Anpu: Death

Anpu, known to the Greeks as Anubis, is the original Egyptian god of the underworld. The first funerary deity, Anpu is a powerful judge who weighs the heart of the traveler against the feather of Ma’at. His is the final test on the journey to Aaru.

Though he is a god of death, Anpu is not malicious. His role is not to punish, but to participate in the judgment of the deceased and guide deserving souls into eternal life. He is a threshold guardian who stands at the border of eternal happiness and eternal oblivion. His job is to ensure that only deserving souls are allowed to pass through the gateway into Paradise—the ultimate rebirth and transformation.

Themes

The main theme of the Anpu Death card is transformation: endings and new beginnings, spiritual transformation, transitions, re-birth, resurrection, and letting go.