The Meanings of the 22 Major Arcana Tarot Cards – The Tower:
Introduction to The Tower
The Tower is Key 16 of the Major Arcana in a Tarot deck. Sudden change is the keynote of the Tower. This Tarot card is ruled by the planet Mars. The Tower is the card of unexpected shock and flash of inspiration. The Tower denotes the crumbling of an existing structure or way of life.
The Tower is drawn in a highly symbolic manner in most Tarot decks. The tower shown as brick to emphasize the building is vulnerable despite being made from a durable material. The bolt of lightening in the card stands for sudden change and brilliant light.
The appearance of the Tower card in some Tarot readings can mean a sudden shock or natural catastrophe. It can also signify a moment of truth that leads to spiritual awakening along with a sense of being finally free. The Tower card represents all victims of natural disasters, stroke victims and disruptors. The Tower is the birth card of people born under the zodiac signs of Aries and Scorpio, as Mars is the ruling planet of this Tarot card. The Tower is Key 16 of the Major Arcana of the Tarot deck and represents the number 7 making the Tower one of the birth cards for those born under the zodiac ruler of the Chariot.
The Tower Upright
The Tower upright denotes sudden change. It can indicate a sudden change or the actual collapse of an existing mental or physical structure. The Tower in this position has the meaning of a flash of inspiration that can lead to a change for the better. This is a card meaning disruption that leads to an upheaval of some sort.
If the Tower is before the reversed Hierophant (rx), a spiritual awakening is possible with the appearance of a revolutionary figure on the scene. If the Hierophant (rx) is first, it may be the establishment of a cult movement. When the Tower is near the Star card in a Tarot spread, it is a positive sign regardless of the order of either card.
If the Tower precedes the High Priestess card in a Tarot reading, it indicates a disaster of an established institution. If the Tower follows the Moon card, a creative breakthrough is possible. When the Tower is near the Justice card in a Tarot reading, new legal matters may develop. If the World card is present in any Tarot reading along with the Tower, it is an indicator that the outcome is a general rather than a personal matter.
The Tower Reversed (RX)
The reversed Tower(rx) card can indicate a state of shock and the beginnings of healing from the trauma. The Tower is often stronger when reversed by sometimes implying a downfall that results in a release from an oppressive situation. The Tower card in this position in most Tarot spreads indicate it is time to start the process of rebuilding.
When the reversed Tower (rx) card appears in a Tarot reading after the Justice card, it can have the meaning of a literal release from an institution. If the reversed Tower (rx) comes before the Fool card, the recovery after the shock is almost complete, but if the reversed Tower (rx) follows the Fool, the shock currently has a paralyzing effect that will continue for some time. If the reversed Tower (rx) appears in a Tarot reading before the Hermit card in either orientation, a self-imposed exile is indicated, but if the reversed Tower follows the Hermit, a new path in life that brings much success will be chosen.
The Tower in Regards to Love, Sex and Relationships
The appearance of the Tower card can suggest a shakeup of a relationship, but it can also indicate insight and illumination into matters of the heart. The Tower in a Tarot reading can denote new opportunity in love and sex. A relationship will transform in some way whenever the Tower is present in a reading. Shocking but honest revelations that affect and change relationships are often indicated by the appearance of the Tower in a reading.