The pertinent question here is... why did our Ancient Teachers (The Adepts of the Ageless Wisdom) design and insert such an ominous and menacing psychological archetype into The Major Arcana (the first 22 cards of the Tarot deck). As the 13th card, DEATH'S already dubious numeration (13) just seems to amplify this card's already fearful message of finality, suffering and human extinction.

The mere sight of slain and fallen figures really leaves one with a feeling of foreboding, especially if the card were to appear in a Tarot reading predicting future events. In truth, The Masters really weren't trying to prime our deepest fears (like one primes a pump) with images and fears of death's dark presence; instead, they wanted to convey the idea that not only should EVERYONE be prepared for the eventuality of DEATH'S physical arrival, but we must be willing to let go (throughout life) and allow the natural DEATH of old ideas, concepts, relationships, habits, life-structures and beliefs that have long outlived their usefulness. That was the exoteric (public) intent of the card's characterization; however, The Ancients also encoded a hidden esoteric (spiritual) message which deals with the inevitability of bodily death at the cellular level and the necessity for each of us to consciously (mentally) rebuild and regenerate our physical, emotional and mental bodies.

Most of us are pleased and eager to receive this hidden message, but would still like to know... why the skeleton? Why depict such an unpalatable creepy Halloween-like image to illustrate divinely inspired spiritual truths. The answer to that question has to begin back with card (11), the JUSTICE card. For those on the spiritual path (you and I), Lady JUSTICE must play the role of Inquisitor and Judge. In our individual efforts to evolve spiritually, we occasionally stray from the path. In doing so, we incur Karma. As we progress and strive earnestly through the theme of each card, we eventually meet Lady JUSTICE. She reviews our progress, assesses the weight and seriousness of our infractions and then passes sentence.

If we are truly repentant and contrite, we may stay on the path, but must serve the penalty of our karmic sentence as the next (12th) card THE HANGED MAN. Nearly all of us succumb daily to the urges and passions of the flesh and give in to its voracious appetites. This lowers the energy of our cellular vibration and seriously detracts from our efforts to spiritually raise the vibration of our total bodily consciousness.

Every single cell has its own sense of consciousness and is dependent on you, up there in the wheelhouse, for its health and positive direction. As THE HANGED MAN you have acknowledged your weaknesses (excess appetites, emotional divisiveness, greed, adultery... whatever) and agree that you will cultivate new habits, replacing all negativity with positive action. You understand that you must sacrifice (by abstaining from all formerly destructive ways) and replace your old cellular compulsions with affirmations of health and purity of consciousness.

At the end of your sentence as the 12th card, you mount the White Steed of Divine Spirit and become the 13th card... DEATH. Notice that you are now a skeleton... you have given up the old habits and passions of your former flesh (bodily cellular structure) and have shed (dropped) your former low vibrational (dense) body mass.

Now, stripped to your skeletal foundation, you are ready to build a new body (composed of vivified cellular mass, muscle and tissue attuned to much higher spiritual vibrations). However, before you regenerate a new fleshly body, you must permanently slay the demons, old habits and emotions that were a part of your former self. Notice the fallen King on the ground. That figure was the old ruler of your body...your old persona or personality. The Bishop or Holy Father before you is asking for mercy, but he too (representing your former unenlightened and dogmatic spiritual beliefs) must be slain and replaced by higher, purer spiritual truths.

The woman kneeling with face turned away, is your old subconscious mind (your former partner in crime) who accepted your old commands and helped co-create your former low-energy self. You will be building a new subconscious mind (which will produce higher vibrational bodily cells) so you must cleanse and clear the way for her coming creation.

Finally, the young child before you is the eternal youth and optimism of pure love and kindness that has always lived within you. Notice that she is the only figure of the four who faces you and offers you a flower (purity of spirit, hope and sincere affection). As with all children, in her innocence she doesn't fear the coming changes and will serve as the seed upon which your new spirituality is born.

This whole idea of the personal DEATH, regeneration and rebirth of the body physical is an exciting one. Just to know and realize that each of us can literally remake our bodies by upgrading and controlling our thoughts and emotions is exhilarating and challenging.

Our teachers explain that this process starts with our minds. When we have resolutely decided to commit to this bodily regeneration, our new mental images and affirmations energize our (7) sacred chakras which then begin transmitting higher resonance energies to our etheric heart. The Chakras then facilitate the movement of our internal (Kundalini) Solar energies (up from the base of our spinal column) and actually convert these energies into a nerve force current that stimulates the design, manufacture and regeneration of new cells within our aura (etheric body).

In the next card (14th) TEMPERANCE we will experience the birth, balancing and regeneration of our new bodies. Stay tuned...

copyright 2003-2004, Joe Ivory, all rights reserved