Learning the Tarot Cards: XVI – The Tower

 

The Major Arcana Deck: The Tower

Number XVI

The system of numerology (inc. Tarot) reduces numbers to a single digit i.e. in this instance 16 = 1 + 6 = 7

Seven

The start of stability, co-operation and harmony

Eruption and disruption: Upheaval - collapse of false/unsolid foundations (good),
traumatic change, doubt, insecurity
Diversion
Perfection (evolution): Faith, reflection, awakening, truth, renewal, inspiration and imagination, realisation - awareness and understanding, healing

Arcana

Major deck (signals cycle in life and represents key time)

Element

Fire

Planet

Mars

Card Meaning

Exposure, false premise, chaos, sudden upheaval

Groundbreaking change, a sudden shift
Crisis, catastrophe, foundations rocked, destruction, trauma, tragedy
Blind-sighted - downfall
‘Meltdown’ – Confusion, pain, anger
Bankruptcy, Failure, Loss
Divorce
Liberation, release, revelation, questioning of beliefs, flashes of insight, awakening and freedom from bondage

Key Symbols

The Tower symbolises a prison of pride and illusion and the destruction of the ego. – once the Tower is destroyed (ego), we can rebuild on new, stronger foundations

Lightning is the flash (spark/light) of truth, a creative spark, instant and divine intervention, enlightenment - a time to wake up, pay and pay attention to surroundings to what creative or destructive forces are at work in life - creator and destroyer. Lightening is a powerful message of the truth from our ultimate source, and coerces us, reminds us of the necessity to conduct a reality check
Fire (a message of conversion and seriousness – everything that touches fire changes beyond recognition): a symbol of both creative and destructive power, energy, transformation, passion, ambition, inspiration, power, a test of faith. Fire is a belligerent symbol. Aggressively, it obliterates everything in its path, leaving little semblance of the original terrain. Fire reflects a change that will significantly alter the landscape of our lives. The fire burns from the top-down, indicating that the change is long overdue and that we may be “at the top of life” when the shift comes
Clouds rushing represent change, thoughts, revelation (inspiration and initiation) - out of the mists from nowhere comes our deepest thoughts, suddenly an epiphany - a bright idea occurs. Clouds also convey confusion or clouded judgment. Chiefly, clouds represent higher thought and messages from the universal mind - divine
Ocean signifies vastness, mystery, and depth. The waves are crashing against the Tower, portraying the waves crashing against our consciousness. It is time to pay homage to the great divine - we need to recognise the flourishing power around us, the animating force that runs through us – the expansive and expressive nature of the Universe. We need to acknowledge that there higher powers at work in our lives, and it is time to release our control to allow these powers to open up incredible opportunities to us
Two people are falling - duality and opposition. The two figures represent conflicting thoughts and actions, inevitably leading to an eruption. A male who represents conscious thought/action, and a female who represents unconscious thought/action. The figures also express the complete loss of control - we can but fall and hope for the best

Main Colours

Black symbolises the “still of the night” and the deep, cold and tranquil waters – the deepest recesses of the unconscious mind. It is a forceful colour representing zero-tolerance, force, rule (law and convention), self-respect and firmness

Grey hesitation, insecurity, uncertainty, neutrality, mystery, intensity, seriousness -sternness
Red is ‘fiery” and represents the element of fire. It incites passion, primal urges, action, pleasure, vibrancy, radiance and acquisition or any intense desire of any sort, whether it is: excitement, audacity, energy, power, health, wealth or love
Light Blue/ inspiration, expansiveness
Orange-gold a nice diluted blend of fiery red and brilliant, vibrant yellow indicating end with clarity

Affirmation

I accept transformation must occur for growth to realise. I stand up, dust myself off and realign with my will. I tear down walls that I have built to advance and rebuild better and stronger and wiser. I see what I have built is not based upon solid foundations, and therefore it must crumble so I can find a new place to repose. I recognise life involves destruction and chaos and can be harsh at times. But, as my foundations shift, I embrace the disruption and accept that sudden changes are for the best. Henceforth I am true to myself, letting my old ways go, I go onward and upward.

Reading

When the Tarot appears in a reading, expect the unexpected. The Tower Card brings significant disruption, but it is always in the service of something better - it reminds us that sometimes we can be our own worst enemy in how we structure our lives. This card symbolises the final disintegration of the ego, which is painful but necessary; with pain and destruction, great lessons come. When we ‘pull the Tower card,’ it warns us that willpower and inner strength are required to combat sudden upheaval, disruption and drastic changes. With this upheaval will come chaos, shock and devastation, usually created by not heeding our conscience or common sense. The Tower reveals that our beliefs keep us from realising the harsh reality of the world, they are holding us back, and that we need to stop being overly defensive with our thoughts. It reveals old forms break down and lights up the cracks in our facades, shaking us out of our illusions and self-imposed prisons. The Tower shatters delusion. The blows struck by the Tower card's appearance are heavy and unexpected, and our world is falling apart. But this creates the space for the new, more solid foundations upon which we can rebuild. Within the Tower is the loud message that sometimes shock can only provide the wake-up call needed to push us from complacency into full awareness about our situation and not to resist change, or the Universe will force it upon us. Further, the Tower brings a sudden flash of insight that comes with inner revelation, often showing a clear way forward. Another message the Tower conveys is an outcome of downfall due to anger - too often, we suffer loss from losing our tempers. The Tower is a card that tells of disaster, a disaster that required avoidance. Still, it also represents the opportunity to rebuild with the valuable truths learned from the destruction, enlightenment, growth, strength, wisdom, and resilience. 

The Tower is the Universe’s way of reminding us we sometimes find ourselves oppressed, seemingly trapped. At such times we need something to shake us loose, to free us even if it feels like lightning has struck and everything has fallen apart. The collapse of the Tower is a necessary state for inner evolution 

The power is within