Category: Tarot Tips & Myths | Reading Time: 5 Minutes
You need to set the scene right for this.
You are sitting on your bed, surrounded by pillows, shuffling your cards. You ask a simple question about your week.
You pull a card. It’s Death.
Your stomach drops. You feel a cold prickle of sweat on the back of your neck. So, you shuffle again. Maybe it was a mistake. You pull The Tower. Now you are panicking. You shuffle a third time, hands shaking, begging the universe for a nice card… and hello, Ten of Swords.
At this point, you are convinced of one of two things:
- You have seven days to live.
- Your deck is cursed, haunted, or actively trying to ruin your vibe.
Please, put the sage down. Your deck isn’t cursed. You are simply looking at it through “Hollywood Vision.”
The “Horror Movie” Hangover
We can blame sloppy screenwriters for this. Every time a tarot reader shows up in a movie, she turns over the Death card, lightning strikes, and the main character dies in a freak accident.
It makes for good TV, but it is terrible for your mental health.
The truth is much less dramatic. Cards are ink and paper. They don’t have souls, they don’t hold grudges, and they certainly don’t have the power to hex you.
The “Stalker Card” Phenomenon When you pull the same scary card on repeat, the universe isn’t trying to hurt you. It is trying to shout over the noise of your own denial.
In the Tarot world, we call this a “Stalker Card.”
Think of it like a cat sitting on your laptop while you try to work. If you push the cat away, it comes back. If you push it away again, it sits on your face.
The card is annoying you on purpose. It is saying: “You didn’t listen the first time, so I’m going to keep showing up until you acknowledge the message.”
The Great Shedding (A Biological Reality)
Let’s look at this from a cat’s perspective.
My cat, Titi (may he rest in power), used to grow a thick coat of white fur every winter. A majestic cloud. But when spring hit, that fur had to go.
If he tried to keep that heavy fur in the middle of July, he would overheat and pass out.
So, he shed. He left clumps of white hair on the sofa, on my black t-shirts, and floating in my coffee. It was messy. It was annoying. But it was survival.
The Death card is just The Great Shedding.
In nature, nothing blooms all year. That would be exhausting. Flowers have to wilt to become compost for the next season.
When you see the Death card, the Universe isn’t predicting a funeral. Instead, it is asking you: “What dead weight are you dragging around that is making you overheat?”
Maybe it’s that relationship that expired three years ago. Maybe it’s the job that makes you cry in the bathroom. Maybe it’s your own self-doubt.
The Scythe is a Tool, Not a Weapon
Look closely at the imagery of the Death card (specifically in the Rider-Waite deck). The skeleton is holding a scythe.
We associate scythes with the Grim Reaper, but originally, a scythe is a farming tool. It is used to harvest corn so that people can eat.
See the shift?
When you pull the Death card, try not to see a killer. See a gardener pruning a rose bush. He is cutting away the dead stems so the new buds have room to breathe.
It hurts to be cut, but it is the only way you grow.
Stop Treating Your Deck Like a Haunted Doll
Your deck is a mirror. If the reflection looks scary, don’t blame the glass—fix your hair.
The next time you pull a card that makes your heart race, don’t run away. Don’t reshuffle until you get a “nice” card (we see you doing that). Sit with the discomfort.
The skeleton isn’t here to hurt you. He is just here to take out the trash.
🔮 The Action Right Now
Stop fearing the reaper and start using him. Look at your “scary” card and ask the hard question: “What old habit needs to die today so I can finally breathe?”
Disclaimer: TarotPaw content is for entertainment and spiritual support only. We are cats, not doctors, lawyer, or financial advisor. This content is not intended to replace professional (medical, legal, or financial) advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are in crisis, please contact a professional or call your local emergency services.
