Shuffling the Deck: Death | Milagro Roots

Ai! I have taken a couple of months off from the Shuffling the Deck series and recently remembered that it was time to pick it back up again?but with a few changes. Because ritual forms such a huge part of what I do, each new entry will include ritual suggestions & inspirations specific to the card at hand. I am also adding in some astrological considerations to each card and a poem of prayer that invokes the specific energy and presence of the card.

Card: Death
Number: 13
Planetary Ruler: Pluto
Zodiac sign: Scorpio
Season: late fall through early Winter and the celebration of Halloween, All Soul?s Day, Samhaim, Dia de los Muertos

Maybe its because I?m born on the 13^th of maybe its because Pluto features strongly in my natal chart, but the Death card has always been one of my favorites. Its themes include:

Meanings:

Death-literally or figuratively
Descent into the Underworld
Initiation
Equalizing forces-Death and taxes!
The Death card is a wake up call. It reminds us that physical death is imminent and unavoidable and compels us to think, if only for a moment, on whether or not we are living as brightly as we might. This is a question for each one of us-rich, poor, black, white, brown, or red, woman, man, and those in between-because we each must face death it is a great equalizer-we are all on a level field.

As we settle into that question we consider what parts of our life might be in the process of dying back-and whether they are making room for more of the same or for something precious and worthwhile. Death symbolizes endings, it is final, it is done-it brings the possibility of closure to experiences that may be dragging out for too long sucking at our life force and creativity.

And finally, Death is communion, especially when we come out of (or to) a tradition that honors the ancestors who have gone before and seeks to learn from them.?

Rituals:

Honoring and listening to your dead-your ancestors and those of your lineage. You can do this by building an altar for your ancestors, visiting a graveyard where family members are buried and keeping up the grave sites, or simply by displaying old photos of deceased family members around your home so that you become more aware of their presence?and wisdom.

Working with Deities whose domain is the underworld-Kali, Ereshkigal, Hades, Porserpina, Dummuzi, Hel, Hekate, Santisima Muerte, Anima Sola. If Death is around you, if you feel like you are going through an underworld descent then learning about the Deities that preside over the underworld-and seeking their aid-is a wise course of action.

Culling-one can cull a herd of animals, a garden, or the attic-the process is inherently the same. We begin the culling process by asking the question: what needs to be allowed to die back, get harvested, be slaughtered so that new life may emerge?

Poetic Prayer:

This beautiful poem from by Pablo Neruda captures the first meaning of the death card beautifully:

You start dying slowly
if you do not travel,
if you do not read,
If you do not listen to the sounds of life,
If you do not appreciate yourself.

You start dying slowly
When you kill your self-esteem;
When you do not let others help you.
You start dying slowly
If you become a slave of your habits,
Walking everyday on the same paths?
If you do not change your routine,
If you do not wear different colours
Or you do not speak to those you don?t know.
You start dying slowly
If you avoid to feel passion
And their turbulent emotions;
Those which make your eyes glisten
And your heart beat fast.

You start dying slowly
If you do not change your life when you are not satisfied with your job, or with your love,
If you do not risk what is safe for the uncertain,
If you do not go after a dream,
If you do not allow yourself,
At least once in your lifetime,
To run away from sensible advice?

Source: http://milagroroots.com/shuffling-the-deck-death/

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