Death with Herbal Pairing Copal
One of the most feared and perhaps most misunderstood cards in Tarot is the Death card. In it we see a skeleton in menacing black armor riding a pale, white horse. We are reminded of a quote from Revelations in the Bible, “And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him.” It certainly seems true in this card, as beneath the feet of the white horse a gallant king lies trampled, his scepter fallen beside him while his crown rolls grimly under the horse’s hooves. Before the ominous figure, a priest kneels, praying fervently in sheer panic and a maiden averts her gaze in horror. Only at the bottom of the card do we see a most unexpected reaction to Death through that of a child – young, innocent and yet audaciously offering Death a bouquet of handpicked wildflowers. The most frightening aspect of Death is how he punctures the Ego and literally dissolves Ego’s power and influence with a wicked grin. Reduced by its survivalist, left-brain thinking that is self-centered, mechanistic and unable to see its own flaws, the Ego simply cannot accept the unknown and will fight changes the unknown brings in different ways – from outright aggression and resistance as we see in the slain patriarch, to a crisis in faith depicted by the priest, to denial and revulsion as with the fearful maiden. Only the child, without a well-formed and highly functioning Ego, has the courage to face Death – and with only a handful of delicate flowers.
Behind the frightful scene is a mighty river not unlike the River Styx from Greek mythology, which souls crossed to enter the underworld. Indeed, a solitary boat floating along this river seems to be doing just that, signifying the lone journey the soul takes during this profound transition. In the corner of the card above the river, a yellow sun rises behind a large stone gate, offering us hope, renewal and rebirth. As one cycle ends, so must a new one begin.
Most querents flinch when Death appears in a reading – and admittedly, this card can feel daunting, portentous or frightening. But all this card is really saying is that death comes to us all in many forms throughout our lifetimes and if we can react to the unknown in more curious, open and nonjudgemental ways – like a carefree child – we will understand the full range of experiences life has to offer and we will be able to transform into a better version of ourselves. Change is like death because to some degree it dissolves Ego. Only with humility, curiosity and a fluid, more right-brained mind can we begin to see connections inherent in every living thing. Through this lens, death and change are but dark blood brothers or like lovers that claim the dawn of new beginnings – helping us to see how there cannot be night without day. There cannot be the end of a thing without the beginning of something else. This card teaches us that the more we can accept the small deaths that run through our lives like flashes of lightning, altering everything in their wake, the more we are alive to the transformations which wait wordlessly in the wings, ready to open us, deepen us and connect us to a universe larger than we can ever fathom.
The lessons inherent in the Death card are sacredly revered by the purifying white smoke of burning Copal resin. An aromatic tree sap from the Burseraceae plant family – the same family as Frankincense and Myrrh – Copal is collected throughout Central America by copaleros and has been used for centuries in indigenous purification rituals such as sweat lodge ceremonies and spiritual gatherings including Day of the Dead celebrations. Believed to contain magical and protective properties by farmers, hunters and healers alike, it was burned in copious amounts at important places like The Templo Mayor in Tenochtitlan, the ceremonial center of the Aztecs. It still plays a significant role in Mesoamerican culture and lineage and as such, should be treated with reverence, awareness and respect by all. Burning copal produces a sweet, coniferous scent believed to promote relaxation, stimulate intuition, and facilitate communication within the spiritual realm. It can be burned by placing it on pre-lit charcoal tablets in a nonflammable container, releasing a steady, calming smoke.
Death and Copal show us how important stepping away from our Ego can be – allowing us to perceive the world through its nuanced connections, coincidences and universal messages. When we shift our focus from the initial fear of the skeletal figure to the ultimate message of renewal through a hopeful sunrise, we are reminded that while endings can be unsettling, they are a necessary part of growth that makes room for fresh opportunities, perspectives and insights.
*Tarot reading is based on the Rider-Waite Tarot Card deck, illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith
References
Cortez, Patricia. “Copal: A Healer, Protector and Guide for Dia de Muertos.” Mountain Rose Herbs Blog, 1 November 2022. https://blog.mountainroseherbs.com/dia-de-los-muertos-ceremony-with-copal
King James Bible, “Revelations 6:8.” Bible Gateway, 2017. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%206%3A8&version=KJV
Nunziato Mendoza, Rebecca. “Sacred Smoke of Copal: From Mesoamerican Religion to Chicanx Ceremonies.” Revista, Harvard Review of Latin America, 22 February 2021. https://revista.drclas.harvard.edu/sacred-smoke-of-copal/
Pollack, Rachel. Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom. San Francisco, Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC, 2007. P101-105