What does the Death card in Tarot mean — is it a bad omen?

The Death card (the 13th major Arcanum) frightens beginners, but in the vast majority of spreads it does NOT refer to physical death. Its core meaning is transformation: the end of one stage and the beginning of another, the conclusion of what has outlived its purpose, a profound change. Death in Tarot says: something is ending, and you need to let it go to free up space for the new. This is often for the better — what departs is what has long been obsolete (a job, a relationship, a role, an old mindset). Resisting change is usually more painful than the change itself. In its shadow aspect, the card can point to stagnation — a person clings to the past and fears the changes that are already overdue. So Death is not a sentence but an invitation to renewal. As always, the precise meaning depends on the question and the surrounding cards. Tarot is a tool for reflection. You can do a spread in the Tarot section.