KEYWORDS

• Ending
• Loss
• Grief
• Illness
• Rest
• Recovery
• Waiting
• Absence
• Discouragement
• Obstacle
• Uneventful

OVERVIEW

The Coffin is commonly associated with death and dying but it’s generally in the figurative sense more than anything else. It’s only in certain combinations that it can be as final as a physical death, and again it depends on the context of the query. More commonly, the Coffin tells of illness, absence, a stagnant situation, or one that’s going nowhere, an uneventful phase, and a very likely ending at hand. Generally, negative cards nearby indicate a hopeless case, and positive cards imply a welcome ending. It also tells of boredom, wasting time, procrastination, lack of productivity, and forgetfulness.

IN THE PORTRAIT & GRAND TABLEAU

On the first or central card of the portrait layout, the Coffin asks us to be patient or to let go of a fruitless situation. This is not necessarily negative, though parting is often a little difficult. We must consider whether to give the situation more time or let it go. Surrounding cards usually help us out, but often times, the Coffin shows up when we know time’s up. It can also suggest that nothing comes up, that there’s nothing to be done about the query at this time, or that there isn’t much going on.

When the Coffin appears near the significator, it tends to indicate illness or fatigue. But when far, the concern isn’t as serious and passes quickly.

ADVICE

The Coffin’s main suggestion is to be patient, but it also indicates that we need to put an end to a matter, usually one that’s going nowhere. Taking a break from something or someone can give us the needed space to ponder the situation and determine next steps. We must assess it carefully to decide whether to give it more time or let it go.

Nearby cards are often helpful, with positive ones usually indicating a helpful wait or welcome ending, and negative ones suggesting giving up on a hopeless case. As such, the Coffin also encourages us to work through matters so we can bring them to conclusion and move on.

CARD COMBINATIONS

WITH THE...

THE COMBINATION MEANS...

BEAR

Obstacles, delays, procrastination, lethargy.

BIRD

Stalled communications, distance, moving away from something or someone.

CLOUDS

Boredom, depression, grief.

CLOVER

A beneficial wait, best to allow some more time.

DOG

An absent friend, someone out of touch.

FOX

Unemployment, leave of absence, inactivity.

LILY

An uneventful phase, apathy, disengagement.

MOUNTAIN

Obstacle, plateau, nothing happening, or someone absent abroad.

RING

Separation, end of a relationship.

SCYTHE

A death, literal or metaphorical.