So I pulled the Death card reversed yesterday during my morning draw. Total brain freeze moment. Been reading tarot for months but that sucker still throws me off every time. Upright Death? Cool, I get it – big changes, fresh starts, all that jazz. But upside down? Blank stare. Felt like my brain buffered.
What I Did First
Grabbed my dog-eared notebook and three different guidebooks. Started flipping pages like a madwoman. First book says: “resistance to change.” Okay, fair. Second one mentions “stagnation.” Alright, getting warmer. Third book hits me with “delayed transformation.” Now I’m scratching my head. All kinda similar but not really the same, y’know?
How I Tested It Out
Decided to slap the Death reversed card on my coffee table and stare at it for ten minutes. Squinted at the skeleton, the horse, the whole creepy vibe upside down. Weirdly started thinking about that crusty gym membership I keep dodging. And that expired yogurt in my fridge I refuse to toss. Felt that sticky, stubborn energy.
Then pulled three more cards as “clarifiers”: Seven of Swords upright (sneaky avoidance), Four of Cups reversed (forced action), and Nine of Wands upright (defensiveness). Suddenly it clicked like a lightbulb.
My live experiment: Asked myself, “Where am I being a stubborn mule lately?” Practically shouted “MY DAMN EMAIL INBOX!” Been ignoring work messages like they’re radioactive. That’s textbook resistance to necessary cleanup.
How I Apply It Now
- Context is everything. If it pops up in a love reading? Probably clinging to dead relationships. In career? Avoiding promotions or quitting toxic jobs.
- Keyword cheat sheet: I wrote these in sharpie on my desk blotter: Delayed change • Refusing to let go • Stuck in limbo • Fear of endings • Holding onto crap
- Flip the script: If Death upright is “Embrace the change,” reversed is “Quit fighting the change.”
Tried this trick tonight on my sister’s reading about her messy breakup. Death reversed showed up with The Lovers reversed. Straight-up told her: “You’re still sleeping with his hoodies, aren’t ya?” She turned white. Confirmed she literally had his sweater in her closet “just in case.” Case closed.
So yeah, Death reversed ain’t so spooky now. It’s just your inner toddler screaming “NO!” while life tries to drag you forward. Spotting that tantrum? Game changer.
