It symbolizes a time of transformation and major changes in our lives; a period of metamorphosis and total change.  The 13th Major Arcana card also symbolizes the principle of letting go and moving on.  Death can indicate a total change or transformation, a metamorphosis.  The pressures of the current situation are becoming so strong that you are actually choosing to change things.  The old order needs to be destroyed in order for something new to arise from its ashes.  It may be showing that you are ready for a total change in your life.  You are embracing the experience or transformation and metamorphosis and will gain maximum benefit from it.  The old patterns or situations are being destroyed to make room for something brand new.  Renewed hope.

"Reversed:  You are going through an emotional or personal regeneration process.  Your circumstances may not be changing at all, but inside you are completely transforming.  You may be sensing a total psychological death and rebirth.  You are destroying one way of being so that a new way can be born.
Negative:  You may be destroying something unnecessarily.  Perhaps there is no accompanying rebirth or creation.  You are not ready for intense change on that deep and total level.  You're better prepared to rest and assimilate what you've already done, not to go through the demanding process of death and rebirth." - Gail Fairfield

To some degree my response upon seeing this card was "not again", after all I drew it earlier this month.  Two Deaths in one month has got to be pretty significant.  So what am I not releasing?  What transformation have I not accepted?  Who the hell knows.  After I have often mentioned the fact that I don't like change, and one of Death's key associations is change.  

Perhaps there are things I haven't been able to let go in my life.  Okay, in the interests of complete disclosure there are a lot of things I haven't been able to release.  I haven't completely let go of my former job.  It's one of the challenges I'm still dealing with because I know it's in my best interests to move forward.  I don't want to be stagnate.  I want to be open to new experiences and try new things but I'm scared.  It's so much safer to stick with the familiar.  Of course life have taught me that sometimes growth is pain.  Even as children we experience growing pains; why should growing as an adult be different?  And if I really want to learn to fully experience transformation and growth then I have to embrace change.  It might not be something I look forward to right now but perhaps I will learn to appreciate it soon.