Divination 9 of 36 · RA PA Caution
Fire and water clashing
Fire and water clash. This sign warns of danger and of something coming to an end. It rarely means a literal death, but it asks for great care: postpone risky plans and protect what is fragile.
Slow down, protect what matters, and let what is ending end.
Do long-life practices and save lives, for instance by freeing animals.
The Demon of Death is the first of the four maras of Buddhist teaching, the forces that obstruct the path: death itself, here pictured as fire and water destroying each other. The traditional response to this sign is not fear but protection and merit, especially practices for long life.
The Demon of Death comes up when the first throw of the die shows RA (fire) and the second shows PA (water).
RA is the syllable of fire. It brings energy, warmth, light and the power to make things happen, and with them the risks of fire: haste, anger and burning out.
PA is the syllable of water. It soothes, nourishes and heals, and it carries feeling and enjoyment. Disturbed, water turns murky; dried up, it leaves nothing behind.