Many people fear what the Death card may mean in a tarot love reading, but the answer is often more philosophical than physical. Depending on the context of the question and the surrounding cards, your answer might actually be a happy one.
Meaning of the Death Card in a Tarot Love Reading
The Death card can mean a number of things, depending on the present status of your love life. If you really don't have a love life to speak of, the presence of the Death card should be a welcome one because it can signal the end of your dry spell. You could be reaching the end of a very dull cycle and standing on the brink of a wonderful new love cycle, one in which you meet your soul mate. Of course, if you've been in a romantic partnership of some type, the Death card takes on a different connotation.
Romance Upheaval
Typically, the presence of the Death card in a love reading signals an upheaval in your personal life. This may mean that you're about to find out that your partner isn't entirely who you thought he/she was. You might also be about to face an enforced separation due to career changes or other unforeseen circumstances. And yes, the card might signal a break up on the horizon.
Changes in Romantic Status
Of course, any kind of upheaval in your love life is going to cause a ripple effect through other areas. A true break up might entail moving to another dwelling or town. Such a move might lead to a change in employment as well. Naturally, there could be a shift in friendships as acquaintances either drift toward you or your ex-companion. Changes such as these can be difficult to weather, but weather them you must.
New Romantic Beginnings
Sometimes it's easier to endure romantic upheaval and changes when you consider the fact that every ending leads to a new beginning, and this is the heart of the matter when dealing with the Death card in the context of a love reading. Letting go of what you know can be a difficult thing to do, even if what you knew wasn't always that good. It's kind of like that old saying, "Better to face the known evil than the unknown evil." Starting over can be a little daunting, but it can also be a very good thing in the long run.
Read the Cards Surrounding Death
Whenever you receive the Death card in a tarot reading, you'll want to take a careful look at the surrounding cards.
Example of Tower Card With Death Card
For example, if you see that the Tower card is close to the Death card, there is a good chance that you will have some sort of upheaval or change in your relationship, but this doesn't have to be a bad thing. For example, it could mean that either you or your partner will get a job in a different city, and that might cause a great deal of consternation as you decide to relocate or not.
Example of Empress Card With Death Card
In another example, if the next card you draw is The Empress, it might mean that a baby is on the way, and that, quite obviously, would mean a big change.
Example of Lovers Card With Death Card
Further still, if The Lovers card appears alongside the Death card, this may indicate the need to make a choice; perhaps there's a need to choose between two suitors? The key to deciding what the Death card is trying to tell you about your situation lies in reading and interpreting the surrounding cards, and then applying that information to your particular situation and original question.
Accepting Changes in Love and Romance
Whatever the Death card indicates in a love reading, you'll need to embrace the changes that lie ahead because fighting against them only prolongs your frustration. By that same token, it's always good to keep in mind that change and upheaval can be a good thing, particularly when subsequent cards indicate a change of residence or a happy addition to a family. Who knows? What feels like the end of the world could turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to you. When looked at in that context, the Death card loses some of its sting.
