The 13th Major Arcana Card Ruling planet ~ Pluto Element ~ Water Depiction ~ The Death card usually depicts a skeleton, sometimes riding a horse but more often wielding a sickle. Surrounding it are dead and dying people from all classes, including kings, bishops and commoners. Meaning ~ Unlikely that this card actually represents a physical death. Typically it implies an end, possibly of a relationship or interest, and therefore implies an increased sense of self-awareness. Upright Card ~ Endings, Severe illness, Profound change, Letting go of attachments, Failure, Mortality Reversed Card ~ Living unaware, Depression, Long terminal illness, Resistance to change, Delayed endings