A figure stands on a small bridge. He solemnly holds his trusty scythe up into the sky. Blue blood-like substance drips from the tip of his weapon, forming stars as it trails down. The sun rises behind him, turning the sky into a gradient of red, purple and blue.
Death typically symbolizes endings, definitive endings. What was once there, is no longer. One cannot turn back death, only move on from it.
Though where there is death, there is also chance for new life. In an old forest, when a mature tree falls, it creates a hole in the canopy. This hole allows light to nurture new plants, ones that would not not have stood a chance prior. When an animal dies, its body returns to the soil. The carcass turns into nutrients for new, different life.
Death is transformation. It’s the old making way for the new. It’s discovering new opportunities that weren’t there before. It’s moving on from old habits, moving on from mistakes in one’s past. It’s becoming the best new version of yourself, but only if you leave your old baggage behind.
Flowers: Asian Lilies - these are associated with gravestones within my family. I’m not sure why.
The person depicted on this card is Altair. Though his expression is somber and his stance more intentional, he is derived from the same person as our Fool. Jake and Altair, once a singular entity, were split apart during their darkest hour. Jake ended up keeping his old identity, but Altair was left with nothing to claim as himself.
He resented Jake for what he had done. Altair - then just named “Alt-Jake” - believed Jake had chosen the easy path and left Altair in the dark. He had no idea why he was around, what his purpose was, and who he truly was.
What followed was a gradual process of letting things go and accepting the new things as they came. He gave expression to his fondness of stars by changing his name to Altair[1]. He grew fond of scythes, jokingly adopting a “grim reaper” kind of role within the group. He created his own hobbies, discovered his own likes and dislikes, forged new relationships. In the process, he slowly learnt to be himself, not just an alternative version of Jake.
He transformed into something unique. Something that the others now respect rather than grieve. While Altair and Jake will never be the same person as they were before… they no longer want to be. They love being who they are now.