Death as Intentions (Upright & Reversed) Tarot Card Meaning

Death is the card of transformation, change, and rebirth. Although it has a bad reputation (made worse by B-horror movies), Death is actually one of the most positive cards in the Tarot! Death sits upright on his horse, ushering in a new era. Without winter, there is no spring. Death is the other side of life, making rebirth possible. 

Death reminds us to let go of what is not serving us. When we let go of what is no longer healthy, we open ourselves to positivity and possibility. When one door closes, another opens. Similarly, Death signals that a major phase in your life is ending, but another is starting. When we lean into its energy, we can let go of the past and focus on our present and our future. 

Upright Death as Intentions

If you are asking about someone’s intentions towards you, and you draw Death, that means this person intends to trigger a big change soon. They’ve been wanting for a change to happen for some time now, and they’re ready to take the leap. However, this change can be either positive or negative. It solely depends on how things have been going, and what they’ve noticed happening around them. They’ve internally made some important decisions and are ready to put those decisions into action. Embrace this change because, in the end, it will be beneficial for you both.

Death as intentions means that they want to become a new person. They are ready to be reborn. They’ve noticed that they’ve been holding onto some baggage and that it’s holding them back. Now, they intend on letting go of everything and becoming a whole new person. This rebirth is going to help them become the person they need to be. They intend on putting the past behind them and looking forward to the future. Be happy for them, this is something that was a long time coming and they’ve finally found the strength to push through.

For singles and those embarking on new relationships, Death is a sign of them intending on changing their view of you. As the Death card represents a rebirth, this also applies to their feelings toward you. You’ve invoked some kind of change within them, and they’re ready to transform. If you got off on the wrong foot, then their feelings have swayed in the opposite direction. But this also works vice versa. In any case, meeting you has been a life-changing experience for them and they intend to act upon it.

For existing relationships, Death represents an intention to make a big change happen. Maybe your relationship has been at a standstill for a while now, or maybe there were unhealthy dynamics present in your relationship. Your partner is ready to change to happen and they want to be the one spearheading that. Whether this means your relationship will be heading in the right direction, or you’ll be heading toward a breakup, it’s up to them and their discoveries. 

If you are asking about an ex’s intentions, Death shows that they intend on moving on. Your relationship has come to a close and your ex is ready to embark on a new journey. They are no longer feeling remorseful or hurt over the breakup, instead, they see it as a learning experience and will take what they’ve learned with them. In regard to reconciliation, this doesn’t mean that it’s impossible. If you do reconcile, don’t expect your relationship to go back to how it was — your ex is a new person now.

In the context of whether or not a relationship is headed for commitment, engagement, or marriage, Death means that this person’s intentions are context-dependent. If your relationship has been looking good recently, then this means that your partner is ready to take things to the next level. They intend on starting a new era in your relationship. On the other hand, if your relationship has been looking grim recently, then this could mean that your partner intends on moving on from your relationship. In either case, change is coming. 

Reversed Death as Intentions

If you are asking about someone’s intentions towards you, and you draw Death reversed, that means this person intends to stay where they are. They have no intentions of accepting change. They would rather stay where they are than move forward because they are afraid of the unknown. They are scared of change so they will do everything that they can to stay wherever they are. If you want them to accept change, then it is up to you to convince them because their mind is already made up.

Death reversed as intentions means that they are only doing things out of familiarity, not because of necessity. They are stuck in a negative cycle where they put up with the things around them simply because it’s familiar to them. They want to leave their current situation as is, even if it’s hurting them, because they are unwilling to change. They are also afraid of being alone, so even if your relationship hasn’t been working out, they won’t be making any moves to break up.

For singles and those embarking on new relationships, Death reversed is a sign of them intending to stay within their comfort zone. These new feelings that are sprouting inside of them are scary. They have feelings for you, but they are being indecisive about it. They aren’t willing to change anything about themselves to make this potential relationship work. If you do end up getting together, then your relationship may be headed in the wrong direction because of this person’s unwillingness to change. 

For existing relationships, Death reversed represents an intention to depend on you. They intend on staying with you, but not out of love. They are going to stay committed to you but this is driven out of their fear of being alone. This is a bad sign for a relationship. They see you as their rock because you are something that is unchanging in a world that is constantly evolving, and they find comfort in that. A break up isn’t even on their minds, but maybe it should be on yours. Take a good look at your relationship and decide whether this is a healthy one or not. Speak to your partner about their future intentions and make your decision.

If you are asking about an ex’s intentions, Death reversed shows that they intend on reaching out to you soon. They haven’t been able to move on from the breakup and they constantly think about it. Just like with other things, they are afraid of this change. They are stuck in the past and they know what to do to move on, but are unwilling to do so. They don’t want to move on from you.

In the context of whether or not a relationship is headed for commitment, engagement, or marriage, Death reversed means that this person’s intentions are unclear. They are satisfied with the way things currently are, and have no intentions of changing that. They aren’t ready for anything more than this. If you’re alright with this, then that’s great. But if not, then it’s time to speak to your partner and do some self-reflection. There may be some things that you guys aren’t seeing eye-to-eye on.

Conclusion

For relationships and feelings, Death reveals the power of transformative change. For the end of every cycle comes the beginning of another. In order to grow, we must shed beliefs and behaviors that are no longer serving us. Death can mean the literal end of a relationship. Equally, it can mean the end of one phase in your relationship and beginning of another. There is no life without Death. Embrace the transformative energy of this card to feel radically empowered. 

If you find yourself needing further clarity in your relationship matters that go beyond reading for yourself, Sibyl offers unlimited tarot readings on love & relationships, as a neutral and objective third party.