As the veil between worlds grows thin, we step into one of the most beautiful and sacred celebrations of the year, Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead. Rooted in ancient Indigenous traditions of Mexico and later blended with Catholic observances, this festival is far from a somber event. Instead, it’s a vibrant honoring of life, memory, and the eternal cycle that connects us all.
A Time to Remember
From October 31st through November 2nd, families gather to celebrate the spirits of their ancestors, welcoming them back with open hearts, favorite foods, music, and marigolds. Altars, or ofrendas, are lovingly adorned with photos, candles, sugar skulls, and offerings of love.
The idea isn’t to mourn but to celebrate connection beyond the veil; to recognize that death isn’t an ending, but a continuation of spirit in another form. In that way, Día de los Muertos shares deep resonance with the tarot’s wisdom about transformation and rebirth.
The Death Card and the Gift of Transformation
In tarot, Death is often misunderstood as something to fear. But much like Día de los Muertos, the Death card invites us to embrace change as sacred. It symbolizes release, transition, and renewal. It is the shedding of what no longer serves so that new life can take root.
When we draw Death in a reading, it’s an opportunity to pause and ask:
- What am I ready to let go of?
- What deserves to be honored before it transforms?
- How can I carry the wisdom of what has passed into what’s to come?
In this light, Death becomes a card of deep gratitude and rebirth—a perfect reflection of this season’s spirit.
Rituals to Honor the Ancestors
You don’t have to be of Mexican heritage to respectfully connect with the energy of remembrance. Here are a few meaningful ways to weave this energy into your personal practice or tarot work:
- Create an ancestor altar – Place photos, mementos, candles, and offerings of food or drink your loved ones enjoyed. Speak their names aloud.
- Pull a tarot card in their honor – Ask, “What wisdom do my ancestors wish to share with me?” Reflect on the message that arises.
- Light a candle at dusk – As the flame flickers, visualize the warmth of your love reaching across the veil.
- Journal through Death’s lesson – What parts of your life are ready to be released so something new can bloom?
Life, Death, and the Eternal Cycle
Día de los Muertos reminds us that death is not an ending, it’s a continuation in another form, part of the great cycle the tarot illustrates so beautifully. The Fool begins the journey, The World completes it, and Death ensures the story forever evolves.
May this season bring you comfort, connection, and a renewed appreciation for the beauty of impermanence.
💀Honor the past. Celebrate the present. Trust the transformation.