Re-occuring Outcome In Tarot, The sun and death cards Options

It seems that the cards are trying to send me a message but i can not fathom the meaning. I have used 5 decks 6 spreads and have asked many questions yet the same two cards appear every time even when they have no relevance to the question. They are the sun immediately followed by the death card. Can anyone give me guidance on this.

Hi Ilmatar

You have to consider yourself quite empowered and connected to your subconscious (inner you, Deep Mind, Holy Guardian Angel, depending on your view). Two cards recurring in this manner is a clear message from a higher power (whether you consider this your own subconscious connected to a Universal Mind, or just your own subconscious, or a separate higher power -- from my point of view they're quite identical). Also they're both major arcana, which indicates a "higher self" or "higher power" answer.

It's impossible to interpret without knowing:
- the question you ask yourself (the deck)
- the other cards that revealed
- the spread and relative positions of the cards (also helpful to know if either of these cards are your LIFE cards)

It also helps rather a lot to know the deck you read. These cards might mean "somewhat" similar things across different decks, but, in fact, various decks carry different interpretations (there is no such thing as universal tarot card readings, a mistake many readers make). The symbols, depth of meaning, archetypes and elemental properties and correspondences are quite different from deck to deck (and therefore the language the symbols are speaking when they connect to your subconscious).

Without knowing the question, here's some thoughts:
-SUN - "STRIVING FOR THE LIGHT" (could be seeking truth, a specific goal, etc -- but it depends WHERE in the spread this card turns up (outcome versus advice versus background versus higher powers type positions). THE SUN is symbolic of the source of all life, and often represents "acceptance of life" or vitality, or self confidence (if in an outcome position, quite a positive card) -- the ascent to the light. If this turned in a "background" position it might indicate this is what you are seeking, if in the advice position, it might be advice being offered, etc...
- GENERAL - "vitality, youthful freshness" and experiences leading to the "sunny side of life", of even illumination and reconciliation (depending on context)
- IF SPIRITUAL or CONSCIOUSNESS - a highly significant card... indicates developing one's own self, blossuming, maturing, growing self-confidence (if a goal or background card, this would be the quest thereof)
- IF PROFESSIONAL question - represents good prospects, welcom experiences, promising new beginnings
- IF RELATIONSHIPS - probably indicates a reconciliation that allows new beginnings, soothing warmth, maturity, trust, etc.

Interesting that my view of the DEATH card is really just "change" and that the SUN card can also indicate positive change.

DEATH - 'letting go", "making room for the new", "change" (positive or negative is often determined by surrounding cards)
A lot of people fear this card. I don't, probably because I believe life is about change and growth and that only happens when you shed the old and grow into the new (definition of death). It is a very sacred card to both OSIRINS (followers of Osiris) and Christians, but in fact, to almost any belief system.
- GENERAL - departure, or an end... change... natural end of a situation (natural end, not premature or unnatural end -- which would be better represented, for example, by the Ten of Swords), RELEASE -- and in the context of other cards can mean change in business, relationship, situation -- it VERY RARELY relates to health of physical death unless that was specifically the question you asked, and then only if it was in an outcome position, really.
- CONSCIOUSNESS - reaching the end of one road (a level of progress on a spiritual path, for example) and initiation into the new (in many traditions, initiation is a better definition for this card than physical death). Definitely LETTING GO> Fresh perspectives
-PROFESSIONAL - Usually means an end to previous professional activities, a change, the freedom to move on or take on new duties (it could just be a project finishing, not necessarily a new job), and often quite positive (depending on surrounding cards)
-RELATIONSHIPS... a phase coming to an end... could be the end of a partnership/relationship, depending on context again (surrounding cards, question)

I see both cards indicating change, but don't know your context, but the SUN makes me think the change is POSITIVE-- usually UNLESS you refuse to accept the change (which can make things change).

Without knowing more, that's all I can offer. Hope it helps.

Greetings Ilmatar,

If I get the Sun and the Death card it tells me that there is a need for some sort of spiritual rebirth. The surrounding cards should tell you what the nature of that rebirth is.

Lets not forget though that the Sun is sometimes sudden death. So look both ways before crossing the street. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Peace!

This post has been edited by Edunpanna: Feb 10 2007, 06:18 PM

I hope I'm not being just a basic idiot . . .
Mezu, what's a Life card . . . and how's that figured?


(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Hey palindroem

Life card is an old numerology "verifier" probably not used much anymore (it's sort of Golden Dawn era). I don't think it was AC's method (he advocated verification with his multi-step reads with a significator). I find it works with clockwork precision on my important reads. The idea is to see if your life card (and/or destiiny card) shows up in your read. If it does, where? If it does show up in a multi-card read, the read is considered to be important, precise and meaningful.

I like it as a method better than choosing a "significator" which is arbitrary. Never-the-less, a designated (self chosen) card is just as precise assuming you know what it is before your read.
I pay special attention to reads with my life number, which happens to also be my destiny number ( that's a bit rare).

Using standard numerological designations per the Hebrew alphabet add up the numerical values of your full name (all names, not just first and last), then distill or reduce down to TWO numbers below 21. This corresponds to your LIFE card as a major arcana card. It's interesting to read the general insights and symbols that go along with the the card. But that's not critical. Now, whenever this card shows up in a read, it's considered a LIFE changing scenario, especially if it's an OUTCOME CARD.

The Destiny card is also used this way. (BY THE WAY, unlike a significator, the card is NEVER taken out of the deck before a read--the idea is to see if it shows up in a read!) It indicates a read which is almost certainly controlled by destiny (free will can still be exerted of course!) Take the birth day, birth month, full birth year and similarly reduce it to two numbers below 21. So, 01-01-2000 = 2000+01+01= 2004=6 (Because it's above 21, you reduce to one digit--On the other hand, if the two number distillation landed at 20, you don't reduce further to 2, but leave at 20.)

It's just a way of determining how much influence the read will have on your life-- importance, destiny versus free will, additional influences. In my case, both my Life and Destiny card is 1 = MAGICIAN. Long ago, I divined my true name using the Tarot majors to spell out the name in Hebrew letters, per an old method of divining the true pre-birth name (which also distilled down to 1 -- way cool!)

Anyway, if the Sun or Death cards are either Ilmatar's life or destiny cards, I'd pay special attention to all the implications of these cards. I would, anyway, since they showed up so may times and they are major arcana. But if the life or desitny cards are in the read, DEFINITELY look both ways.

hey,

just my quick take on it - its probably the spiritual rebirth of the planet that seems to be getting started (good, imo), or the return of horus (bad, imo)

e.

quick thought: the sun can indicated happiness, joy, clear consciousness... maybe its saying this situation of the sun card will then be followed by death: the transformation of your life. Perhaps a happy period will permanently change you, probably for the better.

It seems that the cards are trying to send me a message but i can not fathom the meaning. I have used 5 decks 6 spreads and have asked many questions yet the same two cards appear every time even when they have no relevance to the question. They are the sun immediately followed by the death card. Can anyone give me guidance on this.

sometimes it takes a while to discover the meaning...
i came home from work one Saturday night and used Tarot to ask how my college career would go. However, I kept getting both the death card and cards which had to do with young men who were trying to better their lives. I had absolutely no idea what they meant. A male classmate of mine was found dead the very next Monday.

Well it took some time but the meaning has made itself clear at last. My life has definitely Changed and that for the better. I now have a Beautiful son and will be Married soon. A life altering experience but in a good way

Thanks for all the help