The Coffin

The card

A coffin sits on the card with empty space around it. The image is blunt and undecorated.

Traditional meaning

Traditionally the Coffin is ending, illness and loss — one of the heaviest cards in the deck.

How to read it

The Coffin says "this far and no further". It rarely means literal death; more often a matter is completely over, a state has stalled, or the body or mood is at a low. It is also the ground for transformation — only after an ending is there a next chapter. The neighbouring card tells you what is ending.

In context

Love

A relationship reaching its end, or feeling that has gone cold and stalled.

Work

A project terminated, leaving a job, an industry in a trough.

Timing

Already happening, or about to settle.

Common combinations

• The Coffin + The Tree · A health problem that needs taking seriously
• The Coffin + The Heart · The end of a relationship, or feeling gone cold
• The Coffin + The Child · An old ending making room for a fresh start
• The Coffin + The Fish · Financial closure, or writing off a loss
• The Coffin + The Ring · An engagement or contract terminated
• The Coffin + The House · Moving out, or a loss at home
• The Coffin + The Fox · Losing a job, a project shut down
• The Coffin + The Cross · A heavy ending that needs mourning
• The Coffin + The Mountain · Long stalled; the matter is completely stuck
• The Coffin + The Key · The ending is itself the answer