ending is on the horizon. It can be due to a sudden illness or accident. |
| Death + The High Priestess | A time of spiritual transformation or awakening, where the individual may need to embrace their intuition and inner guidance to navigate a period of change. It might also indicate moving on to the spiritual realms. |
| Death + The World | Completing a significant chapter or cycle in one’s life may bring a sense of closure and accomplishment. This might indicate that a person is ending the journey on Earth, entering heaven or the next state of being. |
Again, it is essential to remember that these combinations should be interpreted within the context of the reading and should not be taken as a definitive indication of physical death.
Tarot is not science and should never be seen as a prediction with final outcomes. It is a tool for entertainment and self-development.
Tarot readings are a tool for self-reflection and personal growth and should be approached with an open and curious mind.
Related page: Tarot card cheat cheat
Final thoughts
Tarot cards can never predict death as there is no scientific evidence of tarot having that kind of power.
Tarot should be used as a tool for self-discovery and growth – to gain empowerment and agency.
I never recommend anyone read the cards about death and sickness. This is because the answers are never final and can lead to anxiety and fear.
If you are facing a situation where you worry about death, it is better to reformulate the questions to target how you can meet your fears or worries in an empowering way.
Sandra Törnroth
Intuitive multi-modal tarot reader with a love for crystals and everything esoteric