Death is quite possibly one of the most infamous cards in the tarot. While it certainly can mean the impending (or past) death of a person or other beloved being, it also frequently refers to any other sort of major, often sudden, change. I chose a rattlesnake skull for the center of this piece as people often fear serpents more than they really need to, focusing on the venomous fangs rather than all the environmental benefits snakes bring, and the fact that the snake is often more afraid of them than vice versa. The shed snakeskin on the background signifies the positive elements of this card: through change you’re able to leave behind old things you’ve outgrown and can move on to a better phase in your life. Reversed, this card may be telling you that you’re unnecessarily digging your heels in when it comes to accepting change. Let things go as they will; you’ll be better for it in the end.

This is the longest I’ve gone without completing a Tarot of Bones assemblage piece since I began back in January, and it feels nice to be back. Part of why I pushed myself earlier in the year to get ahead of schedule was because I knew Labor Day weekend, and the weeks leading up to it, would be entirely dedicated to splitting my art vending booth between two of my bigger events of the year, and I didn’t want to fall too far behind. We’re just about halfway through September, and this is the 62nd assemblage completed out of 79 (including the Happy Squirrel). That gives me 16 weeks to complete 17 assemblages, so I’m actually still pretty well on target.