---

Overview and common meanings of The Tower Tarot card

When The Tower Tarot card shows up, it is an indication of major changes, and it is here to tell you that these changes are coming regardless, so you may as well surrender and let them happen, as fighting them is futile.  Alternative names, in varying decks are Thunderbolt, House of God, Fate, The Lightning, Chaos.

It is in the turmoil of chaos that we discover what, if anything, we are.

Orson Scott Card

Common Meanings

The Tower card urges us to let the necessary shifts happen so you can rebuild and refocus.  When changes happen on this deep level, you have to trust that it is so that your soul can evolve to a higher plane of existence.  The insights you gain during this time are invaluable.  Although often the more challenging path, truth and integrity are vital while navigating these changes – both with yourself and with others. The Tower often shows up when you are resisting taking the steps to make the changes you know you need to make.  Honestly, this is something that you knew you had to let go of in order to build something better. Sometimes we need The Tower to show us how to make the changes we know we need to make. 

This is a required phase of collapse and restoration so our horizons can expand into something better.  You may be called to release an ideal, a dream, a relationship, or an organization, and it is often brought about by external forces.   This is all about letting go; as those walls of the metaphorical tower come crashing down, often with a big dramatic explosion, you can see, in that moment of destruction, what you have created and how it protected you.  This clarity enables you to have deep insight into how you want your future to look, and what you want to build to create that, and how you can make the foundation solid in the rebuilding of your own personal tower. 

Ways in which The Tower can manifest in various areas of your life are abrupt changes in your home life, delays in building, secrets in relationships coming to light and rocking your world, changes in business resulting in necessary restructuring to adapt.  When the dust settles from the shake up, The Tower offers you a way of living that is more aligned with your heart and mind; the things that the tower brings down are always things that needed to go anyway:  detrimental influences, bad living situations, jobs with no potential, harmful lifestyle choices.

The Many Faces of The Tower

The shadow side – or reversal – indicates taking responsibility for things that are not yours and also indicates attachments to situations – work, relationships, habits, out of fear, and not because they are right for you.  It can indicate that life is feeling humdrum and boring.  The shadow side can also show up to show that you are instigating the changes in your life, rather than life forcing them upon you.   

The Journey of The Tower

The Tower is the second card in the third and final septenary of the Major Arcana, which you may recall is about the spiritual world and attainment of enlightenment.  Last week we saw the beginning of the journey with the facing of one’s demons.  The Tower continues that journey as the metaphorical tower of what we had held as our truth in life is burned to the ground to make way for what will be.   It is the literal and symbolic clearing of the decks, burning the weeds, spring cleaning your life, so that you may continue on your journey towards attaining spiritual enlightenment.

Description of The Tower card

Perched atop a rocky crag is a tower, flames spouting from its windows, and its roof – shaped like a crown, being blown off by a mighty lightning bolt that culminates in an arrow.  Falling from the tower are two figures, one with long blue robes and wearing a crown or a jester’s hat, and one with a trailing red cloak.  The background of the card is dark and there are storm clouds and golden drops of fire scattered throughout. 

Themes of The Tower Tarot Card

• Breaking free from old patterns, relationships, habits
• Fall from grace
• Fate
• Spiritual Awakening
• Sudden Change
• Surrender
• Turmoil

The Number 16

Destiny depends on beliefs and behaviors. It is vital that thinking is positive and confident about all the numerous facets of life. Self-analysis to comprehend wisdom; it has a talent for research, important to balance and honor both the spiritual and analytical.

Elements of the Tower Card and Associated Symbolism

• The Tower – society, protection, habit, ego
• The falling people – humankind at the mercy of the forces of nature, or god if you will.
• Fire – change, rebirth, purification
• Golden droplets – rain of fire,
• Lightning bolt – illumination, awakening, clarity, purification
• Falling crown – ego and authority toppled by nature, a more powerful force.

Herbs for The Tower

• Heather – Protection, luck
• Honeysuckle – Aids persuasiveness and confidence, sharpens intuition.
• Lemon – Cleansing, spiritual opening, purification, and removal of blockages.
• Lotus Root – clarity in times of chaos
• Yarrow – support when struggling with overwhelming problems, to reinforce courage and assurance that daylight will come again.

Questions that The Tower asks us

• What in your life needs to crash and burn so that you can build something better?
• Are you resisting making the changes you know you need to make, and if so, are you ready for the chaotic energy of The Tower to bring dramatic change?

---

That is The Tower, not really so scary when you are honest with yourself about the necessary major changes your life needs in order to thrive.  Wishing you a week in which you embrace those changes! Please leave comments, ask questions, or reach out for a reading.

Thank you for reading and please join me next week for The Star!