Death Sweatshirt - PRE-ORDER

Based on the 13th card in the Major Arcana of the traditional tarot, Death is often referred to as the great equalizer, as it is an inevitability we will all experience, kings and peasants alike, as a part of a natural cycle. It indicates a major change or transformation, an ending that is also a new beginning, a process of letting go.

Watch my ig reel for a breakdown of the symbolism here!

Tying into these themes, in this design you can see the imagery of:

• a snake shedding it's skin
• a tree that's lost its leaves
• the grim reaper with their scythe
• a few skulls, without any indication of their prior wealth or lack thereof
• the white rose signifying life
• the sun rising in the distance, signifying a new beginning ahead (and a direct reference to the Rider-Waite-Smith deck)
  

I've added the guillotine because when the guillotine was introduced as a method of capital punishment, it was also referred to as "the Great Equalizer," or at least that's what it was meant to symbolize as an efficient and "humane" execution method, as it would be your consequence no matter your crime or how much money you made. Pretty strange and morbid to think that this was somehow a supposed to be vehicle of equality and fairness...(Choose your version of "dark times", I guess.)

These days we've come to associate the guillotine with the concept of anti-capitalism and anti-fascism. In a world where violence is only justified and legal when carried out by the state or corporations, the consequences are basically. non-existent for those responsible.

Meanwhile those impacted are gaslit into blaming themselves and each other for their failure to "succeed", "overcome" or "manifest their dreams" in a society that is happy to leave them for dead if their humanity and dignity somehow threatens profit and power.

The hope that I hold here is what the Death card proclaims: that change is inevitable, and that's what we're manifesting here.

• Unisex sizes S - XXXL (Gildan Heavy Blend - fits loose, warm, and cozy!)
• I've screen-printed each tee by hand in my home studio so there may be some small variations in the details.
• Pre-orders close Nov 13
• Orders will be shipped between Nov 22 and Dec 10.